Do You Buy Birthday Presents?

[JLH]

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.

[butterfly]

I give a book and a small gift for most everything. Birthdays, holidays... I order the $1 books through scholastic. I just order them through my kids' school. For the gifts, I shop clearance and have a small selection of things on hand for forgetten birthdays. I also get a few extra things on black friday or the day after christmas when things are half off. Basically I shop a year ahead of time. I would guess I spend less than $5 per child. I keep reciepts for it all and deduct it off my taxes.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I was spending $5.00 or less on a birthday gift last year. Most of them were things like a puzzle, a velvet picture you color in/paint, etc (Dollar Tree!).

But, then life happened and I forgot to keep doing it. No one ever said thank you and no one has brought up presents since the last birthday celebration with one (perhaps 6 months ago?). I'd like to start doing that again eventually.

[blandino]

We used to buy gifts (maybe 20.00 each) but stopped a few years ago and now give each child a book. And now that we order from scholastic - I will be placing a bulk order to have some on hand, so we don't have to worry about making a last minute trip to the store.

We made a cookie cake for each child, up until maybe two years ago. Now we have the parents send treats.

I actually have a question to ad - does anyone have something they send out telling parents that they need to send a treat ? Since we stopped making the cookie cakes I had one child (who was not with us at the time that we provided birthday cookie cake) whose mom never mentioned doing anything. So when her b-day rolled around we sang to her over our regular snack. It felt very weird - but I didn't want to tell mom to send something. So I would like to know what everyone else does...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I give a book and a small gift for most everything. Birthdays, holidays... I order the $1 books through scholastic. I just order them through my kids' school. For the gifts, I shop clearance and have a small selection of things on hand for forgetten birthdays. I also get a few extra things on black friday or the day after christmas when things are half off. Basically I shop a year ahead of time. I would guess I spend less than $5 per child. I keep reciepts for it all and deduct it off my taxes.

$1 books are a good idea. You could even just give a book!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

We used to buy gifts (maybe 20.00 each) but stopped a few years ago and now give each child a book. And now that we order from scholastic - I will be placing a bulk order to have some on hand, so we don't have to worry about making a last minute trip to the store.

We made a cookie cake for each child, up until maybe two years ago. Now we have the parents send treats.

I actually have a question to ad - does anyone have something they send out telling parents that they need to send a treat ? Since we stopped making the cookie cakes I had one child (who was not with us at the time that we provided birthday cookie cake) whose mom never mentioned doing anything. So when her b-day rolled around we sang to her over our regular snack. It felt very weird - but I didn't want to tell mom to send something. So I would like to know what everyone else does...

I directly tell them, "If you would like to bring a special treat for Susan's birthday, feel free to do so! Donuts have been a popular item that the kids love! "

[Blackcat31]

Nope.

[Meeko]

No gifts. I have 16 daycare kids....I'd go broke, as well as crazy from keeping track of birthdays.

[Blackcat31]

Some other threads about buying DCK's birthday gifts.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=birthday+gift

[lolaland]

Yes... I give 1 under 10 dollars gift... kids participate in baking and decorating a cake/cupcakes and daycare is decorate for a party (disco ball, balloons, ribbons, music, games...). I just love a partyhappyface! (but I keep recipts of all and include in my daycare expenses)

[LK5kids]

I have a birthday box with items from the dollar store. I love hunting for decent things from the $ store. The kids love it! I have a computer box with a lid and both the lid and box are wrapped in BD paper.

[Evansmom]

I don't anymore. Parents never said thank you and seemed to believe it was expected for me to celebrate the children's birthdays.
So I don't celebrate their bday anymore unless the parent brings in something which in my contract has to be a non-food item due to food allergies in our school. No one has brought any tho.

[e.j.]

I have a birthday box with itmes from the dollar store. I love hunting for decent things from the $ store. The kids love it! I have a computer box with a lid wrapped in BD paper.

I do this, too. I put things in like books, puzzles, coloring books, crayons, playdoh, markers and inexpensive toys and games that I find on clearance.

[Luvnmykidz]

In the past when working in centers and home daycares we always gave the BD kid a gift. Usually something simple like stickers, books, crayons and coloring books or puzzles. I think I will have a box with tons of (dollar items) and the BD kid can pick out a gift. The box with the lid decorated sounds like a great idea. Also I was thinking to have a little plastic container go home a few days before the BD kids BD. My DD's (6yr old) kindy class does this and its the cutest thing. They send a plastic tote home that is decorated in tons of celebration stickers and designs and it has a paper attached to it that explainss what its for. Basically the letter says you may bring in something to share with the class for your BD. The item can be treats,goody bags,an age appropriate short movie, cd with your favorite song, family photos that you want to share, favorite story and so on. Treats must be peanut free and individually wrapped to be sent home with the other children. Also all items must be able to fit in the container and allow the lid to close securely, NO Exceptions!!!. The kids enjoy this.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

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..