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Daycare Provider Gift Ideas
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas
The Question:
How much am I supposed to spend on a gift for my daycare provider?
The Answer:
There is no right answer.
Proper etiquette experts say that for the holidays, a daycare provider's gift should equal one week's pay. Although, as a provider myself I'd love a gift like this, it's pretty unreasonable for the average family to be able to afford.
Decide what is reasonable for your budget. Just be sure to realize that your daycare provider is an important part of your family dynamic and she deserves the best. Put her at the top of your list no matter what you can spend.
Gifts come in all shapes, sizes and monetary value. The monetary value isn't the most important part of a gift. It's the thought that goes into the gift that counts the most.
Very popular items to give a daycare provider are candles, coffee mugs and bath sets. Although these are nice gifts to receive, keep in mind that it's very common and your provider probably already has more than she needs.
I've taken some time to gather a list of unique gift ideas for your favorite provider. Some of these ideas have links to my website affiliates. These are stores that I earn a commission from and help me keep DaycareAnswers online. Purchasing from an affilliate of mine does not make the product cost any more for you. Thanks for your help!
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Online Gifts
Ordering online makes it so easy. Just browse a store, pick an item and it's delivered a few days later. Check! Something off your list!!
I order a lot of my gifts from GiftTree.com. I've chosen them to be an affiliate on my website because I love the wide choice of products, they have great customer service and I know I'll be proud to give whatever gift I choose for my recipient.
Here's an example of some things you can order from GiftTree.com.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Monetary
Cold, Hard Cash - Of course, cash is appreciated by anyone. You can give whatever amount you wish and the provider can choose how to use it. You could just come up with an amount you'd like to give, or give her an extra week's pay or give her a voluntary raise in each weeks fee.
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Personalized Gift Card - I love making personalized gift cards for people. It's unique. It's easy. And it puts a smile on everyone's face! |
At GiftCards.com you can personalize the card and make it any denomination you wish. For a daycare provider, it would be adorable to put the children's picture on their gift card.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Food
Restaurant Gift Card - Always a great gift for daycare provider. Give a card to a restaurant that is a little fancier than they are used to.
You can conveniently order a Restaurant Gift Card from Amazon.
Coffee Shop Gift Card - After assuring that your
provider is a coffee drinker, buy her a coffee shop gift card. If you
are one of the early arrivals at daycare, you could offer to stop and
pick up her coffee for a couple of mornings.
Coffee Shop Gift Cards are also available from Amazon.
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Having a meal delivered from a local restaurant or a meal delivery service makes a nice gift for daycare provider. Your provider will appreciate not having to cook for her family for an evening or two. |
Gourmet Muffins or Bagels - Find a local shop that can create a nice gift basket with assorted muffins or bagels.
Freezer Meals - Many towns have shops where you go in
and prepare meals to put in freezer bags for future use. Prepare a
couple for that gift for daycare provider and then deliver it to her to
put in her freezer. She can pick the evening when she will not have to
fix dinner for the family. If you do not live in a town with this type
of shop, consider fixing a freezer meal yourself.
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Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Daycare Tshirts and Sweatshirts
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Every time I go to a conference to get my required annual training, the
most popular booth in the vendor area is the booth that sells daycare t-shirts and sweatshirts. |
T-shirts and sweatshirts make an easy gift for daycare provider and they love having themed clothing to wear for work. Whether you get her a shirt from the store or custom design one, she's guaranteed to love it!
Daycare Coffee Mugs
Click on any mug image for more information.
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These coffee mugs are available at my Zazzle Store!
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Provide Services
Substitute Daycare Provider - A substitute provider has to meet requirements set by the licensing agency such as a complete background study and CPR training, but if you happen to meet these requirements, give your provider some time to herself. Maybe she could meet someone for lunch or go get her nails or hair done.
Evening Babysitting - If your daycare provider has
small children of her own, give her an evening of free babysitting while
she enjoys a relaxing dinner, a movie or whatever else she may like.
Housecleaning - Purchase professional cleaning service
for a couple of times of free service. If that's out of your price
range, offer to do the housecleaning service yourself for as many hours
as you'd like your gift to value. Hey, it may not be the most glamorous
thing to do, but it wouldn't cost you a thing!
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Pampering
Day Spa Certificate - Your provider spends a lot of time taking care of children and taking care of her family. Give her a day where somebody takes care of her. She can choose from a massage, a facial, a manicure or a pedicure.
Hair Salon Certificate - It can be for a service she's used to or it would allow her to splurge on something she's never had done before.
Nail Salon Certificate - Daycare providers are typically not very good at doing special things for themselves. A nice set of acrylics or a french manicure is probably something they don't do for themselves very often.
Foot Massager - A daycare provider's day is spent
mostly on her feet. Nothing would feel better after a long day of
chasing after children than to sit down on the couch and turn on a foot
and calf massager.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Entertainment
Concert/Play Tickets - Tickets to the local theater or to an upcoming concert coming to your town would give your provider a nice evening out.
Movie Tickets - This gift can be used anytime and fits
any personality. No matter what your provider's taste or preferences,
there will be a movie at the theater for her to enjoy.
The major chains of movie theaters sell gift cards on Amazon.
Book Store Gift Card - Another very versatile gift. No matter your provider's taste, she'll be able to find a book to enjoy.
I-Pod/I-Tunes Gift Card - If she doesn't have an I-Pod, introduce her to one. If she does have an I-Pod, supply her with more music.
Net-Flix Membership - A monthly subscription service to have movies delivered right to her house.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Interests and Hobbies
Add to a Collection - Find out if your provider has an special item she collects such as angels, dolphins, or unicorns. Then add to the collection. You could find an item in any price range you're aiming for.
Professional Sports Clothing - Buy her a t-shirt, sweatshirt or any other item from her favorite sports team.
Hobby Supplies - Scrapbooking and stamping are two very
popular hobbies. For any hobby she may have, buy supplies she would
not be willing to buy herself.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Supplies for the Daycare
I wouldn't suggest this gift idea for just any daycare provider, but if
you're dealing with a provider who's just getting started in the
business and has a lot of expenses trying to get her business running,
she may very well appreciate these gifts.
Art Supplies - Basic art supplies such as construction paper, scissors, glue, tempera paint or any other commonly used item.
Toys - A new daycare can always use more toys and you could fit this into any price range you'd like to spend.
Advertising Sign - Have a banner made for your provider to hang in her yard when she has openings in her daycare.
Delivered Meal - Have a meal delivered
to daycare so that the provider doesn't have to cook lunch one day.
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Miscellaneous
Digital Photo Frame - A gift that can be used for her family photos or for daycare photos.
Willow Tree Figurines - Available at specialty stores and on Amazon,
they feature angel figurines, along with parents, daycare providers,
teachers and others with children.
Everyday Jewelry - Instead of something real sparkly, give her a piece of jewelry that would fit into her everyday wardrobe she wears for daycare.
Mall Gift Card - A gift card to a local mall allows your daycare provider to shop at any store she chooses.
Department Store Gift Card - Investigate into what her favorite department store is and buy her a gift card there.
GiftCertificates.com
is a website that allows you to buy your daycare provider a Super
Certificate in any dollar amount. She can then decide which store she'd
like to receive a gift card from. There is a large variety of stores
to choose from and the certificate never expires. (And it's an instant
gift when you need a last minute idea!)
Daycare Provider Gift Ideas:
Fun and Creative
Warm Tootsies - Buy a pair of big, fuzzy socks. Fill
them with tootsie rolls and attach a note that says, "Something to Keep
Your Tootsie's Warm". It's a very inexpensive gift for daycare
provider.
It doesn't matter how much you choose to spend on a gift for daycare
provider or what you decide to buy, just be sure to include a note or
letter to let your daycare provider know how much you appreciate what
she does for you and your child every single day.
HINT:
When deciding on the purchase of a gift for daycare provider, DON'T buy anything that refers to the provider as a babysitter. That's a guaranteed insult.
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Marcia Reagan is the creator of DaycareAnswers and lives in Central Minnesota with her husband and two children. She's been an in-home daycare provider for over twenty years and loves to share her experience and passion for daycare with other providers. |
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