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Parents and Guardians Forum>Christmas Presents
lovemykidstoo 07:17 PM 10-28-2012
I was wondering since we're getting almost into the season if you guys get your dck's Christmas gifts. I do and usually spend about 10-15 on each child. Sometimes I like to get the boys all the same thing and the girls all the same thing to eliminate present envy. Was wondering what your favorite things were to get the kids and how much you typically spend.
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Daycarelady1979 08:05 PM 10-28-2012
I do, yes, and about $10-$15 each is also what I spend. I try to choose something the child really likes, I try to make it personal for each one...their favorite color, character, etc. It varies every year. I also host a daycare Christmas party & provide all the stuff to make & decorate cookies. It's a lot of fun!
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daycarediva 02:49 AM 10-29-2012
I am getting them two favorite books from this year, and a small art kit and smock.

I have NO CLUE what to do for my SA'ers though.
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lovemykidstoo 04:22 AM 10-29-2012
I love doing the art kits too. They really love them.
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cheerfuldom 06:16 AM 10-29-2012
No I dont. I barely spend $15 or so on family members, not about to add another $100 worth of gifts for my daycare kids. We will do some special little crafts, maybe send home some baked goods but in general, I do not do gifts for any holidays or birthdays. Unfortunately, I have also read several providers having problems on this board with parents throwing away gifts (at the daycare!) or complaining about what was given or making a huge deal when something is not given for every holiday. Some people just cannot handle any special treatment and I dont need the grief plus I dont have the extra money usually.
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Lilbutterflie 06:23 AM 10-29-2012
I usually spend about $10-$15 on each child, but I only watch 3 children.

This year, though; I am crocheting them some super cute winter hats! Each hat will cost less than $5. My Angry Bird lover will get an angry bird hat, my monkey lover will get a sock monkey hat, and my cute little girly girl will get a pretty hat with interchangeable flowers to match her outfits.
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lovemykidstoo 06:26 AM 10-29-2012
Originally Posted by Lilbutterflie:
I usually spend about $10-$15 on each child, but I only watch 3 children.

This year, though; I am crocheting them some super cute winter hats! Each hat will cost less than $5. My Angry Bird lover will get an angry bird hat, my monkey lover will get a sock monkey hat, and my cute little girly girl will get a pretty hat with interchangeable flowers to match her outfits.
super cute idea. you should post pics!!
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HappyHearts 06:27 AM 10-29-2012
I do. I tend to go a little overboard though. Every year I tell myself I am going to cut back, but by the time I start my shopping I don't. I try and make the gifts a little personal, picking out things I know they like, favorite character, themes, dolls, etc. I have a separate Christmas tree in the daycare/classroom area, that is childcare themed and the only gifts under it are for the daycare kids.

Every year 'almost' all of my daycare parents have their children come in with small gifts for each child in my care too. Our Christmas party is normally a big event, and the parents are often very involved.

Keep in mind, I have no children of my own, so buying for the daycare kids is an exciting time for me.
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lil angels 06:46 AM 10-29-2012
I also spend around 10 or 15 per kid. Not sure what I am doing this yr. I normally get the boys something and then get the girls something. Last year I picked up little watch lip glosses and a bunch of hair ponies. So I can give those to the girls with a little something else. I guess I am not much help I am still thinking to.
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itlw8 07:39 AM 10-29-2012
I spend about 3 to 5 on each child and I get them books. Dh works at scholastic so I get books at the employee book store. Before he worked there I bought the books and book order gift certificates from Scholastic.
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Childminder 08:11 AM 10-29-2012
I also get books and a small toy, spending under $10 each year. This year I scored 16 easels at an online auction for $2.61 ea, one side a chalk board and one side a whiteboard. I looked on line and they are $26 plus shipping each.
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Blackcat31 11:51 AM 10-29-2012
I do not buy any of my daycare kids Christmas gifts. I have several reasons for this.
With that said, I do send home a very nice handwritten card to each daycare child telling them what personal attributes and qualities about them that I love. I also include a few snap shots of them doing their favorite activities from the last year.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:58 AM 10-29-2012
Mine isn't really a Christmas gift. I plan to make little photo books for each child of the past year here. There are usually deals that happen (often with artscow.com, making them about $5-7) so I plan to use those. They'll probably get them AFTER New Years since it'll take me awhile to create 12 separate books.

I am dreading it. LOL! I am VERY tempted to just get regular albums and get the photos printed and stick them in there. Would that be so bad?!
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saved4always 04:37 PM 10-29-2012
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Mine isn't really a Christmas gift. I plan to make little photo books for each child of the past year here. There are usually deals that happen (often with artscow.com, making them about $5-7) so I plan to use those. They'll probably get them AFTER New Years since it'll take me awhile to create 12 separate books.

I am dreading it. LOL! I am VERY tempted to just get regular albums and get the photos printed and stick them in there. Would that be so bad?!
That would not be bad at all! If you are anything like me, you don't have a ton of extra time. I would totally do the regular albums.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 04:41 PM 10-29-2012
Originally Posted by saved4always:
That would not be bad at all! If you are anything like me, you don't have a ton of extra time. I would totally do the regular albums.
Extra time I do not, in fact, have. I actually NEED to have time to do nothing. Darn Asperger's and my overstimulation issues.
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mema 05:09 PM 10-29-2012
I usually spend about $10 each and get them craft items or a book. Normally I hit the school sales and get crayons, markers, etc, but this year I forgot all about it. I plan on ordering books from my dd scholastic!
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MrsSteinel'sHouse 05:54 PM 10-29-2012
I usually have the kidlets make an ornament for their parents We are using the glass ornaments this year and painting inside them. Simple, pretty and loved by my parents. It is really neat to go to the house of a child you watched over 10 years ago and see all the ornaments from my house still going on their tree.
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Auntie'sHouse 04:39 PM 10-30-2012
For $5 I go to Walmart with a scan disk and put together a bunch of pictures that were taken of their children doing different activities, field trips or holidays in a book-like photo album. The parents adore it.
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Candyland 07:57 PM 10-30-2012
Originally Posted by Auntie'sHouse:
For $5 I go to Walmart with a scan disk and put together a bunch of pictures that were taken of their children doing different activities, field trips or holidays in a book-like photo album. The parents adore it.
Fabulous idea!
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avaross09 02:22 AM 11-02-2012
I usually prefer to give chocolate or cookies baskets to all the kids because almost all kids love them any time.
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dave4him 02:30 AM 11-02-2012
Probably not,cant really afford it
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littlemissmuffet 07:45 AM 11-02-2012
I used to, but starting this Christmas I am no longer giving gifts. Each family will get a holiday card and that's it. My reasons? Exact same as BlackCat's!
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mom2many 08:17 AM 11-02-2012
I just do something small. Usually a book and g/c to the neighborhood ice cream parlor & spend around $15 total for each child.

Last year I made fleece scarves for everyone and got them each gloves too. I made no sew fleece blankets for the babies & toddlers.

I have also done art supplies in the past too & the kids love that.

I have 8 kids---sometimes 10 if I have P/T too, so I need to keep it to around $15.
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bunnyslippers 10:49 AM 11-02-2012
I have been mulling this over all day today. Last year, I made every child/family a homemade cookie mix in a mason jar and a copy of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

This year, I think I am making each child a no-sew fleece blanket. The kits at Walmart are about 12-15 each, and they have some preferred characters on them (spiderman, disney princesses, etc.) I am also going to buy some blank stretch canvas and have each child make a handprint christmas tree, reindeer or santa as a gift for the parents from the children.

I am intrigued by this glass ornament that you paint inside...more info, please!
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kitykids3 05:49 PM 11-03-2012
I usually do too. About $10-15 per kiddo. Some years they get a stocking filled with little goodies from Oriental Trading. I also get them a birthday gift. I make them personal, depending on their interests at the time. With 9 kiddos, it does become a little expensive, but I love doing it. Plus, I have awesome families that really appreciate it. Their kids don't 'expect' things or have lots of toys. Plus they're always making thank you cards and holiday/birthday cards for me. We also have an annual Christmas party and Easter Egg hunt. We're like a little extended family with mutual respect, so I really like doing it.
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lovemykidstoo 06:17 PM 11-03-2012
Just curious while we're on the subject everyone's families buy them gifts. Mine always have. One of my mom even brought be a Halloween treat. They were 2 soup kits from Harry and David. One was tortilla soup and the other was tomato basil. Cannot wait to make them.
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Countrygal 01:09 PM 11-06-2012
I bought the dc kids small presents last year (under 10), but this year I bought presents for the daycare instead, which I am going to wrap and we will open them all together as presents to ourselves for at daycare! I have all pre-schoolers, so I think they will be able to understand that the presents stay at daycare and are for everyone to play with. This way I was able to get a couple of toys that were a little bit larger and more useful.....
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LK5kids 01:19 AM 11-17-2012
I tend to go to Walmart after Christmas and stock up on clearance toys. Then I have a variety of nice things to pick from the next year. I suppose they are $5.00 after markdown. I've also always had a birthday box. It's filled with things from the dollar store and love it and so do the kids. I also have fun scouting dollar stores for fairly good quality things. Simple, fun, and affordable.
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LK5kids 01:20 AM 11-17-2012
Originally Posted by Countrygal:
I bought the dc kids small presents last year (under 10), but this year I bought presents for the daycare instead, which I am going to wrap and we will open them all together as presents to ourselves for at daycare! I have all pre-schoolers, so I think they will be able to understand that the presents stay at daycare and are for everyone to play with. This way I was able to get a couple of toys that were a little bit larger and more useful.....
Good idea!
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spud912 01:26 PM 11-17-2012
I love how we are all so different and it works well for each of us. I admit, I am a huge gift giver. I love giving things to people and spend a lot of time trying to come up with something creative and thoughtful for each person. I give to everyone....it's just who I am. I give gifts to neighbors, strangers, parents, the children, my family, my extended family, friends, ex-coworkers, etc.

I try to limit the costs but I find those closest to me tend to get more. It may limit our savings every year, but it fills my heart with happiness to think of everyone and plan something special. I try to limit the cost of daycare children's gifts to $20 (usually a $10 toy special for the child and a stocking filled with $10 worth of stuff that's identical for each child).

For those who I am not particularly close to, I give a tin of homemade baked goods. I absolutely love to bake so I usually end up making a variety of about 5-10 different cookies/candies. Each recipe makes about 2 dozen or more of the item x 5-10 different recipes = a lot of goodies. I don't usually eat much of it and neither does my husband, so we end up giving most of it away.
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Sunchimes 03:18 PM 11-17-2012
I only have 2 kids this year. I am making 27 mo dcg a purse and this wooden food for her kitchen at home. http://sewcakemake.blogspot.com/2011...ies-check.html The food is subject to change since time is running short.

10 mo old dcb is getting a rainbow book and either a sock monkey or some farm animal fabric balls. Oh, and dcg is getting a small flashlight. She found mine and her favorite game is to turn off the light and play "find things". Since I have 3 big windows in the play room, it doesn't get dark, but she thinks it's fun.

I'll probably do a handprint ornament out of Model Magic unless I stumble across something more exciting for the parents.
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Meeko 06:40 PM 11-18-2012
I make it very cheap as I have 16-20 kids depending on schedules. This year is homemade playdoh in decorated tins (used formula cans) Other years I have baked cookies and put in pretty bags etc. No toys etc. Waaay to expensive for this many kids.

I do send each family a card with a nice personal note. Some notes are easy because I love the families. Some are written with grit teeth........
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lovemykidstoo 04:28 AM 11-19-2012
Originally Posted by spud912:
I love how we are all so different and it works well for each of us. I admit, I am a huge gift giver. I love giving things to people and spend a lot of time trying to come up with something creative and thoughtful for each person. I give to everyone....it's just who I am. I give gifts to neighbors, strangers, parents, the children, my family, my extended family, friends, ex-coworkers, etc.

I try to limit the costs but I find those closest to me tend to get more. It may limit our savings every year, but it fills my heart with happiness to think of everyone and plan something special. I try to limit the cost of daycare children's gifts to $20 (usually a $10 toy special for the child and a stocking filled with $10 worth of stuff that's identical for each child).

For those who I am not particularly close to, I give a tin of homemade baked goods. I absolutely love to bake so I usually end up making a variety of about 5-10 different cookies/candies. Each recipe makes about 2 dozen or more of the item x 5-10 different recipes = a lot of goodies. I don't usually eat much of it and neither does my husband, so we end up giving most of it away.
Can I give you my address?!!
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spud912 06:36 AM 11-19-2012
Originally Posted by lovemykidstoo:
Can I give you my address?!!
Excuse the bad picture, but here is my stash from last year:

I made 9 goodies last year (from upper left: chocolate covered peanut butter busters, chocolate covered cherry, Russian teacakes, chocolate drizzled macaroon, peanut butter blossom, jelly thumbprint cookie, peppermint bark, sugar cookie and toffee). All of the cookies were made from scratch and the chocolate candies were made from tempered chocolate, not the commercially prepared chocolate dips.
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lovemykidstoo 06:58 AM 11-19-2012
Those look delicious!! I think I just gained 5 lbs!!
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