Do Parents Acknowledge When You Send Home Gifts For Holidays?

[Creek]

For mother's day we made candles. The ones where the kids draw with marker on the tissue paper and I would blow dry them on the candle. They turned out really cute. Then we made mom's a card, and a picture from with a photo of their child.

We've made all sorts of gifts for holidays. I always have one parent who acknowledges me for them. Last Christmas we baked all the families a large tin of cookies and each of them made a plaster of paris hand print with their name in it and a stand for it. Only one (same as the above) said anything about it.

For all I know they throw these things in the garbage the minute they walk in the door because I never hear about it.

What has been your experience?
I don't expect to be praised, but a little acknowldgement that they liked the gift their child made them would be nice.

[Former Teacher]

For mother's day we made candles. The ones where the kids draw with marker on the tissue paper and I would blow dry them on the candle. They turned out really cute. Then we made mom's a card, and a picture from with a photo of their child.

We've made all sorts of gifts for holidays. I always have one parent who acknowledges me for them. Last Christmas we baked all the families a large tin of cookies and each of them made a plaster of paris hand print with their name in it and a stand for it. Only one (same as the above) said anything about it.

For all I know they throw these things in the garbage the minute they walk in the door because I never hear about it.

What has been your experience?
I don't expect to be praised, but a little acknowledgement that they liked the gift their child made them would be nice.

When I worked at my former center, some parents did but most didn't. However if the children didn't make something etc, those parent's who never acknowledge would be the first to complain

[bunnyslippers]

I actually didn't do Mother's Day projects this year, for just that reason. I just decided that it wasn't worth the hassle or the expense. I am tired, and tired of not being acknowledged for the extras. Sooo, for a while, I am stopping the extras. I sound like a bitter betty...maybe I am.

[MissK]

When I worked at my former center, some parents did but most didn't. However if the children didn't make something etc, those parent's who never acknowledge would be the first to complain

Unfortunately, that's the truth. When my children were in daycare I was always one of the parents to tell them here and there how much I appreciate what they do, how happy I am I found their daycare and/or how happy my son/daughter is being there. I'd bring flowers on their birthday or cards for Valentines Day/Mothers Day, etc. I want a DCP like me!! hahaha

[snbauser]

I learned a long time ago that if you do the gifts for the parents or for the thanks, you will be sorely disappointed. Now I do them for the joy and happiness of the kids. Last year for Mother's Day I did individual cd slide shows for each mom with about 150 pictures of just their child from throughout the year and set it to music. You do not want to know how long it took me for each of them. I have 12 kids. How many thank you's do you think I got? Maybe 3 or 4. So now, I don't expect them. We did clay handprint trivets this year. I got 1 thank you. Would it be nice to get more? Yes. I think most parents don't even think about it. After all, it is a gift from their child so they thank the child.

[Nellie]

[QUOTE=snbauser;229371]I learned a long time ago that if you do the gifts for the parents or for the thanks, you will be sorely disappointed. Now I do them for the joy and happiness of the kids. Last year for Mother's Day I did individual cd slide shows for each mom with about 150 pictures of just their child from throughout the year and set it to music. You do not want to know how long it took me for each of them. I have 12 kids. How many thank you's do you think I got? Maybe 3 or 4. So now, I don't expect them. We did clay handprint trivets this year. I got 1 thank you. Would it be nice to get more? Yes. I think most parents don't even think about it. After all, it is a gift from their child so they thank the child.[/QUOTE]

There was a thread around Christmas like this. A new DCP said that when she got gifts from her kids she thanked the kids, but really didn't think to thank the person who lead the activie.

[kathiemarie]

I love watching the kids give the presents to the moms. They say thanks to me then but not after. Just a thought, how many of you thank you childs teacher everyday or after you child brings home a cool gift, drawing etc do you send a note of thanks? I'm sure not many of us do. I think to most parents they feel they "thank" us every week when they pay us. We are doing a job. We are getting paid. Once you take the personal out of it this job is much easier.

[spud912]

I get thanked by every one of my parents for the bigger projects/gifts. I have a great set of parents! As for the smaller items, I get thanked from a select group. I have one mother who is the ideal dcm who is super thankful, always apologizing (I don't even know why sometimes!), brings in goodies for the kids, and is always showering me with gifts. Sometimes, she out-does me!

[daycare]

some do and some dont. Either way, I don't care.

after doing this business for almost 9 years, I have come to learn that the parents are often too busy caught up in their own lives. Which is fine by me. As long as they are following the rules and paying on time, then I am happy.

When a parent does say something, it really means a lot to me. I take those ones that do and really feel good about it.

I look back on how I deal with things with my own children's teachers and I don't do a lot for them. You can't be upset at someone for not doing things the way that YOU would do them.

[Jewels]

[QUOTE=snbauser;229371]I learned a long time ago that if you do the gifts for the parents or for the thanks, you will be sorely disappointed. Now I do them for the joy and happiness of the kids. Last year for Mother's Day I did individual cd slide shows for each mom with about 150 pictures of just their child from throughout the year and set it to music. You do not want to know how long it took me for each of them. I have 12 kids. How many thank you's do you think I got? Maybe 3 or 4. So now, I don't expect them. We did clay handprint trivets this year. I got 1 thank you. Would it be nice to get more? Yes. I think most parents don't even think about it. After all, it is a gift from their child so they thank the child.[/QUOTE


These could be my words, and yes they are gifts from the children.....not us. That being said I got thank you's from 4 out of 6 famlies, ut I would never not do these projects just because my feelings got hurt, I know that the families appreciate this stuff, even if they don't think to say anything

[Hunni Bee]

No.

I don't care whether they thank me. Im not here for their gratitude. But what what gets me is when they dont acknowledge the Childs time and effort. And most of them dont. They really dont concern themselves with what the children do here, unless there's a problem of course.

So I don't overdo it.

And Im not saying it's all or the majority of parents. Just mine.

[momma2girls]

not a one thank you for their Mother's Day gifts we all made!! I think I had one family thank me for the ir Xmas gifts!! I guess over the 9 yrs. I have done daycare, nothing surprises me any longer from anyone!!
I have really cut back on things we do and make. I used to make so much more, I just decided about 4 or 5 yrs. ago, I am definately cutting back on everything!! I used to make a weekly craft, now we do it monthly, depending on what Holiday, or what theme we are using. In April we made kites, and our Mother's Day craft was for May. I am off this Summer, so I will do one Summer craft in Aug. and start Fall ones in the Fall.

[cheerfuldom]

I have usually had very thankful parents. But I did have one DCM that was annoyed (or something) to get things sent home that her daughter did not do ALL on her own. She would act like I was tricking her by saying it was from her daughter. She only liked things that her daughter did completely on her own and so, I barely sent anything home. The little girl was here till she was about 20 months so obviously she wouldnt be doing much of anything without some sort of assistance. I never did understand what that DCMs deal was.....

[karen]

Depends on the parent....Some do and most don't I think this year 4 parents thanked me for the Mother's Day gifts. I am really lucky if I get 1. At the centers it was far and few between. I am used to it....It makes me feel good to have the children make presents for their parents on special holidays.

[jojosmommy]

Sometimes, but mostly not. I figure they don't pay attention to much of what I do with their kids so why would this be any different.

I know when my kid does stuff at school or church I notice and yes I take time to say thanks for watching him, thanks for .... everytime I notice something. Really, it does make a difference.