Daycare Birthdays

[lovemykidstoo]

What do you all do about daycare birthdays? I have always (nearly 17 years) given little gifts to the kids for their birthdays and also Christmas. The problem is the items I used to buy were like $5 to $10. Now you can't get anything decent under $20 sometimes. I would really like to get away with it. I had one of my new dck's last week turn 1. I totally forgot about it, which is another issue. I have so much to remember . I'm wondering if now is the time to get done with that kind of thing by not buying for the new ones, but then how do I get away with not getting caught buying for the existing kids? Or should I just keep getting them all a little something. They all have so many toys, books, stuffed animals etc.

[Blackcat31]

What do you all do about daycare birthdays? I have always (nearly 17 years) given little gifts to the kids for their birthdays and also Christmas. The problem is the items I used to buy were like $5 to $10. Now you can't get anything decent under $20 sometimes. I would really like to get away with it. I had one of my new dck's last week turn 1. I totally forgot about it, which is another issue. I have so much to remember . I'm wondering if now is the time to get done with that kind of thing by not buying for the new ones, but then how do I get away with not getting caught buying for the existing kids? Or should I just keep getting them all a little something. They all have so many toys, books, stuffed animals etc.

I don't buy gifts but I do give a card and I give the parent the day for free IF they take the day and spend it with the birthday child. Sadly only one family utilizes this option.

I agree about not being able to get anything worthwhile for under $15-20 and anything more would be so expensive... so I just give a card and the free day option.

I do things a bit different for Christmas but for DCK's birthdays, that is really all I can afford...I have 16 kids enrolled.

[lovemykidstoo]

I don't buy gifts but I do give a card and I give the parent the day for free IF they take the day and spend it with the birthday child. Sadly only one family utilizes this option.

I agree about not being able to get anything worthwhile for under $15-20 and anything more would be so expensive... so I just give a card and the free day option.

I do things a bit different for Christmas but for DCK's birthdays, that is really all I can afford...I have 16 kids enrolled.

That's a good idea to do the certificate. I have 8 enrolled right now and I honestly just don't want to do it anymore. I have 3 of them in April, so there's close to $60 right there. I just think that the kids get too much already and i am tired of trying to figure out what they like, what they have, etc Christmas I don't mind. It's fun, but when my son was in daycare, she didn't buy birthday gifts and I didn't think twice about it. I just don't know how to get away from it. I don't really want to kinda gradually stop with new little ones. I have 2 that will be leaving for preschool here soon. I just started 1 infant and have another starting in a few weeks, so I can start not buying for those 2.

[LysesKids]

What do you all do about daycare birthdays? I have always (nearly 17 years) given little gifts to the kids for their birthdays and also Christmas. The problem is the items I used to buy were like $5 to $10. Now you can't get anything decent under $20 sometimes. I would really like to get away with it. I had one of my new dck's last week turn 1. I totally forgot about it, which is another issue. I have so much to remember . I'm wondering if now is the time to get done with that kind of thing by not buying for the new ones, but then how do I get away with not getting caught buying for the existing kids? Or should I just keep getting them all a little something. They all have so many toys, books, stuffed animals etc.

You do know you are limited to $25 per child for gifts yearly... anything over isn't tax deductible - I usually just do cupcakes & hats on the day of the birthday (along with pics)... gifts I give to the kids are saved for My Winter Holiday party so I can do a holiday bag with a book & stuffed animal & of course the Christmas Crackers (I come from a British family... Christmas poppers are a big to do at my party every year )

[Miss A]

BC, I love that gift idea! I may have to implement that in the new year.

[Baby Beluga]

We sing Happy Birthday to the child, that's it. Occasionally a parent will ask to bring in a treat for their child to celebrate and I am okay with that.
But I don't do birthday gifts or party here. It's just too much. To me, birthday's are supposed to be a special family celebration.

[storybookending]

I do a small gift. It hasn’t been hard for me to find a gift in the $10 range for anyone. The one that turned 1 this summer got a T-shirt and pair of shorts that matched. The 5 year old that moved on to K got a set of matchbox cars on his birthday. The 3 year olds: one got a puzzle and one a little carebear. My next dck birthday is Monday and since I’m already spending what I normally do on my nieces and nephews she’s not getting a daycare present.

For Christmas last year I found a shop on Etsy that had different holiday plush animals and she ironed on their names. Cost me about $8 per child. This year I think I am doing pajamas and possibly a storybook.

Every parent so far has brought in a treat for everyone.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

They get their favorite lunch and we do muffins for snack. We sing happy birthday. If they're old enough they get to make some of choices for the day (activity, story, etc...) and go first when appropriate. I have had the kids make cards for them. We just kind of make it their day, no monetary gifts needed.
I'm in the "they have too much stuff already" boat.

[lovemykidstoo]

I do a small gift. It hasn’t been hard for me to find a gift in the $10 range for anyone. The one that turned 1 this summer got a T-shirt and pair of shorts that matched. The 5 year old that moved on to K got a set of matchbox cars on his birthday. The 3 year olds: one got a puzzle and one a little carebear. My next dck birthday is Monday and since I’m already spending what I normally do on my nieces and nephews she’s not getting a daycare present.

For Christmas last year I found a shop on Etsy that had different holiday plush animals and she ironed on their names. Cost me about $8 per child. This year I think I am doing pajamas and possibly a storybook.

Every parent so far has brought in a treat for everyone.

How old are the kids that you bought the plush animals for? I would love to do something like that for Christmas I did the mini pillow pets one year and they loved them. Maybe even a little blanket with their name on it. How did you find it on Etsy?

[storybookending]

How old are the kids that you bought the plush animals for? I would love to do something like that for Christmas I did the mini pillow pets one year and they loved them. Maybe even a little blanket with their name on it. How did you find it on Etsy?

They were all ages. The 6 I had enrolled ranged in ages from 5 months to 5 years and then I did one extra for the older sister of one of the 2 year olds as I had her that previous summer. I’ll attach the photo below

I just went on Etsy and searched personalized Christmas plush or something like that.. I can look for the exact shop I used during naptime and PM you if interested.

[daycarediva]

I buy $1 books in mass amounts from scholastic. Every time they have $1 book option, I get at least 10. I give them out for birthdays, easter, christmas, halloween, you name it.

That's it.

For birthdays I do a treat of that child's choosing, and we sing happy birthday after PM snack. They get a crown and get to pick things that day.

I love to do PJ's at christmas, but only if I can find a great sale. Carters didn't have enough in their last $6/8 sale, so many Children's place will before christmas.

[lovemykidstoo]

They were all ages. The 6 I had enrolled ranged in ages from 5 months to 5 years and then I did one extra for the older sister of one of the 2 year olds as I had her that previous summer. I’ll attach the photo below

I just went on Etsy and searched personalized Christmas plush or something like that.. I can look for the exact shop I used during naptime and PM you if interested.

Oh my gosh those are adorable! yes if you could find the shop I'd love it thank you!

[lovemykidstoo]

I buy $1 books in mass amounts from scholastic. Every time they have $1 book option, I get at least 10. I give them out for birthdays, easter, christmas, halloween, you name it.

That's it.

For birthdays I do a treat of that child's choosing, and we sing happy birthday after PM snack. They get a crown and get to pick things that day.

I love to do PJ's at christmas, but only if I can find a great sale. Carters didn't have enough in their last $6/8 sale, so many Children's place will before christmas.

I love the book idea too, but then I hear my parents all the time saying how many books they have. Do I care? hmmmm

[Miss A]

I buy $1 books in mass amounts from scholastic. Every time they have $1 book option, I get at least 10. I give them out for birthdays, easter, christmas, halloween, you name it.

That's it.

For birthdays I do a treat of that child's choosing, and we sing happy birthday after PM snack. They get a crown and get to pick things that day.

I love to do PJ's at christmas, but only if I can find a great sale. Carters didn't have enough in their last $6/8 sale, so many Children's place will before christmas.

I got an email yesterday that children's place is having a 75% off sale now

[Jupadia]

I don't do a daycare birthday gift, but my kids go to the do kids birthdays and they come to my kids birthdays cause their all the same ages. I do spend around $30 each kid then. If my kids aren't going to the party then I don't worry about spending as much and give the child stickers and a small book (under $5).

Christmas I spend about $10 each. I look for sales and grab a gift then.