Peach. DC question. Or anyone else for that matter.

[Deleted]

This year instead of buying all 12 kids at Rubes DC crappy gifts out of the Dollar Bin at Target I'd rather just buy one nice toy for the DC for them all to use while there.

As a DCP would you be okay with this idea? If so, what would you like/appreciate/want them to have?

If it helps all the kids at Rubes DC are pretty much within 2 years of each other age wise, with a few older kids thrown in.

I'd just ask my DCP herself but she's so quiet and appreciative of anything she'll just say "whatever."

DCP is getting cash from us as her "personal" gift.

[emjacobs]

Is there anything that you notice that the DCP is missing? A play kitchen, puzzles, blocks, balls? Maybe a few dress up outfits that are career based? Doctor / Nurse, Firefighter, Police Officer, Dancer, Farmer, etc. something that could get multiple kids involved at the same time?

[thewop]

My DCP loves to get GC's to the craft store to get supplies for when they do seasonal/holiday crafts. She also mentions she only puts battaries in toys a few times a year because they're so expensive, so maybe some battaries?

[AmyRI]

My DC provider laments about only having dress up clothes for girls, so the boys are always in dresses. It does not bother me at all to find DS wearing a white dress with sheer sleeves and feather boa type stuff at the wrist, but it does sort of bug me that they don't have any dress up clothes in traditional "boy" or neutral things. So I'm on the hunt for a doctor, firefighter, cowboy/girl... something along those lines.

[emoflamingo]

My DCP has 4 kids of her own and a whole room full of toys, so I'm going to get her a nice gift card to Target because Baby W has broken 3 of her ornaments on her tree. I feel so bad lol. We don't usually buy gifts for the other kids, though.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 10:26:48 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

Is there anything that you notice that the DCP is missing? A play kitchen, puzzles, blocks, balls? Maybe a few dress up outfits that are career based? Doctor / Nurse, Firefighter, Police Officer, Dancer, Farmer, etc. something that could get multiple kids involved at the same time?

I don't really know TBH. She has no kids of her own and has a result is the most organized person ever. What is supposed to be an office room on her main floor she converted into a giant DC stuff closet. It's awesome but she pulls stuff out as activities happen so I never really see it.

[Deleted]

Thanks girls. She's really into art supplies/projects with the kids. I might just restock her play-doh, crayons, feathers, stickers, glue etc. That way it's consumable and will be gone sooner than later so she's not stuck storing it forever too.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2013 10:52:31 GMT -5 emoflamingo said:

My DCP has 4 kids of her own and a whole room full of toys, so I'm going to get her a nice gift card to Target because Baby W has broken 3 of her ornaments on her tree. I feel so bad lol. We don't usually buy gifts for the other kids, though.

I wish I didn't have to buy gifts for the other kids. But it's a small town rural DC and everyone who lives out here in the sticks with me takes their kids to her, so we all know each and socialize out of DC too...ha.

It's overkill. Every holiday is a treat event at DC. I just go with it and try to keep it simple.

[emoflamingo]

Good idea! You can never have too many art supplies. (I totally have more crayons than necessary in my house and I'm about to purge the lot of them because they are everywhere.)

[peach]

None of my daycare families have ever bought gifts for each other. Hell some years I get a mug from one family and that's it! You are very generous!

I love the idea of a gift for the daycare. I really limit the amount of toys with batteries, for a variety of reasons. Books are always a good idea.it depends what she has already though - favorites around here are wedgits, a wooden barn with plastic animals, Melissa and Doug floor puzzles. Dress up clothes and the play kitchen with plastic food. Magnetos are cool too! Or those Melissa and Doug giant cardboard blocks.

Target has a cardboard castle you set up and color - that would be an awesome cold day activity!

[spankswife]

How about an easel? Maybe with a pad and some markers/crayons/watercolors?

[peach]

I purposely don't have an easel. They take up a ton of space so a lot of home providers don't use them. A sheet of paper on the table works fine