Christmas gift ideas?
December 8th, 2008
With the holiday season here, I of course want to get Julia, our home daycare provider a gift. She is such an invaluable member of our and Lucy’s life — almost like an extended family member — that she deserves far more than we could ever afford.
She and her three boys are avid campers (seriously, they went winter camping last year. Like in the snow and everything), so last year we got her a $25 gift card to Moutain Equipment Co-op.
Julia isn’t much of a girly-girl, so my inital instinct to treat her to a manicure/pedicure doesn’t go (plus one of her sons actually laughed when I suggested it). I’d really like to get her something just for her, as she devotes so much time to her daycare and her own kids that I think she deserves and needs it.
Suggestions?
Caregivers, what gifts have you received in the past? Any favourites jump out at you?
Parents, what have you given to your daycare providers?
December 8th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
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December 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Everyone needs a hair cut occassionaly!
Garden Centre Gift Cert. as she loves to garden.
I wouldn’t discount the mani/pedi, being a single parent with 2 boys, she probably doesn’t have that in her budget.
Offer to have sons to your house for a day, so she could have a day to herself!
December 9th, 2008 at 12:03 am
How about a gift card to a nice restaurant (ie: The Keg which just opened up in Ajax this past summer).
I got one a couple of months ago from a friend and enjoyed a nice dinner out with my whole family…
December 9th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I struggled with this, too. You are so right. How do you thank someone who is so important in your child’s life? I’m actually going to take picture’s of my daycare provider’s children along with her daycare children this afternoon as a thank you. This is a bit dual-purpose because it’s also for all the daycare kids’s parents, too.
Also, our provider is taking some time off during the holidays, so although she doesn’t expect vacation pay, I planned to pay her anyway as well as write a really nice note and give her a Christmas bonus.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Depending on how old your child is, maybe you can involve them in making your daycare provider a gift. Or even if you buy a gift for her, you could work with your little one to make a thank you/holiday card for her.
I am all for supporting our local business so maybe a gift certificate from a neighborhood rest. or store? Or if you want to make a purchase online, think about supporting a mom-owned business.
Good luck!
December 10th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I took a trip to Bath and Body Works as every woman loves a nice bubble bath. They have a fantastic winter collection right now of Candy Apple, Wintergreen, Candycane and other scents of bubble bath, handwash, lotion, body butter etc…
A daycare provider always needs hand soaps and lotions because of all the germ-y little fingers etc. Bath and Body works has a sale on right now mix n’ match 3 for $12!!!!!!
Cant beat it. I stocked up for myself, my son’s teacher, his daycare provider and to have gifts in case I need a last minute something to take with me as a hostess gift.
New stores are at Fairview Mall at 404 and Sheppard and Yorkdale.
ps…. My favourite scent is the Coconut Lime Verbena and i also comes in a pretty little wall air diffuser. Plug it in and your favourite scent permeates throughout the house!
December 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I’ve received many gifts over the years from my daycare families.
I LOVE child-made gifts best!!
But my other favourites included:
-gift card to Chapters
-a fruit bouquet from Edilble Arrangements
-gift card to the mall
-movie tickets
Because I have small children of my own, it’s often hard for me to get away – so gift cards to get massages, pedicures etc…although thoughtful, might not be practical. And I don’t like lotions and soaps – I have sensitive skin and can’t use many of them.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
[...] Christmas gift ideas? / Durham Region DaycareTampa Bay Parent
March 16th, 2009 at 1:38 am
If you have a vegetarian in the family, consider offering up one of these dishes for them so that they can still enjoy Christmas dinner with the family without feeling uncomfortable: cabbage rolls; eggplant gratin; lasagna; moussaka; vegetable pot pit; ratatouille; spanalopita; vegetable gratin; veggie loaf; or winter squash risotto.