Do You Buy Birthday Presents?

[Little Star75]

I do, I usually spend between $15-$20 on each child and give them something they like. Tomorrow we will be celebrating one dcg bday we will have a cake that kids will help bake I order pizza and then open her present. I only have 5 children under my care so it's not that expensive for me since their bdays are so far apart.

[VTMom]

I buy a card, balloon, and make cupcakes for each birthday. They're all very excited about their special balloons! If they're here for the day, they also get to determine the menu for the day. I have kids telling me months in advance what they'd like for breakfast (usually pancakes)!

[originalkat]

I have Birthday certificates that I fill out and tape a blow pop onto it. I have 8 DCK and cant afford to buy gifts...not to mention I know I would forget.

I also tape a birthday sign on the door that says "Today we celebrate ______ Birthday!

[mema]

I usually do, about $5, but I think this year I will be skipping it.

[MissAnn]

Do you buy your daycare kids a present on their birthday?

I used to at my old daycare but it got really expensive and was a real pain. It caused lots of last minute runs to the store for b-days that I forgot or scrambling to come up with extra cash at the last minute. With my new daycare, I don't buy gifts and I tell the parents to bring a store bought treat if they want. I have 2 friends that own daycare's and they buy the kids a present that cost around $25 each. One of them also makes a cake for each child. I think that is a bit much and with 3 kids of my own and 1 more on the way, I just can't afford that. Plus, I've only had my new daycare open for about 7 months.

All this being said, I was just wondering what others are doing.

I gave every kid these this year. They love them and all asked for them after the first kid got them.

http://www.amazon.com/Magformers-Magnetic-Building-Construction-Set/dp/B000II0T5K/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1363972763&sr=8-7&keywords=magnetics

[itlw8]

book from Scholastic or markers bought at back to school sales s under $1 now dh works at Scholastic so it is a choice of book so 35 cents per child. parents bring snack if they want if not we serve snack on birthday napkins bought on clearance and cut in half.

[frgsonmysox]

I make a photo album of our year. Parents seem to appreciate the pictures of their kido at my house. It runs me about $10 but it is awesome advertising as all of heir friends look through he album at the party and it is tax deductible..

I love that idea!! I'm going to have to adopt this!

[KnoxMom]

You can always do a "Birthday Box" and keep a crown for the birthday boy/girl. When bday comes, the child can pick out any 1 toy to keep. Parents should always provide the treats but I will order or make veggie pizza for the day. :-)

[Bookworm]

I usually buy a gift. It is usually it much money and because of the relationships have with the child and parent I know what they like. It usually costs me between $10-$15 dollars. I don't mind the expense because I live the look on their face when they open their gift.

[jenn]

I do, but it's always something small. A little box of animal crackers with a tag attached saying "Happy Birthday to one of my favorite little critters!"

For Valentine's Day I gave everyone a little ziploc bag of goldfish and folded a paper over the top and stapled on that said "You're a great catch!"

For Easter they are getting a ziploc with a few chick/bunny peeps and a label on top that says "For one of my favorite Peeps!"

Look on Pinterest for some cute, cheap gifts. I like it because I am recognizing the event, but not spending much money or time to do so.

[bubbiesmama807]

I have bought my daycare kids a small gift for their birthdays, and usually that day I make cupcakes and I usually make pizza for lunch as kind of a small birthday party for them.

The downside about that for me is that with how many parents have thanked me for doing that and appreciate it, there's always the few that don't even bother with a "thank you". Last year I was watching a little girl who turned three while in my care..I knew her favorite character was Minnie Mouse, so I made Minnie Mouse cupcakes that I saw on Pinterest, made a special lunch, sang Happy Birthday, and gave her a gift (a tin of Minnie Mouse puzzles). Her parents didn't really give a hoot, much less thank me.

[WImom]

I have in the past but I'm phasing it out. Parents/kids never said thank you anyways.

Parents can bring a treat and most do. I have a birthday sticker the birthday child can wear and we sing happy birthday to them.

[wdmmom]

I give a small birthday gift to the families that acknowledge me/my birthday/holidays.

I keep the gift under $5 and send it with the parents for the child to open at home.

I have gotten coloring books, crayons, flashcards, puzzles, dry erase books, blocks, books, or matchbox cars. Dollar Tree sells cheap wrapping paper and I can get most things there.

[Lyss]

No birthday gifts, I had a DCM that totally expected me to get DCB one but nope! These kids get enough stuff! I'm not wasting my money on crap they will just throw in a corner or break. I do something special for the DCK on their bday (like we make a special lunch or cookies) and if a parent brings in cupcakes I'll hand them out, right before pick up! ::

I do make a 1st anniversary book for parents of the little ones when they have been here a year. I get those free Shutterfly book coupons all the time so I just save and use one, costs me like $7 for shipping but they turn out 100x better than any scrapbooking I could do! :: Plus I just have a small group so It's not like I'm doing more than one a year, if that.