When It's A DCK's Birthday

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I am just wondering if ya'll do anything special when it's their birthday?

Some of my DC parents bring cupcakes to share with all the other dck's, but I was wondering if some of you actually go out and buy them a present.

My neighbour who also runs a dayhome does this, but I dont.

My hubby said that I am in no way obligated to buy these kids a present.

Do you think that these parents expect me to buy them something or just have a little party.

I should note that on days like V-day, Easter, Christmas, Ect, I do give them little goodie bags with a treat, but thats it.

[JenNJ]

I bake a cake. They pick the music for our dance party. They pick whats for lunch (always pizza, ). We sing for the birthday child and that's it. Fun and low key.

[MrsB]

Most of my DCK I get invited to their birthday party so I bring a present then. If I can't make it to the party I still get them a present but coordinate with the parent to drop it off at their house. But if I dont get invited to a private birthday party, I dont buy a present. That sounded trite but didnt mean it too!::

As for here at the house on a DC day, I make cupcakes and the birthday child gets to pick the color and we decorate our own cupcakes, we sing, they get to be my kitchen helper for the day which includes their choice for lunch. The birthday child gets to lay on big sheet of paper. I have a big roll of paper and the kids take turns guessing how big of a piece we will need for the birthday child, we trace their body, measure how big they are, then we all lay on the floor and color it, trying to make it resemble them and what they are wearing that day. The kids absolutely love it!

[wahmof3]

I get out the special Melissa & Doug birthday cake when its a child's birthday. I also make a special treat & a small gift.

IMHO We are by no means obligated to buy dck a gift, but I think my parents expect a gift and I enjoy picking something out for them. After all its a tax write off

My goal is to eventually just purchase books from scholastic and let them choose a book for their special day. Its an inexpensive gift I'm a ****er for books too happyface

For certain holidays I give each child a treat bag. I enjoy doing this! For example, I love filling easter eggs with puffs for the babies, fruit roll ups or something like that & stickers for the older kids.

Fun! Fun! Fun!

[PitterPatter]

I go all out just because I sometimes have under privleged children. 1 DCM doesn't do ANYTHING for birthdays because "it's too expensive and they wont remember it anyway"

We have a little party for the big holidays and they get treat bags etc. gifts for Christmas... Birthdays same. Being that I only have a handful of kids usually I can afford to have a little party. I make a cake or cupcakes which ever the child prefers. I buy the little ice cream cups. I buy the child a gift. If they are really needy I buy a gift and an outfit or shoes. We have party hats but the birthday child gets an extra large one frilly one. I make goodie bags and they are the big helper for the day and get everything 1st etc. I take pics and print them out for them to take home.

I don't feel obligated and if I was ever EXPECTED to do such things it might stop. The parents don't really care what I do for the kids but the kids do. That's why I do it for them.

If you don't want to have parties then you shouldn't feel obligated to do so. Especially if it's not in your budget.

[sharlan]

I have always bought the daycare kids a birthday present. I am no way obligated to do it, I enjoy it.

Right now I buy them a $20 gift card to Toys R Us and we go to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate.

[Sunchimes]

I just have 3 kids and they all turned 1 the same month. I didn't do a party since they were just one, and as I recall, only one of them had a child here on their day anyway.

I took them to WM before their birthday, put them in the cart, and went to the baby toy aisle. I handed them toys that I could afford (under $15) until I came to one that got a strong reaction. That's the one they got. One got a Kissing Elmo. When I handed it to her, she screamed with joy and bounced. Positive reaction! ;-) All over the store as we shopped, she would press the button and giggle and laugh. Entertained the other shoppers. On her birthday, she opened it and kicked her little feet and squealed and hugged it. Pretty much the same reaction with the other little ones.

Next year will be fun!!!!

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I dont mind having the parties for the kids.

But I have never bought a dck a birthday present, just made their day fun if they should happen to be here on their birthday.

I just wonder if parents do expect me to get them something.

It's usually the parents who offer to bring the cupcakes.

[Cat Herder]

I do a Traditional Birthday Party, photos and buy gifts.

I also have the other families bring gifts (cost limited, typically $5).

They can opt out of participation when they enroll, but that means no parties for their own, here.

It is something my clients expect in Family Childcare and look forward to so it has not been too much of an issue.

[jojosmommy]

I do a home made cake- all kids help bake it the morning of the bday.

I get out the birthday box and all kids get to help the bday kid celebrate. The bday box has misc party wear from past parties/clearance. Everyone picks their own and has a great time. We sign happy Bday at snack.

I buy a gift but it is either a book $1 from Scholastic (which is what I always give for holidays as well) or a school readiness item (special pencils, crayons, writing paper etc).

In the past I have gone all out BUT parents didn't acknowledge my efforts so I decided to do it in way that fits my budget and philosophy.

[Blackcat31]

I am the party pooper of the bunch. Every day is like any other day here.....birthday or not.

Well, I take that part back. The birthday kid gets first choice on everything from activities to meals choices etc etc.

But after years of no acknowledgement or gratfulness on the parents part, and sadly a bit of the children in recent years, I do NOT do birthday parties and/or gifts.

If a parent wants their child to have a special treat, they are welcome to bring one to share with everyone but that is the extend of it.

If the parent wants them to have a big party and a bunch of hoopla, they can do it on their dime and their time.

I used to go all out, balloons, cake, presents and all sorts of activities....but in all honesty after having been in this business for so long, I see way too many parents treat their child's birthday fun and entertainment as one more of my expected duties.

As a matter of fact, I have slowly become a very NON celebratory child care in all areas. We kind of do like the schools do and don't celebrate much of anything. It is too hard to NOT include my personal beliefs and there are too many contradictory ones now that in order to be respectful of other cultures and traditions and family beliefs, it is easier to not do it and leave the celebrations and traditions to the families themselves.

[Meeko]

I am the party pooper of the bunch. Every day is like any other day here.....birthday or not.

Well, I take that part back. The birthday kid gets first choice on everything from activities to meals choices etc etc.

But after years of no acknowledgement or gratfulness on the parents part, and sadly a bit of the children in recent years, I do NOT do birthday parties and/or gifts.

If a parent wants their child to have a special treat, they are welcome to bring one to share with everyone but that is the extend of it.

If the parent wants them to have a big party and a bunch of hoopla, they can do it on their dime and their time.

I used to go all out, balloons, cake, presents and all sorts of activities....but in all honesty after having been in this business for so long, I see way too many parents treat their child's birthday fun and entertainment as one more of my expected duties.

I'm with you on this one.

I have 16 kids at any given time and usually over 20 on my books. I can't afford the time or money to go all out for birthdays. We are a family of six and my husband has 12 siblings....it's hard enough to keep up with family!

I found over the years that kids were embarrassed when their mother would do nothing...and then their little buddies Mom would only stop shy of a circus with cake, balloons, gifts for all etc. It was very awkward and I felt bad for the child, but couldn't afford to make the difference myself.

So I tell the parents that their child get a birthday crown and we sing Happy Birthday. They can celebrate at home as much or as little as they want.

I too, would be expected to do it ALL, if some of my parents thought I was willing to host a party.

[wdmmom]

Here are the things I do:

Child gets to pick whats on the menu for breakfast and lunch.

Child gets to bring treats or I make cupcakes.

Child gets a small ($5 or less) gift from me. Usually a puzzle or book that I send home.

For the most part, it's the same ol', same ol' around here. I prefer to keep it that way. The slightest notion there is something going on, they more likely they are to act out and get crazy.

I tend to keep things on the DL here.

[laundrymom]

This is me too. I allow cupcakes to be brought in. I prefer mini ones with non colored icing. Our big "ta da " moment is at lunch. I bring out the Hershey syrup and make a huge deal about dripping it into the Bday child's cup.

I am the party pooper of the bunch. Every day is like any other day here.....birthday or not.

Well, I take that part back. The birthday kid gets first choice on everything from activities to meals choices etc etc.

But after years of no acknowledgement or gratfulness on the parents part, and sadly a bit of the children in recent years, I do NOT do birthday parties and/or gifts.

If a parent wants their child to have a special treat, they are welcome to bring one to share with everyone but that is the extend of it.

If the parent wants them to have a big party and a bunch of hoopla, they can do it on their dime and their time.

I used to go all out, balloons, cake, presents and all sorts of activities....but in all honesty after having been in this business for so long, I see way too many parents treat their child's birthday fun and entertainment as one more of my expected duties.

As a matter of fact, I have slowly become a very NON celebratory child care in all areas. We kind of do like the schools do and don't celebrate much of anything. It is too hard to NOT include my personal beliefs and there are too many contradictory ones now that in order to be respectful of other cultures and traditions and family beliefs, it is easier to not do it and leave the celebrations and traditions to the families themselves.

[SilverSabre25]

Not a whole lot...I figure they get enough crazies elsewhere. I do acknowledge it, we sing to them (or I should say, I sing to the birthday child while everyone else laughs at me I can't get anyone else to sing with me, ever, for any reason), the birthday child gets to pick which plate they get and where they are going to sit, we get chocolate or strawberry milk with lunch, and we'll often have a special snack (cookies or cupcakes). I have started buying a good book for them for a gift...i figure no one can ever have too many books, so it's perfect.