Christmas Is So Close!

[DaycareMom]

So I was wondering what you all do as far as Christmas gifts for DCKs.

Usually I give them an inexpensive $5-$10 gift. This year was thinking to get them all slippers (to stay here) for them to get from the house to the garage without having to put on shoes as our garage is the play area and perhaps a combined gift for the daycare. What do you think of this idea?

Also, I am at a loss as to what to get for my own children (boy3, and girl5). Since we have the daycare, it seems like they have EVERYTHING!

[NeedaVaca]

I bought a bunch of toys on clearance after Christmas last year and I shop throughout the year and keep those toys in my gift closet. I have done games like Candy Land or age appropriate games for the 3yrs, I have a collection of boy & girls things. Crayons or Play dough are good too.

Parents get quite a few homemade crafts/pictures of their kids, handprint ornaments etc.

My kids get toys that do not go to the daycare area until they are tired of them. One example for my 6 yr DS are the small lego's, I can't keep those in the daycare area because of choking hazards. I figure out what their favorite things are/favorite cartoon or movie characters and then buy those. Another example is my 10 yr DD has been asking for her own pair of chopsticks and she loves pokemon. I found her pokemon chopsticks! She will love it

[Blackcat31]

I close between Christmas and New Years. I have no idea what the DCK's will be getting for Christmas as I don't do anything for them in regards to the holiday and gift giving.

We do collect something for a designated charity or organization each year and instead of supporting the "gimme gimme" behavior of kids now days, I teach them to give back to the community instead.

This year, our organization of choice is our local animal shelter. Families are asked to donate money and/or supplies from a list of items the shelter needs or could use such as pet food, bedding, toys, leashes, bowls, etc...

[WImom]

I am giving a scholastic book with a candy cane taped to the front. I don't do gifts for birthday's or Christmas anymore. For the last two years not one thank you so I stopped.

[MsLaura529]

This is my first Christmas with the daycare kiddos ... I'm planning on finding a $10 range toy for each kiddo, something that goes along with toys that they are interested in here - for example, one of the little girls I have loves to play with our My Little Pony's bin, so I might find something in that dept. for her. Another one that I have loves to build with our blocks, and her mom has said before that they don't have the basic blocks like that at home, so I will be finding that small set for her. They will be making a craft for their parents (a picture ornament and a handprint tile) to bring home.

[MsLaura529]

I am giving a scholastic book with a candy cane taped to the front. I don't do gifts for birthday's or Christmas anymore. For the last two years not one thank you so I stopped.

That is so sad I'm sorry that your thoughtfulness went un-appreciated.

[mema]

Typically I spend around $15 for each child (I usually have 4-5 kiddos) and they make something for the parents. This year was a horrible year financially for about the first 9 months and we are slowly coming back. I have a lot of fabric on hand and books that have never been looked at, so I think I am making them all a "library bag" and putting a book in it.

I think it's a great idea to get a daycare gift that stays at daycare. Something new and exciting to share with their friends! As for your own, I am no help there. My own are hard enough since everything they want is spendy (or at least in my opinion). Maybe get a special book, pj's, movie, blanket, favorite snack and stick it all in a bucket or basket with a coupon book filled with coupons for a one on one book session, family movie night, pj Saturday, or something along those lines. My kids loved that kind of stuff when they were younger.

[melilley]

I lovethis your slipper idea! Kids love them too!
This is my first Christmas with dck's so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Maybe steal your idea....

I think I'm going to have them make a gift for their parents and just give them something little, but I'm definitely going to shop after Christmas and get little gifts for next year!

[sahm1225]

I was also hoping for ideas. We usually Have Santa come to our Christmas party and hand out gifts so it has to be something that is unisex..

I like the play doh idea!

[melilley]

I lovethis your slipper idea! Kids love them too!
This is my first Christmas with dck's so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Maybe steal your idea....

I think I'm going to have them make a gift for their parents and just give them something little, but I'm definitely going to shop after Christmas and get little gifts for next year! I also like BC's idea of donating.

I too am having a hard time figuring out what to get my own 1 yo ds. I know what you mean, between gifts from family, daycare toys and his personal toys, it seems like so much! Now my 10 yo dd, she's easier because she's older.

[TwinKristi]

This is actually something I've been thinking about... I have a family who's been here over a year but pulling their 23 month old to attend Jr Preschool. They've scheduled their last day to be the 20th, even though I'm open the 23rd which I know is to avoid paying for my time off on the 25th. I would normally buy gifts for the DCKs but I almost feel like since they're leaving before Christmas that they shouldn't get a gift! They've really left me in a bind considering our prior communications always were him leaving to go to preschool at 2.5-3.5, not before he's even 2! They gave me lots of notice, but it was still a huge shock. I haven't been able to fill his spot either.

For the one DCB I do have here I was going to buy something small, like PJs or a book or a little Duplo Lego set to go with the one I bought for his bday.

[melilley]

This is actually something I've been thinking about... I have a family who's been here over a year but pulling their 23 month old to attend Jr Preschool. They've scheduled their last day to be the 20th, even though I'm open the 23rd which I know is to avoid paying for my time off on the 25th. I would normally buy gifts for the DCKs but I almost feel like since they're leaving before Christmas that they shouldn't get a gift! They've really left me in a bind considering our prior communications always were him leaving to go to preschool at 2.5-3.5, not before he's even 2! They gave me lots of notice, but it was still a huge shock. I haven't been able to fill his spot either.

For the one DCB I do have here I was going to buy something small, like PJs or a book or a little Duplo Lego set to go with the one I bought for his bday.

Interesting, Jr Preschool? I would not get a gift for the child who is leaving early, especially because you know why they are leaving before Christmas.

[KidGrind]

I close between Christmas and New Years. I have no idea what the DCK's will be getting for Christmas as I don't do anything for them in regards to the holiday and gift giving.

We do collect something for a designated charity or organization each year and instead of supporting the "gimme gimme" behavior of kids now days, I teach them to give back to the community instead.

This year, our organization of choice is our local animal shelter. Families are asked to donate money and/or supplies from a list of items the shelter needs or could use such as pet food, bedding, toys, leashes, bowls, etc...

I really like this idea.

I’ll buy each of my full-time kids a gift. I think an educational toy for the infants and something fun & loud for the toddler.

[TwinKristi]

Interesting, Jr Preschool? I would not get a gift for the child who is leaving early, especially because you know why they are leaving before Christmas.

Ha! Yeah "Jr preschool"... Pretty lame if you ask me. He's sooooo not ready. Every day I bite my tongue when I see his behavior wondering how on earth someone could think that's a good idea. Basically it's daycare with an educational theme. He'll go from 7:15am to 4:30pm. He is a super picky eater, horrible sharer, throws temper tantrums all the time over silly things, hits, spits, spits his food out, spits his milk out, is sick more often than not... It just makes me feel bad for him. He's been here since he was 8mos old after she took him out of his previous provider because she was closing for 2wks and went from a small to a large daycare and he wasn't getting as much attention to sleep. Her daughter was in a home daycare from 3 mos to 3yrs and now she's pulling her son before he's even 2?? Ugh!! I must have really made her mad or something.
But thanks for agreeing, I feel bad in my heart though. I hate that this is even happening, breaks my heart!

[Scout]

That is so sad I'm sorry that your thoughtfulness went un-appreciated.

me too last year. I bought them all a $10 truck or plane since I had all boys then and not one family mentioned it. I dont know if they just fogot since I didnt let them open them here. But,I would have said it before leaving. :confused: