Daycare Teacher Gift
“My daughter wants to give holiday gifts to her daycare teachers. What’s appropriate?”
Giving gifts to teachers is a lovely gesture of gratitude, and it offers children an opportunity to express their feelings. That said, don’t feel obligated to hand out presents – educators also appreciate cards or a simple “thank you.”
“Parents don’t need to spend any money if they want to acknowledge a childcare provider,” says Lynn Burgat, executive director of the Kelowna Child Care Society. During her 15 years of working as an early childhood educator, she received an assortment of toiletries, coffee mugs, jewelry, pins, movie passes, plants and chocolate. She appreciates all of them, but thinks that the best were the ones created by kids.
“I got many things that children made – those were wonderful. They made Christmas tree decorations, like tongue-depressor snowmen and reindeer,” says Burgat. “For me, they’re among the more meaningful gifts because a child put effort into them. There is a lot more meaning for an ECE educator if parents involve the child.”
Kids can make simple, inexpensive gifts such as cards, bookmarks, beaded jewelry and decorated picture frames. You can also ask your child to help bake and decorate cookies, then bundle them up in a box or a reusable tin. For another tasty treat, Burgat suggests visiting a dollar store to pick out a coffee mug, then filling it with hot-chocolate mix, marshmallows and a candy cane.
Jaclyn Law
