Daycare Provider Gift Ideas
How much are you supposed to spend on a gift for your daycare provider?It's a common question around the office, among friends and on chat boards.The Answer: There is no right answer. Proper etiquette experts say that for the holidays, a daycare provider's gift should equal one week's pay. Some people have no problem with that guideline, but for others that is quite extreme. It might depend on what you can afford, or it might depend on what your normal gift-giving standards are. Hopefully you have a provider that deserves the best and you'll put her at the top of your list no matter what you want to spend. Gifts come in all shapes, sizes and monetary value. The monetary value isn't the most important part of a gift. It's the thought that goes into the gift that counts with the majority of daycare providers. Very popular items to give a daycare provider are candles, coffee mugs and bath sets. Although these are nice gifts to receive, keep in mind that it's very common and your provider probably already has a lot of them. Browse this list below for some more "unique" gift ideas.
Services Provided: - Substitute Daycare Provider - A substitute provider has to meet requirements set by the licensing agency, but if you happen to meet these requirements, give your provider some time to herself. Maybe she could meet someone for lunch or go get her nails or hair done.
- Evening Babysitting - If your daycare provider has small children of her own, give her an evening of free babysitting while she enjoys a relaxing dinner, a movie or whatever else she may like.
- Housecleaning - Purchase professional cleaning service for a couple of times of free service. If that's out of your price range, offer to do the housecleaning service yourself for as many hours as you'd like your gift to value. Hey, it may not be the most glamorous thing to do, but it wouldn't cost you a thing!
Food Related: - Restaurant Gift Card - If you can make it to a restaurant nicer than they are used to, even better.
- Coffee Shop Gift Card - Be sure that your provider is a coffee drinker.
- Have a meal delivered from a local restaurant or a meal delivery service.
 Your provider will appreciate not having to cook for her family for an evening or two.
|  | - Gourmet Muffins or Bagels - Find a local shop that can create a nice gift basket.
- Freezer Meals - Many towns have shops where you go in and prepare meals to put in freezer bags for future use. Prepare one for your daycare provider, deliver it to her to put in her freezer and then any evening she chooses, she will not have to fix dinner for the family. If you do not live in a town with this type of shop, consider fixing a freezer meal yourself.
  | - Sweets - Although many daycare providers will tell you they don't want chocolate
 because they don't need chocolate, there are just as many providers who would love to receive a box of chocolates as a gift. Do a little questioning beforehand to find out her favorite candy.
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Daycare Provider T-shirts and Sweatshirts:
Items from CafePress: 
Pampering Items: - Day Spa Certificate - Your provider spends a lot of time taking care of children and taking care of her family. Give her a day where somebody takes care of her. She can choose from a massage, a facial, a manicure or a pedicure.
- Hair Salon Certificate - It can be for a service she's used to or it would allow her to splurge on something she's never had done before.
- Nail Salon Certificate - Daycare providers are typically not very good at doing special things for themselves. A nice set of acrylics or a french manicure is probably something they don't do for themselves very often.
- Foot Massager - A daycare provider's day is spent mostly on her feet. Nothing would feel better after a long day of chasing after children than to sit down on the couch and turn on a foot and calf massager.
Unique Gifts: - Gift Basket - For the provider who has everything, why not order a unique gift basket
 that can be delivered to her. You can create your own or choose one from a large variety of themes.
|  |   | - Magazine Cover
 - Put your daycare provider on a magazine cover. Use the headlines to tell her how much she is appreciated!
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Entertainment: - Concert/Play Tickets - Tickets to the local theater or to an upcoming concert coming to your town would give your provider a nice evening out.
- Movie Tickets - This gift can be used anytime and fits any personality. No matter what your provider's taste or preferences, there will be a movie at the theater for her to enjoy.
- Book Store Gift Card - Another very versatile gift. No matter your provider's taste, she'll be able to find a book to enjoy.
- I-Pod/I-Tunes Gift Card - If she doesn't have an I-Pod, introduce her to one. If she does have an I-Pod, supply her with more music.
- Net-Flix Membership - A monthly subscription service to have movies delivered right to her house.
Interests and Hobbies: - Add to a Collection - Find out if your provider has an special item she collects such as angels, dolphins, or unicorns. Then add to the collection. You could find an item in any price range you're aiming for.
- Professional Sports Clothing - Buy her a t-shirt, sweatshirt or any other item from her favorite sports team.
- Hobby Supplies - Scrapbooking and stamping are two very popular hobbies. For any hobby she may have, buy supplies she would not be willing to buy herself.
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Supplies for the Daycare: I wouldn't suggest this gift idea for just any daycare provider, but if you're dealing with a provider who's just getting started in the business and has a lot of expenses trying to get her business running, she may very well appreciate these gifts. - Art Supplies - Basic art supplies such as construction paper, scissors, glue, tempera paint or any other commonly used item.
- Toys - A new daycare can always use more toys and you could fit this into any price range you'd like to spend.
- Advertising Sign - Have a banner made for your provider to hang in her yard when she has openings in her daycare.
- Delivered Meal - Have a meal delivered to daycare so that the provider doesn't have to cook lunch one day.
Monetary: - Cold, Hard Cash - Of course, cash is appreciated by anyone. You can give whatever amount you wish and the provider can choose how to use it. You could just come up with an amount you'd like to give, or give her an extra week's pay or give her a voluntary raise in each weeks fee.
- Visa Gift Card - You may not be comfortable giving cash. A Visa gift card can be for any amount you'd like to give and can be used anywhere by the daycare provider. This allows your provider to buy items for the daycare if she needs or buy things for herself if she wants.
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Daycare Provider Retirement Gift/Leaving Daycare Gift:   | - A Watch
 With a note that says "Thanks for the time that you've spent with us" or "Thanks for the time that you've given us." The provider will think of her memories with your family every time she checks the time!
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Miscellaneous: - Digital Photo Frame - A gift that can be used for her family photos or for daycare photos.
- Willow Tree Figurines - Available at specialty stores, they feature angel figurines, along with parents, daycare providers, teachers and others with children.
- Everyday Jewelry - Instead of something real sparkly, give her a piece of jewelry
 that would fit into her everyday wardrobe she wears for daycare. - Mall Gift Card - A gift card to a local mall allows your daycare provider to shop at any store she chooses.
- Department Store Gift Card - Investigate into what her favorite department store is and buy her a gift card there.
- GiftCertificates.com is a website that allows you to buy your daycare provider a Super Certificate in any dollar amount. She can then decide which store she'd like to receive a gift card from. There is a large variety of stores to choose from and the certificate never expires. (And it's an instant gift when you need a last minute idea!)
 | - Bouquet of Flowers - Flowers
 work for any occasion and make a great last minute gift idea.
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Fun and Creative: - Warm Tootsies - Buy a pair of big, fuzzy socks. Fill them with tootsie rolls and attach a note that says, "Something to Keep Your Tootsie's Warm".
No matter how much you choose to spend or what you decide to buy, include a note or letter to let your daycare provider know how much you appreciate what she does for you and your child every single day. Warning: When deciding on a gift to purchase for your daycare provider, DON'T buy anything that refers to the provider as a babysitter. That's a guaranteed insult.
If you've come up with a unique gift idea that is perfect for a daycare provider, please send it to us so that we can share it with other parents.
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