Author Topic: Gifts for daycare providers (Read 19499 times)

firelight · « **on:** October 23, 2015, 02:23:59 PM »

My daughter attends daycare full time (started this month) and we are wondering what is appropriate to gift the daycare teachers (she has one teacher that takes care of her and 6 others in the same room, also three head teachers/directors) for the holidays. I can certainly give a baked good (thinking of cupcakes/cake) but wasn't sure if it was on the lower end. We hope to be there for a couple more years and need to pace ourselves. I was thinking the gift card route but wasn't sure if I can give substantial amounts of gift cards to all teachers there. My budget was around $100-$150. What do you give your daycare providers for the holidays?

We live in bay area and spend around $1600 for daycare per month.

calimom · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2015, 04:26:04 PM »

I think a gift card in the amount of $25 per is pretty appropriate. Probably for somewhere like Trader Joe's or something along those lines, or a bookstore perhaps? Personally I'd forgo the baked goods, not everyone wants that, and there's so much of it during the holidays. And no mugs, they get enough!

Daycare workers don't make a ton of money, you're nice to think of them.

tonysemail · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2015, 04:57:03 PM »

we gave $15 gift cards to amazon or starbucks for xmas and mother's day
our school's ratio was ~8 kids to one teacher.

justajane · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2015, 04:58:23 PM »

I would give the one who takes care of her directly $50 cash. Then give the other 3 teachers $25 each. Don't do gift cards for the workers. Give cash in a holiday card. Daycare workers are underpaid, and you don't want to lock them into spending money at Starbucks or where ever else when they would prefer to spend it on bills or other things. Think of it as a bonus.

For anyone in a director role, you don't need to give anything at all IMO.

In general, I wouldn't scrimp on gifts for caregivers of your children. They work hard.

For comparison, we spent approximately $100 on the teachers at our kid's daycare. We live in a LCOL area and they only went for 15 hours a week.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2015, 05:09:14 PM »

Quote from: justajane on October 23, 2015, 04:58:23 PM

I would give the one who takes care of her directly $50 cash. Then give the other 3 teachers $25 each. Don't do gift cards for the workers. Give cash in a holiday card. Daycare workers are underpaid, and you don't want to lock them into spending money at Starbucks or where ever else when they would prefer to spend it on bills or other things. Think of it as a bonus.

For anyone in a director role, you don't need to give anything at all IMO.

In general, I wouldn't scrimp on gifts for caregivers of your children. They work hard.

For comparison, we spent approximately $100 on the teachers at our kid's daycare. We live in a LCOL area and they only went for 15 hours a week.

But some people love gift cards! If I get money, I feel like I have to do something useful with it. (Unless it comes from my wealthy but frivolous aunt... for some reason, I always do something frivolous with her money.) If I get a gift card to Starbucks, then I go to Starbucks and love it. Gift cards can also be re-gifted, of course.

If you have a Trader Joe's, I like that idea--they have plenty of reasonably priced practical things, or you could splurge and get something fancy.

justajane · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2015, 05:32:45 PM »

Quote from: frugalparagon on October 23, 2015, 05:09:14 PM

Quote from: justajane on October 23, 2015, 04:58:23 PM
I would give the one who takes care of her directly $50 cash. Then give the other 3 teachers $25 each. Don't do gift cards for the workers. Give cash in a holiday card. Daycare workers are underpaid, and you don't want to lock them into spending money at Starbucks or where ever else when they would prefer to spend it on bills or other things. Think of it as a bonus.

For anyone in a director role, you don't need to give anything at all IMO.

In general, I wouldn't scrimp on gifts for caregivers of your children. They work hard.

For comparison, we spent approximately $100 on the teachers at our kid's daycare. We live in a LCOL area and they only went for 15 hours a week.

But some people love gift cards! If I get money, I feel like I have to do something useful with it. (Unless it comes from my wealthy but frivolous aunt... for some reason, I always do something frivolous with her money.) If I get a gift card to Starbucks, then I go to Starbucks and love it. Gift cards can also be re-gifted, of course.

If you have a Trader Joe's, I like that idea--they have plenty of reasonably priced practical things, or you could splurge and get something fancy.

I guess, but the key in your sentence is that some people like them. Many people don't. I can't tell you how many gift cards I have been given for my service at church or other occasions that are languishing in a drawer somewhere. For me, Starbucks is the one that is least likely to be used. Last I checked we had around $75 in Starbucks money to use. I will get to it eventually, but I would much rather have $75 in cash right now. Yeah, yeah, I know I can sell them somewhere online, but I haven't gotten around to it.

I didn't know my caregivers well enough to know where they would like to spend them. Plus there's the class issue; Starbucks, Target, Trader Joe's, Panera, Amazon, etc., these are very white, middle class places to spend one's money. I'm not trying to imply that they are only white, middle class places, but just because I might like those places doesn't mean someone who makes $8-$10 an hour at a daycare would like the same places. Plus, I knew that many of the women who worked at our daycare use public transportation and didn't have cars. What's the point of giving them a gift card to a place they can't easily get to?

Cash is a universally appreciated gift.

Dee18 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2015, 07:36:08 PM »

I gave cash, and was specifically thanked for that. One worker told me it was just in time to pay the electric bill.

Rural · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2015, 07:47:38 PM »

When I worked in childcare, the prized gifts were cash, cash equivalents like Visa gift cards, and targeted gifts that were obviously meant for me in particular. One I'll never forget is what was probably at least a $150 Stash tea gift tin - the parents could not have known I drink herbal tea daily, but they asked the child, who was observant, and she told them how much I loved my tea. Note this was a preschool in a very high cost of living area with parents who were all professionals, mostly high-level, and many from old money families. The Stash gift would be over the top for most childcare places, I would think.

Editing to add I'll second the no gifts for director positions. When I moved up to assistant director, I got no more gifts and didn't expect any. In a situation like that, the homemade treat might actually be welcome though, come to think of it. At that point, it's about the thought.

okits · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2015, 08:36:55 PM »

I have seen my DD's daycare providers with take out coffee, so was planning on a coffee shop gift card, but I'm reconsidering, now.

I get that cash is the most versatile thing, but somehow tucking bills into a card just seems so... direct. A gift card is like cash, but somehow the psychology is different. My fallback tends to be grocery gift cards (mainstream, neighbourhood store) because everyone eats, so it can be used for a treat or for basics (thus freeing up cash in the budget for something else.) If you know your recipient drives, gas gift card.

Should I just get over my discomfort over cash and go that route? (Due to government affiliation I estimate the centre's workers make 150% the average pay for that position... Still not a handsome living, but not poverty-level.) Also, gifts for the student interns and the secondary workers (they work a little in all the rooms)? I'd like to show my appreciation to everyone without busting the bank.

A teacher's spouse said in a Christmas thread that they always threw out gifts of baked goods, so I probably won't do anything home-baked.

chouchouu · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2015, 03:42:27 AM »

I will go to the flower market, buy flowers in bulk and put them in vases from ikea. I estimate I will spend about $40 at most on all four teachers and I'm only spending because I'm the preschool president. Otherwise it's not traditional to give teachers gifts where I live.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2015, 09:23:48 AM »

Quote from: okits on October 23, 2015, 08:36:55 PM

I have seen my DD's daycare providers with take out coffee, so was planning on a coffee shop gift card, but I'm reconsidering, now.

I get that cash is the most versatile thing, but somehow tucking bills into a card just seems so... direct. A gift card is like cash, but somehow the psychology is different. My fallback tends to be grocery gift cards (mainstream, neighbourhood store) because everyone eats, so it can be used for a treat or for basics (thus freeing up cash in the budget for something else.) If you know your recipient drives, gas gift card.

Should I just get over my discomfort over cash and go that route? (Due to government affiliation I estimate the centre's workers make 150% the average pay for that position... Still not a handsome living, but not poverty-level.) Also, gifts for the student interns and the secondary workers (they work a little in all the rooms)? I'd like to show my appreciation to everyone without busting the bank.

A teacher's spouse said in a Christmas thread that they always threw out gifts of baked goods, so I probably won't do anything home-baked.

I know it's hair-splitting, but I would do a Visa gift card over cash. Somehow seems less like, "I think you're poor, so here's some money." Mr. FP is a teacher and has received Visa gift cards, but I would feel kinda weird if he got cash. Maybe that's just me, and I know it's not rational. And if you know this particular teacher likes take-out coffee, then a coffee gift card would be a great gift. It's something you know she buys! That's different than buying a gift card for someone that might not shop at a particular place.

What I did for Big Brother's teacher last year was donate to her Donors Choose page. Just got a note today actually with pictures of this year's tots playing with their new water table.

mamagoose · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2015, 10:01:18 AM »

We do grocery store gift cards, plus a fancy chocolate bar. For teacher appreciation week in the spring, we do candy bars and beer :)

justajane · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2015, 10:09:44 AM »

Oh, I wouldn't give teachers cash either. But I thought we were talking about daycare providers.

For a teacher, it comes across as a bribe, since they assign grades to my kid. I only give gift cards to them, for the reasons frugalparagon mentions, usually to Target or Amazon. Last year, I asked one of my son's teachers if there was anything they wanted for the room. There was a certain book that was extremely popular with the kids, so I bought a second copy. I might do that again this year.

To me a big difference is that public school teachers are salaried and I don't directly pay their salary. With a daycare, the check you write directly goes to pay their hourly wage. In that sense, any money I put in an envelope is more like a bonus. I've heard that with nannies you should give them a money equivalent to a day's wage for the holidays.

We can pretend that there's not a difference between a daycare provider and a teacher, or we can recognize the differences in training and remuneration. This is the same reason I wouldn't give cash to a director. It's not appropriate. Maybe my daycare was completely different, but most of the workers did not have college degrees. They were lovely women who cared for my children well. No doubt about that. It was a hard and underpaid job. If your daycare has people with degrees and is more preschool-like then maybe it will be different, but if your facility has people paid $9 an hour who might need that extra money at Christmas to pay their electric bill (as mentioned above), then cash seems most appropriate.

I wish we could dispense with the idea that handing someone cash implies that you think they are poor, though. Visa or MC gift cards have gotten easier to use over the years, but they were a royal pain in the ass to use in the near past. You had to know the exact balance, and sometimes, if you didn't use it right away, a couple dollars a month would be deducted by the bank as a "user fee". Plus the giver pays at least $5 more for the card itself. I'd rather pass that $5 on to the gift recipient than put it in the hands of the bank.

okits · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2015, 11:11:33 AM »

Those are useful points, justajane and frugalparagon, thank you. :) We're at a government-run facility where the workers all have education certifications and are likely unionized. I think/hope they are paid and treated reasonably fairly (our massive monthly fees must be going somewhere, right?) I'll stick with the gift cards I think they'll use (or can swap with the coworkers that will use them.) I agree the $5.95 Visa/MC gift card activation fee is ridiculous.

Kaikou · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2015, 10:38:53 PM »

can't give cash, but alcohol is okey dokey..... WOW!

Goldielocks · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2015, 01:05:23 AM »

Cash, for certain.

I have learned that it is really what everyone wants, especially if you don't have a lot of access to it.

Gift cards, when I gave as an employer to near min.wage women, was for Walmart, target, or low cost grocery . we could not give cash due to taxes taking a portion of it.. These were widely appreciated as we checked that there were many stores across our city.

Give to the primary care taker and her relief persons only, as you see fit.

I have given cash to school teachers, too, on final day long after marks were submitted. Not the norm but also appreciated.

RelaxedGal · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2015, 10:06:41 AM »

I usually do Target gift cards - they sell pretty much everything, and I've run into her daycare providers there so I know they'd be used!

I've also done Dunkin Donuts gift cards - I'm in Massachusetts, and EVERYONE drinks Dunks. I prefer Target though, because I don't do coffee personally and it's more flexible for the giftee. To the point above about public transit: I know for a fact that Target's on the bus route, and it's even between daycare and the transit hub.

MishMash · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2015, 10:26:36 AM »

Moms been a daycare/preschool teacher for 30 years. Gift cards all the way, do a generic one like a Visa or even better yet, AMAZON...if they need cash you can flip amazon cards for pretty much full face value online. Grocery stores are also good. For the love of all that is holy, don't give a coffee mug

adieli · « **Reply #18 on:** October 27, 2015, 11:09:09 AM »

I generally give $50 Target gift card plus a box of candy from Costco, plus flowers for Russian preschool teachers. I also donate to adopt-a-classroom every year, so the teacher can spend her gift card on herself rather than buying class supplies...

Ceridwen · « **Reply #19 on:** October 27, 2015, 12:44:34 PM »

We know our daycare teachers well and always give them gift cards ($40) to the local liquor store. They always make a huge point of saying how much they appreciate it. We also make a point of writing a thoughtful card, drawing from the kids, etc.

I agree that I just wouldn't feel comfortable giving cash directly.

Goldielocks · « **Reply #20 on:** October 27, 2015, 01:30:28 PM »

Quote from: Ceridwen on October 27, 2015, 12:44:34 PM

We know our daycare teachers well and always give them gift cards ($40) to the local liquor store. They always make a huge point of saying how much they appreciate it. We also make a point of writing a thoughtful card, drawing from the kids, etc.

I agree that I just wouldn't feel comfortable giving cash directly.

This is funny, (ironic) the reason for gift cards here is often a fear it would be spent on alcohol.

Fi(re) on the Farm · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2015, 02:12:22 PM »

I worked in daycare for12 years and I would go with a target or grocery store gift card. If you want to personalize it, maybe a homemade ornament or an inexpensive candle to go with it. While the gift cards were greatly appreciated, Istill treasure some of the ornaments I received.

charis · « **Reply #22 on:** October 27, 2015, 02:42:47 PM »

I think a gift card adds a nice touch that isn't there with just cash. I would never pick something as specialized and expensive as Starbucks though. I do teacher gifts twice a year at daycare, at Christmas and when he leaves to move up to a new room. There is a Dunkin' within a 30-second walk from our daycare (which has several options for someone needing lunch in a pinch who can't go very far in our barren downtown), so I did those GCs most recently. So I may do the local grocery store chain or Amazon at Christmas.

okits · « **Reply #23 on:** October 27, 2015, 05:20:57 PM »

Quote from: goldielocks on October 27, 2015, 01:30:28 PM

Quote from: Ceridwen on October 27, 2015, 12:44:34 PM
We know our daycare teachers well and always give them gift cards ($40) to the local liquor store. They always make a huge point of saying how much they appreciate it. We also make a point of writing a thoughtful card, drawing from the kids, etc.

I agree that I just wouldn't feel comfortable giving cash directly.

This is funny, (ironic) the reason for gift cards here is often a fear it would be spent on alcohol.

LOL. Provided they don't actually have an alcohol problem, I would hope DD's daycare providers have a drink when they get home! Even if you love it, I'm sure managing a room full of rambunctious toddlers has its frustrations and difficult days.

Rural · « **Reply #24 on:** October 27, 2015, 06:11:43 PM »

Quote from: okits on October 27, 2015, 05:20:57 PM

Quote from: goldielocks on October 27, 2015, 01:30:28 PM
Quote from: Ceridwen on October 27, 2015, 12:44:34 PM
We know our daycare teachers well and always give them gift cards ($40) to the local liquor store. They always make a huge point of saying how much they appreciate it. We also make a point of writing a thoughtful card, drawing from the kids, etc.

I agree that I just wouldn't feel comfortable giving cash directly.

This is funny, (ironic) the reason for gift cards here is often a fear it would be spent on alcohol.

LOL. Provided they don't actually have an alcohol problem, I would hope DD's daycare providers have a drink when they get home! Even if you love it, I'm sure managing a room full of rambunctious toddlers has its frustrations and difficult days.

You don't know the half of it!

trailrated · « **Reply #25 on:** October 27, 2015, 07:42:35 PM »

This was in the news recently, made me laugh my ass off. I am sure they would appreciate it. Awesome, personable, and I am sure you could pull it off on a mustachian budget. https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/hilarious-best-teacher-gift-ever-goes-viral-201020495.html

firelight · « **Reply #26 on:** October 27, 2015, 10:20:00 PM »

Ha-ha!! That's awesome! :)

moneysaver · « **Reply #27 on:** November 22, 2015, 06:03:28 PM »

I am a teacher and a parent so I will speak to both sides. As an educator I love gift cards and use every one I have received. If it is not a place I normally go, I find someone who could use it. As a parent of a child who has a lot of support from several individuals throughout his day, I buy pizzas for the staff. I tell them a few days before I bring it so they don't pack lunches:)

zhelud · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2015, 01:40:02 PM »

If you are in a day care center with multiple teachers, and you can figure out how to organize it, then get together with the other parents and pool your money into one pot for either a cash gift or gift cards of the same amount for each teacher in your child's room. You can also take some money from that pot for other workers (floating teachers, cook/cleaner, etc.) It will really be much better for group dynamics. (And yes, give money or gift cards, and be generous- there are no overpaid day care workers.)

News:

Author Topic: Gifts for daycare providers (Read 19499 times)