Daycare teacher gifts

[Mrs.flang]

What are you all planning this year? I feel less connected to DDs teachers since I don’t get to see them every day anymore with the new procedures but I feel like I want to do something extra given the circumstances of this year. I usually do gift cards and will probably do that and maybe some kind of fun add on.

[loira]

A is making an ornament for each of her teachers. And I am getting them something they actually want, haha. Probably gift cards.

[icedcoffee]

Target gift cards.

[suzv]

I normally do a target or visa gift card plus some kind of skincare gift from Trader Joe’s. They normally have hand soap, lotions, and lip balms in little gift packaging this time of year.

[blondemoment123]

B&BW soap with a cute tag and either Target or Amazon gift cards.

I know what you mean about feeling less connected. I’ve only met them in person once since we changed daycares during the pandemic. I

[scm1011]

Cash. Daycare teachers do not earn a living wage and that is what they need most.

[beerlover]

I usually do local restaurant gift cards; there are only 4 staff so I know which restaurant is each person's favorite.

[corgimom]

Can I ask what others do when their kid has had more than 1 teacher at the same daycare during the year?
There are 5 teachers at DD's small daycare and she's had 3 of them as her teacher for at least a portion of the year but has interactions with all the teachers and she really likes them all. Last year she only has 1 teacher for the whole year so I only got her something, but I feel it's a bit more complicated this year.

I'd love to get them all something but don't have a huge budget for it. Maybe a treat they can all share and a small gift card for each of them? I appreciate and want to recognize all of them but I also don't have an unlimited budget. :/

[kath16]

Dec 3, 2020 8:54:58 GMT -5 corgimom said:

Can I ask what others do when their kid has had more than 1 teacher at the same daycare during the year?
There are 5 teachers at DD's small daycare and she's had 3 of them as her teacher for at least a portion of the year but has interactions with all the teachers and she really likes them all. Last year she only has 1 teacher for the whole year so I only got her something, but I feel it's a bit more complicated this year.

I'd love to get them all something but don't have a huge budget for it. Maybe a treat they can all share and a small gift card for each of them? I appreciate and want to recognize all of them but I also don't have an unlimited budget. :/

i would take whatever your budget is and divide it among the teachers. if there is a main teacher, i've made their larger and then gotten a little somethign for the floaters.

in the past i've done a fruit tray since they tend to get a lot of bagels/donuts/etc. but that was before the whole global pandemic and i wouldn't be super into sharing food like that. we have a Nothing Bundt Cakes locally that does individually wrapped treats, so i might go that route with a small-ish gift to Target, but my kids both have one main teacher and a part-time floater who is there if we get there a little later than usual.

[scm1011]

Dec 3, 2020 8:54:58 GMT -5 corgimom said:

Can I ask what others do when their kid has had more than 1 teacher at the same daycare during the year?
There are 5 teachers at DD's small daycare and she's had 3 of them as her teacher for at least a portion of the year but has interactions with all the teachers and she really likes them all. Last year she only has 1 teacher for the whole year so I only got her something, but I feel it's a bit more complicated this year.

I'd love to get them all something but don't have a huge budget for it. Maybe a treat they can all share and a small gift card for each of them? I appreciate and want to recognize all of them but I also don't have an unlimited budget. :/

I think that's a great plan. My DH is a teacher and he is very appreciative of even $5 gift cards. 

We also have so many teachers to give gifts to this year and I agree its overwhelming (we're also at 5). Our director and assistant director have also done such a wonderful job handling Covid that I'd like to get them gifts too, but man, its a lot. 

[icedcoffee]

corgimom , Ditto kath16 and scm1011 . I pretty much take my budget and divide among the number of teachers.

In the before times I did $10 for floaters and Director and $25 for teachers, but floaters don't exist now with COVID and the director has been working really long days. We'll just take our budget and divide equally among the teachers and director who deal with our kid. I think this year it will be 5 or 6 people.

Target gift cards are 10% off this weekend so you can stretch your budget a little.

ETA:  I would never feel bad about a GC being too small.  Even $5 when added to some other gifts they may get will add up!

[purplepenguin7]

we're doing cash. Last year we did Target gift cards but this year we decided to go with straight cash. My daughter's teachers are young women and they are basically putting their lives at risk to care for my kid. I may bring in something for the staff to office share because there are a lot of admin type people doing the check-ins and walking kids to their classrooms that I don't think are assigned to class. Not sure what yet because I think they might be weary of food sharing due to Covid. Do you typically give a gift to the director or the owner? We have one official director but quite a few active admin staff so I wouldn't want to miss anyone for individual gifts.

also s/o questions: My daughter has two teachers, one is considered the head teacher. Should I give the head teacher more? Last year was so different for us because my daughter was in a huge infant room with 6 different teachers.

Oh and second question- do you give gifts to therapists that work with your kids?  My daughter has one EI speech therapist and one private speech therapist.  I was planning on giving them both something, but then I heard that the EI therapists can't accept gifts...is that true?

[Susie]

I usually do a Target GC + a small box of chocolates and a card.  I am basically planning to do that this year... except:

DS is changing classes this month.  It was supposed to be this week with him turning 18m, but it's actually going to happen probably in 2-ish weeks.  I talked to the director and we're taking our time with the move because the move from 0-18m to 18-36m feels like a big jump, and he's a "young" 18 month old, not yet really speaking (at least that adults understand) and still a slightly wobbly walker.

So his current teachers, he will have had from our July return post-shutdown until mid-Dec., and they have been great with him.  His new teachers will have him from mid-Dec until... we hopefully get a spot at a new daycare? or 1.5 year from now, when he turns 3.

Do I do two complete rounds of gifts this year for both his infant and toddler teaching teams?  This switch is right in the middle of the holiday season!

[krystee]

We are doing $150 cash and hot chocolate bombs for the in-home daycare provider and $25 Target gift card and hot chocolate bombs for the part-time helper.

[raangoli]

Target gift cards and a small hand sanitizer bc its 2020

[corgimom]

Thanks, all! I really appreciate the feedback! I'll definitely take advantage of the Target sales this weekend - I'm just glad to know that nothing is too small. I appreciate all they do but with our own Christmas stuff and baby #2 due next month, I'm trying to be conservative but don't want to be insulting to the people who care for my child so well!

[blondemoment123]

Dec 3, 2020 10:05:42 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

we're doing cash. Last year we did Target gift cards but this year we decided to go with straight cash. My daughter's teachers are young women and they are basically putting their lives at risk to care for my kid. I may bring in something for the staff to office share because there are a lot of admin type people doing the check-ins and walking kids to their classrooms that I don't think are assigned to class. Not sure what yet because I think they might be weary of food sharing due to Covid. Do you typically give a gift to the director or the owner? We have one official director but quite a few active admin staff so I wouldn't want to miss anyone for individual gifts.

also s/o questions: My daughter has two teachers, one is considered the head teacher. Should I give the head teacher more? Last year was so different for us because my daughter was in a huge infant room with 6 different teachers.

Oh and second question- do you give gifts to therapists that work with your kids?  My daughter has one EI speech therapist and one private speech therapist.  I was planning on giving them both something, but then I heard that the EI therapists can't accept gifts...is that true?

I gave the owner/director a gift last year at our old daycare but we were close with her since she had DS since he was an infant. I won’t be doing so this year at the new daycare.

I’d give both teachers the same amount.

I gave the EI a gift and she was very appreciative. And this reminded me that I need to get gifts for the therapists.

[blondemoment123]

Dec 3, 2020 10:05:42 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

we're doing cash. Last year we did Target gift cards but this year we decided to go with straight cash. My daughter's teachers are young women and they are basically putting their lives at risk to care for my kid. I may bring in something for the staff to office share because there are a lot of admin type people doing the check-ins and walking kids to their classrooms that I don't think are assigned to class. Not sure what yet because I think they might be weary of food sharing due to Covid. Do you typically give a gift to the director or the owner? We have one official director but quite a few active admin staff so I wouldn't want to miss anyone for individual gifts.

also s/o questions: My daughter has two teachers, one is considered the head teacher. Should I give the head teacher more? Last year was so different for us because my daughter was in a huge infant room with 6 different teachers.

Oh and second question- do you give gifts to therapists that work with your kids?  My daughter has one EI speech therapist and one private speech therapist.  I was planning on giving them both something, but then I heard that the EI therapists can't accept gifts...is that true?

I gave the owner/director a gift last year at our old daycare but we were close with her since she had DS since he was an infant. I won’t be doing so this year at the new daycare.

I’d give both teachers the same amount.

I gave the EI a gift and she was very appreciative. And this reminded me that I need to get gifts for the therapists.

[jorja]

I always do gift cards to either Target or Amazon and a box of holiday chocolates.

[mbcdefg]

Gift cards and chocolates

[al dente]

I'm giving the teacher, asst teacher, and kitchen helper gift cards to the local grocery store that is next to the school. There's a whole shopping center with restaurants and starbucks and all, and I asked the director of she knows if anything over there is a favorite and she said the grocery store and mcdonald's. I feel like it's kind of lame, but helpful at least. The store has prepared food and full alcohol so hopefully they can get something for themselves?

I plan on just giving the director and asst director a nice card. My mom is a preschool director and gets SO much stuff and regifts like 95% of it.

[outnumbered]

Ask if the school has a wish list. I teach 3 year olds. I created a book and toy wish list for my classroom. Our budget has been destroyed due to the limiting the # of students and  the purchase of cleaners, gloves and masks so this year I have been spending my own money on classroom supplies. I truly appreciate anything given to me, but if pressed I would prefer a gift card.

[cricketwife]

I'm going to drop two stories here.

I worked in a daycare setting but that was during summers in college. But early in my teaching career, when I had lots of loans and was making hardly any money (likely still more than what daycare teachers are paid) I always appreciated the VISA gift cards most. (No one ever gave money and that's fine.) I was TRULY appreciative of any and all gifts, but really what I needed was money. And for those who added something "cute" to the giftcard, yes, I confess, my thought was "I wish that had put the extra $5 onto the giftcard" rather than buy the chocolates, candle, lotion, soap, whatever. Again, I was grateful for any gift. I loved "my" kids and my families.

Now, on the other side, we do gift for teachers on a "give what we can" basis, so it varies year to year based on how many teachers we are buying for and income/financial situation (commission-based for H so it varies). One year, I was able to give the two teachers in the two year old class more than my norm and apparently more than what they were used to getting and they were so, so grateful.

Of course teachers are grateful for any gift. But give money and give as much as you can.

[scm1011]

Dec 4, 2020 9:00:30 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

I'm going to drop too stories here.

I worked in a daycare setting but that during summers in college. But early in my teacher career, when I had lots of loans and was making hardly any money (likely still more than what daycare teachers are paid) I always appreciated the VISA gift cards most. (No one ever gave money and that's fine.) I was TRULY appreciative of any and all gifts, but really what I needed was money. And for those who added something "cute" to the giftcard, yes, I confess, my thought was "I wish that had put the extra $5 onto the giftcard" rather than buy the chocolates, candle, lotion, soap, whatever. Again, I was grateful for any gift. I loved "my" kids and my families.

Other side, we do gift for teachers on a "give what we can" basis, so it varies year to year based on how many teachers we are buying for and income/financial situation (commission-based for H so it varies). One year, I was able to give the two teachers in the two year old class more than my norm and apparently more than what they were used to getting and they were so, so grateful.

Of course teachers are grateful for any gift. But give money and give as much as you can.

I have never worked in a daycare, but I am close with our daycare teachers (and have done collaborative work with them as a parent advocate to increase their wages) and this is 100% across the board their feelings IME. Our previous director, due to some cajolling from myself and other parent advocates, started asking for cash contributions from parents (in whatever denomination they felt comfortable giving) and that money was distributed evenly among the staff. The teachers were SO OUTSPOKENLY GRATEFUL, both because they really, really, need the cash and because this meant that floaters were not overlooked (because they often are).

Unfortunately our new Director last year took parent donations and bought needless crap like lotion and cheap gloves and candy and I was so mad. Despite the protest of many, she is doing the same so I am skipping the group gift and giving cash directly to our teachers/floaters this year.

If you want to make it personal, I know the teachers I've talked to really appreciate heartfelt cards from parents/kids. But really, give cash or gift cards if you have the means. 

/soap box

[outnumbered]

Dec 3, 2020 10:48:02 GMT -5 corgimom said:

Thanks, all! I really appreciate the feedback! I'll definitely take advantage of the Target sales this weekend - I'm just glad to know that nothing is too small. I appreciate all they do but with our own Christmas stuff and baby #2 due next month, I'm trying to be conservative but don't want to be insulting to the people who care for my child so well!

No gift or money amount is seen as insulting.  I appreciate anything given to me.  A $5 gift card is 5 more than I had before! A thank you card makes me feel happy and appreciated.  Please do not stretch your budget.

[chocolatepie]

I directed centers in the past and my teachers/staff were so, so appreciative of giftcards and cash (even $5!). Unfortunately there is very little money in early childhood education and these women absolutely were over the moon with giftcards for Walmart, Target, and even fast food. Grabbing fast food for lunch or on the weekends with their kids was a treat.

They DID cherish things made by the kids, esp if they could hang them up by their desk space in the classroom, but the inexpensive trinkets like mugs and candles would be better put towards the cost of a giftcard typically.

As a director, I did not want or expect gifts as I'd rather parents throw a few more bucks towards my staff but I did receive some small items or giftcards, esp with families I was especially close to. 

We use in-home and I think we'll just give her cash this year.

[mx27]

Gift cards. Not sure how much yet (I need to confirm how many teachers/assistant teachers we have).

[mx27]

Dec 3, 2020 10:10:48 GMT -5 Susie said:

I usually do a Target GC + a small box of chocolates and a card.  I am basically planning to do that this year... except:

DS is changing classes this month.  It was supposed to be this week with him turning 18m, but it's actually going to happen probably in 2-ish weeks.  I talked to the director and we're taking our time with the move because the move from 0-18m to 18-36m feels like a big jump, and he's a "young" 18 month old, not yet really speaking (at least that adults understand) and still a slightly wobbly walker.

So his current teachers, he will have had from our July return post-shutdown until mid-Dec., and they have been great with him.  His new teachers will have him from mid-Dec until... we hopefully get a spot at a new daycare? or 1.5 year from now, when he turns 3.

Do I do two complete rounds of gifts this year for both his infant and toddler teaching teams?  This switch is right in the middle of the holiday season!

I would give gifts to both sets of teachers (current and future).  If that means they end up getting less each, so be it.  I think showing appreciation in anyway you can is most important.   By the way, I dislike class swaps around the holidays for this exact reason (not really a big deal, but kind of a bummer).

[icedcoffee]

Dec 3, 2020 10:10:48 GMT -5 Susie said:

Do I do two complete rounds of gifts this year for both his infant and toddler teaching teams?  This switch is right in the middle of the holiday season!

I would give gifts to both classes of teachers.  Personally, I'd do $25 each for his old classroom and $10 each for his new classroom (or whatever your budget is, but you get the idea).  

[starburst]

I usually stock up on Target gift cards during the 10% off sale to give to teachers. I had to email the director yesterday to ask who the teachers were because we switched daycares in August and I've never actually met any of them since we can't go inside.