Appropriate?

[SilverSabre25]

I want to completely replace our play kitchen + all accessories this holiday season. My "Gift" to the daycare, so to speak. I've totaled up what I want (and have a purty little Amazon wish list!) and it totals around $300.

Would it be appropriate to give a letter to my daycare families (All 3 of them, ) letting them know what I want to do and asking for donations to help me achieve it?

part of the problem is that I know for a fact that 1 family can't afford much (mom on bedrest, off work) and the other, the mom can't but dad probably can (divorced). So, I feel bad asking....but $300 is kind of a lot....this is a big investment, nice stuff, etc.

What do you think?

[Heidi]

Do your families usually give you the obligatory candles, soaps, etc Christmas gifts?

If so, maybe you could say something like you always appreciate the thoughtful gifts, but would really like to get something for the whole group instead of just for you. Those who are inclined are welcome to pitch in, but no one should feel obligated. :confused:

[SilverSabre25]

Do your families usually give you the obligatory candles, soaps, etc Christmas gifts?

If so, maybe you could say something like you always appreciate the thoughtful gifts, but would really like to get something for the whole group instead of just for you. Those who are inclined are welcome to pitch in, but no one should feel obligated. :confused:

No....they don't. I'm lucky to get a "merry christmas!" as they walk out the door. Though to be fair, one family wasn't here last Christmas and the other was new, so it's hard to say. The third is the one that's been here 3 years and mom is on bedrest. I did get a $50 gift card once...

[MarinaVanessa]

What I do is add a page on my website that has my daycare wishlist. I post a photo of items and a link to the item on Amazon. I've had parents either buy them elsewhere, donate their used (but in good condition) one, buy it from amazon and bring it in or had them donate change/dollar bills to a change jar. You can also share your wishlist and Amazon will update your list as people (or you) buy the items.

I make sure to list each individual item and in all price ranges.

http://myhelpinghandschildcare.webs.com/our-wish-list

Scroll down passed the materials list

I think it's totally appropriate

[daycare]

I do this every year and I pay for it myself. I just write it off on my taxes.

I could see how if one parent paid more than the other that it could become an issue or what about when the kids move on to formal schooling or move from your DC?

I have some parents that would play tit for tat with me and would demand taking part of it when they left because they paid for it. Horrible, but true.


Is it possible for you to purchase it by maybe selling off some of the other DC stuff that you guys don't use?

[SilverSabre25]

I do this every year and I pay for it myself. I just write it off on my taxes.

I could see how if one parent paid more than the other that it could become an issue or what about when the kids move on to formal schooling or move from your DC?

I have some parents that would play tit for tat with me and would demand taking part of it when they left because they paid for it. Horrible, but true.


Is it possible for you to purchase it by maybe selling off some of the other DC stuff that you guys don't use?

You make good points daycare.

I'm trying to clean out or unused stuff, but most of it is in really bad condition at this point :P There are really REALLY good reasons i'm wanting to replace the kitchen things. it's not just vanity :: and my kids are always so darn hard on things

[daycare]

You make good points daycare.

I'm trying to clean out or unused stuff, but most of it is in really bad condition at this point :P There are really REALLY good reasons i'm wanting to replace the kitchen things. it's not just vanity :: and my kids are always so darn hard on things

I know how you feel, I really would love to replace a few things that the kids have destroyed, but instead of buying new I have since then built my own, repainted or fixed up what we had.

Have you looked at those DIY kitchen sets on pinterest?

Perhaps you could get the parents to donate FREE items to help build a new kitchen.

I scored a free entertainment center off of freecycle and we turned into a really cool stove/fridge that is used out on our patio play area. It cost me about $30 total to make.

[lovemylife]

I wouldn't ask donations. I think it would cause problems if the family left. I once had a parent donate their child's clothing and when I termed them a year later for a big issue she was pretty upset and demanded I give the clothes back.

[daycarediva]

I would send a note home that in lieu of gifts for myself, a donation, however small, for you to put towards the purchase of a large item would be very much appreciated.

I am doing the same, only making a new kitchen set (so the donations would go towards the supplies, nothing that they can buy). I am putting it in my Dec 1st newsletter. My families typically give me a small something. Some give me a weeks pay, others $50, gifts, wine, home made cookies, etc. I have one family that gives nothing, but I don't expect it from them.

[TwinKristi]

Personally I wouldn't for 2 reasons, 1 is the taxes and 2 is the long term idea of it. Daycare is really kind of a short term place in the big picture of children. This purchase will benefit you for years and years to come but their child for only a short time, depending on their ages and stage of their family. IF someone is a gifty type that would normally buy you a gift then I would suggest an Amazon gift card to help with upgrades rather than a personal gift for you.

[permanentvacation]

I don't think it's appropriate. The daycare is your company/business. A company, let's say for example, Domino's Pizza, Walmart, The Mom and Pop's Shop on the corner, etc. do not ask their customers to donate money to their company because they want to enhance their business. I always think of my daycare as a company; a business, just like the ones I mentioned above. Yes, my company is smaller than those, but it is a company and I operate it as such.

You said that the kitchen is what you want to be YOUR gift to the daycare. If you have your clients help pay for it, then it's not YOUR gift. It's a gift from everyone that puts money into it.

When someone specifically requests for donations from a small group of people, it often makes those people feel pressured to be obligated to donate even though they do not have the extra funds to do so. So the request could put unnecessary financial pressure on those that are barely making it financially.

[cara041083]

I don't think it's appropriate. The daycare is your company/business. A company, let's say for example, Domino's Pizza, Walmart, The Mom and Pop's Shop on the corner, etc. do not ask their customers to donate money to their company because they want to enhance their business. I always think of my daycare as a company; a business, just like the ones I mentioned above. Yes, my company is smaller than those, but it is a company and I operate it as such.

You said that the kitchen is what you want to be YOUR gift to the daycare. If you have your clients help pay for it, then it's not YOUR gift. It's a gift from everyone that puts money into it.

When someone specifically requests for donations from a small group of people, it often makes those people feel pressured to be obligated to donate even though they do not have the extra funds to do so. So the request could put unnecessary financial pressure on those that are barely making it financially.

My thoughts exactly.

[Play Care]

I don't think it's appropriate. The daycare is your company/business. A company, let's say for example, Domino's Pizza, Walmart, The Mom and Pop's Shop on the corner, etc. do not ask their customers to donate money to their company because they want to enhance their business. I always think of my daycare as a company; a business, just like the ones I mentioned above. Yes, my company is smaller than those, but it is a company and I operate it as such.

You said that the kitchen is what you want to be YOUR gift to the daycare. If you have your clients help pay for it, then it's not YOUR gift. It's a gift from everyone that puts money into it.

When someone specifically requests for donations from a small group of people, it often makes those people feel pressured to be obligated to donate even though they do not have the extra funds to do so. So the request could put unnecessary financial pressure on those that are barely making it financially.

[MyAngels]

I don't think it's appropriate. The daycare is your company/business. A company, let's say for example, Domino's Pizza, Walmart, The Mom and Pop's Shop on the corner, etc. do not ask their customers to donate money to their company because they want to enhance their business. I always think of my daycare as a company; a business, just like the ones I mentioned above. Yes, my company is smaller than those, but it is a company and I operate it as such.

You said that the kitchen is what you want to be YOUR gift to the daycare. If you have your clients help pay for it, then it's not YOUR gift. It's a gift from everyone that puts money into it.

When someone specifically requests for donations from a small group of people, it often makes those people feel pressured to be obligated to donate even though they do not have the extra funds to do so. So the request could put unnecessary financial pressure on those that are barely making it financially.

[preschoolteacher]

I don't think it's appropriate. The daycare is your company/business. A company, let's say for example, Domino's Pizza, Walmart, The Mom and Pop's Shop on the corner, etc. do not ask their customers to donate money to their company because they want to enhance their business. I always think of my daycare as a company; a business, just like the ones I mentioned above. Yes, my company is smaller than those, but it is a company and I operate it as such.

You said that the kitchen is what you want to be YOUR gift to the daycare. If you have your clients help pay for it, then it's not YOUR gift. It's a gift from everyone that puts money into it.

When someone specifically requests for donations from a small group of people, it often makes those people feel pressured to be obligated to donate even though they do not have the extra funds to do so. So the request could put unnecessary financial pressure on those that are barely making it financially.

I also agree.