DCK's Birthday

[SilverSabre25]

Special snack and I get them a gift (that i give them before they leave). It's a book of course. Always a book. I also give books at Christmas and when they leave to go to school. :P

I like the written policy thing though. That needs to happen.

[Daycaregranny]

We go crazy!! I love birthdays soooo we get a character cake, balloons, party favors, banners and a few presents $50ish and a pinniata (sp). Birthday parties are included in our program. We love it, our kids love it and our families love it. It's a win win for everyone here. I know it's not something that others want or like to do but it's wonderful here.

[AmyKidsCo]

We go crazy!! I love birthdays soooo we get a character cake, balloons, party favors, banners and a few presents $50ish and a pinniata (sp). Birthday parties are included in our program. We love it, our kids love it and our families love it. It's a win win for everyone here. I know it's not something that others want or like to do but it's wonderful here.

Wow! Someday I hope to be organized enough to go all out. I allow the parents to bring treats for snack, otherwise I provide a birthday treat. We do candles and sing, which usually freaks out the birthday kid and makes them cry.

[Daycaregranny]

It really isn't hard at all. We have a birthday train on the wall which lists all the kids birthdays. When I go grocery shopping for the week I pick up the party supplies and it's done. We don't have the party until after nap so while they are sleeping we get it all put together.

[TwinKristi]

I have 2 with birthdays Sunday and 2 more with birthdays about a week apart in Sept-Oct LOL I'm trying to decide what to do... I have cute cards but if I do a gift for everyone that could get really expensive.

[Play Care]

I refuse buy toys for dck's. They all have every toy known to man (and I know because they try to get them past me) I used to do books (and still do for Christmas) but after hearing "oh let me guess, another book?!" I was ALL done. *If* we are invited to a birthday party and are able/willing to go then I do a gift.

I used to have several well-to-do families that would go all out for the dck's birthdays, but I also had parents who struggled and couldn't afford to gift and felt uncomfortable they couldn't reciprocate. Took away gifts at dc. DONE.

I also had some families that were sending in elaborate cakes, gifts and treats and I felt like I was expected to essentially throw a party for the child - and heaven forbid anything happened that took away from the birthday kid
(It's quite the story... even DH was like and he usually isn't :: )

I've learned this last year that my dck's don't need gifts to have a special day. Getting to be line leader is a BIG deal :: Getting to pick a special treat is a BIG deal. I even make a special paper crown that has their name in glitter. Big doings! :: basically just a little extra that makes the child feel special but doesn't leave me feeling used and abused

[Daycaregranny]

The reason we do parties here is for me basically. One I LOVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES. I enjoy all the kids excitement over them. Every time we celebrate a child's birthday ALL the children are happy. I started doing the whole shebang years and years ago. I had two different events that made me decide to do them. First, I was invited to one of my children's birthday party at their home. I wasn't busy so I purchased a small gift and went. The following month I was invited to another child's party. This time I had other plans and did not attend. I didn't think it would matter that much to her but it did. She was truely hurt that I didn't come to her party. That bothered me. The next issue was when one of my families had their child's party. They invited some of the other children but not all. The parents didn't get along with some of my other families and this was uncomfortable to say the least. Look, I watch children not families and I'm not getting into the middle of all that. What bothered me about that was all the children here are friends. So I decided to include birthdays into our program. The cost of the birthdays is included in their daycare fee. I no longer attend any birthdays outside of our party. It's not a hassle, I'm not being used, my families love it, my kids love it. I added $5 a week to my weekly rate to pay for birthdays. I have to say that the pictures we take at the birthday parties have gotten us more business than any other advertising I have done combined. happyfacehappyface