Daycare Goodbye Gift?

[smock]

I'm watching closely, since DD is moving up to the toddler room soon and I'm not sure what to do for her four teachers. We did gift cards for Xmas and teacher appreciation week. Is cash weird?

[mcfelix]

We had three teachers last year and pay about the same rate as you. I think we gave them each a $50 gift card.

[oceanstbride]

DS left his daycare in June before the "year" ends in August because we moved. He had 3 teachers, 2 who had been there since the beginning of the year and 1 since the middle. I gave them each a thank you note and $100 Amazon gift card. I really wanted to do cash since I gave giftcards for the holidays and teacher appreciation week, but my H thought a gc was better. They will appreciate whatever it is you do!

[greycat]

I think a gift card (I usually do Target) plus a heartfelt note would be perfect.

ETA- I would give whatever about half of whatever you would give around the holidays

[Brie]

Gift card and copies of few of A's favorite books for the classroom, signed by her.

[dcn]

When we moved I did a card and a $25 target gift card.

[shortstax]

I don't really see this as a gift giving event. Realistically the whole class moves up each year. I think a sincere thank you note is nice, but giving a gift for a normal business process seems odd.

[D2M]

We had done gift cards to a local lunch spot for teacher appreciation week (or whatever the daycare equivalent was) and I tried to think of something more personal for when DD moved to the toddler room but ultimately went with cash ($50) and nice notes saying how much their fantastic care meant to us, etc. We loved these ladies. They made going back to work so much easier for me (sniff sniff). They said they really appreciated the notes.

[jackie011]

I've received very generous end of the year gifts, and I would say a $25 gift card is fairly common. We'd receive a $50 gift card here and there. Not every family gives an end of the year/transition gift, and of the families that do, it isn't always a gift card. It's very nice to feel appreciated, especially if you've become close with the child/family.

[mswax]

DS2 is leaving on Friday, and he's making cards and we are putting a picture of him inside. No cash, no gift cards. I must be cheap.

[rondonalddo]

I just had DD make cards with me, I wrote what she told me to write ("I love you, Ms./Mr. _____") and taped in a $10 Starbucks gift card. I suspect the card meant more than the gc to them :-)

[cajunmom]

I've received g.c.'s to various places (Starbucks, Target, AMC, a local massage place), checks, lots of cards and candy. Obviously I very much appreciate the gifts but I really love the cards with nice notes in them.

ETA: The large majority of children I have cared for that have moved on to school had been with me at least 3 years, so it isn't like it's a "normal end of the year transition." They really are like a part of my family, and I theirs. 

[shellbear09]

I think that sounds good and I would do a $25 gc max. We did do that for Christmas but when we switched rooms I just did a card and a box of good cookies for the room.

[rondonalddo]

Jul 29, 2015 8:45:13 GMT -5 @marshmallows said:

Jul 29, 2015 7:45:58 GMT -5 rondonalddo said:

I just had DD make cards with me, I wrote what she told me to write ("I love you, Ms./Mr. _____") and taped in a $10 Starbucks gift card. I suspect the card meant more than the gc to them :-)

I don't know why I didn't think of this.  I was just going to write them myself, haha.  This is a great idea.  Self-absorbed, party of one!

ETA: I've been dying to know why you have Vinnie Van Lowe in your avatar

Ken Marino as Ron Donald from Party Down! There's an episode where he institutes a merit/demerit system for his catering employees-- RDD's, which stands for both Ron Donald Dos and Ron Donald Don'ts. :-)