Do You Give Gifts To DCK's For Holidays?

[Crazy8]

Do you buy each child a gift for Christmas (or whatever holiday they celebrate)??

We do a book exchange - everyone picks a name out of a jar and buys that child a book. I started this a long time ago - first year we did an inexpensive gift for each child but then decided to make it a book, makes it easier to buy for kids you don't really know well and it also eliminates one parent buying gifts for each child and others feeling bad that they didn't do the same.

I also buy a gift for each child - I need some new ideas. I almost always do some Melissa & Doug wooden toys - tired of doing that but don't want to buy expensive plastic junk either.

[nannyde]

No I don't do gifts for the children.

[bice99]

I do. This year we hit the Black Friday sale at Joanns and got lots of fleece. Everyone is getting a one yard tied fleece blanket. Pink flowers on one side, purple on the other. I have all girls right now $6 per child, plus lots of love from my girls and me. They will all love them.

[Zoe]

I made photo books on shutterfly about their year in daycare. Only the families that have been with me for a while. The others are getting tins of cookies after our Cookie Extravaganza.

[Crazy8]

I do. This year we hit the Black Friday sale at Joanns and got lots of fleece. Everyone is getting a one yard tied fleece blanket. Pink flowers on one side, purple on the other. I have all girls right now $6 per child, plus lots of love from my girls and me. They will all love them.

that's a cute idea, bet they will love it!! We have NO fabric stores around here.

[sharlan]

I generally give each of the daycare kids a $20 gift card to Toys R Us. I do the same for their birthdays.

[Hunni Bee]

We do a BIG gift exchange (Thanks for reminding me! Its time to start preparing). Its one of my hallmarks.

We all secure permission from the parents that they actually want to do it, and make sure they understand that if their child doesn't take a name, no one will take their name either.

The reason I say big is not because a lot of money is spent (I impose a $5 limit), its because we place a lot of emphasis on the giving part. We ask the parent not to reveal the name to the child, but just whether they are a boy or girl. Then they get to consider a nice gift for their friend. It's purpose is to take (some of) the focus off receiving.

If I have a odd number of kids that year, then somebody gives the class a gift.

Also, each child gets a low-candy Christmas bag from me. We have a pajama movie party. It's great.

[dave4him]

Dont plan on it.

[SilverSabre25]

In a way. This year, I plan on giving the daycare a bunch of new stuff. I'm going to wrap it all up in a HUGE box, covered with one layer of wrapping paper per kid (hello dollar store, and I only have 4 kids), and they will each get to tear off one layer of paper. I will stress to them that these are new DAYCARE toys.

Inside the box, I'm also going to have one wrapped package for each of them and inside will be a nice new fleece blanket (that I'm making) for them to keep AT DAYCARE as a nap blanket.

We will spend a lot of December working on gifts for their parents. I haven't figured out what yet, but I want to make something really nice. Maybe those hand/footprint calendars someone posted.

[Sunchimes]

I'm making rag quilts for them, but I only have 3.

[emmajo]

Some years I do, some years I don't. Depends on the kids, their interests, my mood I guess! One year I made each little girl a special notebook/journal - they were all into that sort of thing.
One year I bought more toys than usual for the day care and let the kids open them, and kept them here.

I suppose I've not given them gifts more often than I've given - I know they all receive so much at home, (whether parents can really afford it or not) and what I can afford to give pales in comparison. So if I don't think of something I can make, I don't do anything that year.

This year, ( if I can get it done before Thursday!!)I am making and giving an Advent/countdown calendar to the sisters in a family I've had for over 8 years now. They go to my church so I know their values are similar to mine and it will be ok to include aspects of the real meaning of Christmas. For the other, younger, kids, it will be more like crafts/ornaments they'll make and take home, no special gifts.

I'm actually sort of surprised to read about some providers giving the kids really elaborate gifts. That seems sort of like giving back the money the parents just paid for our services - kind of the opposite of all the "backbone" posts?

[mismatchedsocks]

This year I found these awesome plastic carrying cases ($2) and had the little store personalize them with childs name and drawing of something that pertains to them. Its nice because I have alot of "different" names. In the boxes I put a small notebook and 8 pack of crayons ($1 for both) and then a flashlight with their name on it ($7) and if they do not have one with name, got a cool design on them.

I also got pint glass jars ($1 each) and am going to fill with the cookies in a jar recipe to give to the parents and a christmas card.

So about $15 a child. I love getting personalized things, and look for them all year. I also love giving things for families to make together. Last year I had packets of hot cocoa and decorating items for cookies.

[KEG123]

I have 3 kids, was thinking books or puzzles.

[e.j.]

I give the kids gifts but try to keep the cost at around $10 per kid. I also try to give a handmade craft to the parents from their kids.

[Crazy8]

I'm actually sort of surprised to read about some providers giving the kids really elaborate gifts. That seems sort of like giving back the money the parents just paid for our services - kind of the opposite of all the "backbone" posts?

I don't see it that way AT ALL. Giving a child a gift for a special occasion (xmas, birthday, etc.) - whether it be a $5 gift or a $20 gift in NO WAY reflects my backbone in having parents follow policies set for my business. I don't see the relation between the two at all. :confused: