Gifts for Daycare Provider

I gave my daycare provider a glowing reference that she could use in the futrue a card and cash. I believe that for what they do they are underpaid so I felt that they would appreciate cash. I gave two weeks pay and a heartfelt card and then $100 to the assistant.

A reference letter they can use when interviewing other parents would be nice. A gift certificate for Amazon Kindle Books would be nice if they have a computer. They don't need an actual Kindle. They just need a computer.

I have been a Child Care Provider for over 20 years...and I have received many, many gifts and all are appreciated BUT!!!..(LOL)..the best are gift cards. I am also a child care consultant working with child care providers to promote "quality intentional" child care...and gift cards by and large are what providers love. Gives them the choice to eat out, get some new clothes, a special decorative item for the home, holiday decorations...and just have the please of shopping or dining. Little angels telling us how great we are are nice...but in the end they are junk that will be tossed. So..make it easy on yourself..and get something she will love..a gift card..or two ..or three...

If there is a do-it-yourself ceramics store nearby, have your son paint a small pot and saucer with the words, "thanks for helping me grow" on the sides along with his printed name (have him print this in pencil, and you can paint it in yourself since printing with paint can be tricky). After you pick up your fired pieces, fill it with some soil and either a pretty flower or some nice herbs, if they like to cook.

The other idea is to take pictures of your son at daycare and make a thank you scrapbook for the providers, although it can get costly if you're making two of them.

Good luck with your gifts. I am sure that whatever you choose to do with meet with an appreciative daycare provider. It's very nice of you to want to do something nice for them!

L.

One of my favorite gifts from a family was a gold necklace with a heart. I wore that for many years, thinking of Danny when I would touch it. Cash is always welcomed. If she likes to have pedicures, buy her a gift certificate for that. Restaurant certificates are always nice, if she has a hobby (scrapbooking, crafts, etc) you could always get her a gift certificate for that. My favorites are the notes people send...I have saved every one of them.

You are very kind for thinking of her. Many times, people think that we are paid for taking care of their kids, that should be enough. What they don't realize is, if we did this simply for the money, most people couldn't afford what we are really worth. It truly is a labor of love, and quite possibly the best job ever!

I think cash is the nicest gift with a heart felt thank you note describing the peace of mind you had while your son was in their care.

Hi S.,
I've been very blessed to have had great families and great kids... one of my favorite gifts has been a necklace that was really meaningful. Another great gift was a wall hanging of our last name that was made by a local photographer/artist. I've gotten gift cards to hotels for a family vacation, gift certificates for pedicures and to restaurants.
I agree with those who said that the letters/notes that people write expressing their gratitude for my care are the best. As a parent who has had my own kids in daycare (before I ran my own) and as a daycare provider, I know what relief a good care provider brings. Hearing that from parents is always a gift.
Best wishes :)

www.kodakgallery.com
they have GREAT photo gifts.

Gift cert. for a nice restaurant.

A HAND written note, not a generic one... about how much you appreciate them. Not writing the same thing for each one, in case they compare

Things for their Daycare.

Hi S. I'm a daycare provider as well and my parents have given me gifts gift certificates to the AMC and for certain resturants one daycare parent got my husband a weekend in a nice hotel here in San Diego, along with a gift certificate to a resturant near the hotel. I've also received personal gifts like lotions and powders. J.

Is there something they would like but can't get for themselves? We recently moved our daughter from an amazing home daycare we could no longer afford. Our daycare provider was British and it was during the royal wedding, so we tracked her down an official china cup from the wedding, to go with her collection. She loved it.

Cash if you can swing it, but as a provider, the best gift would be a very nice note from your family about how much they mean to you. Every year I get cards from the parents of the kids that I watch and the messages in them always make my cry because they are so sweet. Being in childcare can be a pretty thankless job sometimes and it's so good to know that you are appreciated!
Good for you for appreciating her as much as you do!

My friend is a daycare provider and the best gift that she says that she ever received was a gift certificate to Massage Envy. I understand each each center is independently owned if you go that route, you can private message me and I can tell you which ones are supossed to be the best ones. I went to Clairemont and LOVED it!

Take care!

Last Christmas, I couldn't afford much, but the $50 gift card to Burke Williams (a day spa) was highly appreciated by my daycare provider. I'd suggest something along those lines, so that they can do something they really want to do for themselves.

I think having your son make something for both the darecare owner and the assistant will be something they can remember him by. Like a hand mold and let him decorate it or a picture frame and put his picture inside it. And then you can give a nice card or letter showing how much you appreciate them these 3 1/2 years and give them a gift card to a most popular store in your area. Or a spa gift cerficiate. I'm sorry I can't the most easy advice. Thats just something I came up with.lol. :)

What about making them personalized awards with a letter of appreciation (framable or used as a reference for other parents)?

well my son wasn't with his first daycare provider for that long, but she helped me with that "return to work" phase that I had to go through and she was AMAZING! She even gave me the referral for his new daycare which I also love. I got her a simple gift card with orders that she HAD to buy something for herself only (not for the daycare which she was likely to do) and I got a few pictures of my son put into a "collage" type frame. She loved it!