Opinions please!! Gifts for ladies in creche

Chattymummy

Hey,
I hope this doesn't come across as being mean or stingy, but I have a toddler in creche for only few hours a week and I'm seeing a lot of posts on fb about buying gifts for the ladies in there.. In my one there up to 5 different people when I go in most weeks on rotation obviously, depending on number of children.. But I think its rididculios to be buying wine or other gifts for a number of different people there.. I'm on a very tight budget, hard enough to but money aside for essentials never mind buying gifts for 4 or 5 people when I'm already paying good money in fees..I just think its crazy show off type of thing that puts pressure on others.. Then again I don't want to be seen as not appreciating the girls in there cause I really do..
Please don't judge me as being mean as I'm the complete opposite..

shesty

I am actually pondering this for my little one's playschool.

I was thinking maybe some homemade cakes?( for something different?).Decorated nicely?
Or is that a bit ridiculous?We are the same she has 5/6 "teachers" in her room and I feel I should get something that could be shared.Would that idea work for you?

Chattymummy

shesty wrote: »

I am actually pondering this for my little one's playschool.

I was thinking maybe some homemade cakes?( for something different?).Decorated nicely?
Or is that a bit ridiculous?We are the same she has 5/6 "teachers" in her room and I feel I should get something that could be shared.Would that idea work for you?

Yes, now that sounds much better than buying 6 bottles of wine haha. That's actually a lovely idea..

shesty

Do you think so?I just thought they could share them out (I don't know how much interaction she has with all the teachers so I was a bit reluctant to buy them all something), and I didn't want to go way over the top.But I w asn't sure would it be a bit odd!But then I always appreciate cake when it's offered so.....!!!!!

Chattymummy

shesty wrote: »

Do you think so?I just thought they could share them out (I don't know how much interaction she has with all the teachers so I was a bit reluctant to buy them all something), and I didn't want to go way over the top.But I w asn't sure would it be a bit odd!But then I always appreciate cake when it's offered so.....!!!!!

Yep, I definetly think its a lovely idea and its what I'll be doing now that you gave me the idea.. The point you make about the interaction with all in creche is correct.. I only know off 2 ladies who are fantastic when I arrive with my little lad and one if them always gives me feedback when I come to collect..my boy is only new there too and an only child and the idea of bringing in wine, chocolates, which have been suggested on groups I'm on, sounds too much and expensive when likes of me struggle weekly on budget...

Happy Xmas (haha, hope its not too early)

Toots

The cakes are a good idea, or else a nice box of chocolates that they could share. It's nuts to be having to buy multiple presents for 5+ staff, Christmas is expensive enough. I bought a present for my son's playschool teacher and the assistant, but it was just those two working there, so the kids saw them every day. In his primary school now they have a rule where they ask parents specifically NOT to buy gifts for the teachers/assistants etc because it gets so expensive. The parents association runs a collection so if parents want to throw a fiver or tenner into that, they can.

Chattymummy

Toots wrote: »

The cakes are a good idea, or else a nice box of chocolates that they could share. It's nuts to be having to buy multiple presents for 5+ staff, Christmas is expensive enough. I bought a present for my son's playschool teacher and the assistant, but it was just those two working there, so the kids saw them every day. In his primary school now they have a rule where they ask parents specifically NOT to buy gifts for the teachers/assistants etc because it gets so expensive. The parents association runs a collection so if parents want to throw a fiver or tenner into that, they can.

Yeah so true, wish they all had a policy in place because I think it crazy to arrive with gifts for each 'teacher' and there could be up to 5 in a room.. Trust me I'm seeing fb posts of mothers saying buy the wine offer which is 6 for price of 4 or something and walking into creches with crates of wine.. Its pressure that's not needed this time of year for most people if not all whether admitted or not.. When I was in school, we made cards or pictures now its bottles or wine, new bridge items, vouchers.. Just makes me laugh

shesty

I actually think a lot of primary shools have that no present policy now, I seem to remember hearing someting about that before.And at least with primary school,it's just one teacher.With playschools and creches, it's a alot more.

jlm29

My lbs school has the same policy. I’m sure they no more want thirty (or however many) bottles of wine and boxes of chocs than the man in the moon.
Something to share is a good idea. You could even buy something like a nice set of mugs for the staff room, or some kind of Christmas decoration if you didn’t want to do cake. Though cake is always good. I like cake a bit too much!

jlm29

My lbs school has the same policy. I’m sure they no more want thirty (or however many) bottles of wine and boxes of chocs than the man in the moon.
Something to share is a good idea. You could even buy something like a nice set of mugs for the staff room, or some kind of Christmas decoration if you didn’t want to do cake. Though cake is always good. I like cake a bit too much!

Chattymummy

jlm29 wrote: »

My lbs school has the same policy. I’m sure they no more want thirty (or however many) bottles of wine and boxes of chocs than the man in the moon.
Something to share is a good idea. You could even buy something like a nice set of mugs for the staff room, or some kind of Christmas decoration if you didn’t want to do cake. Though cake is always good. I like cake a bit too much!

You see, I was in this thinking until I was looking at parenting sites where staff themselves where saying they do appreciate an aul bottle of wine AND chocolates.. Just sounds crazy to me and I posted here for reassurance that my mindset wasn't being mean or hard up looking... I honestly appreciate and respect childcare workers immensely, but the idea of spending possibly 30 euro is something I simply cannot afford that... I just hope I'm not the odd one out for sending in a heartfelt card with meaning and some cakes to share over coffee instead of a possible 6 bottles of fecking wine...

Tks to the first poster to my comment for cakes suggestion, amazing how being a busy mammy/parent can affect your thinking process to come up with ideas hahaha.

bertsmom

I'm not a mammy so I'm afraid I've no proper advice to give here really but just a thought I had when I seen the thread title was " jesus Shur why would you be gifting anything to a creche, childcare is so expensive!"
I certainly don't think you are being stingy but I know a thank you cards is always lovely to receive.
The mugs for staffroom is a nice idea to be honest I personally would never eat something homemade from a household I have never been in!

pc7

I got little sets in boots (3 for 2) and will give to girls in room to say thank you. They do a great job and it’s jusy a token. It’s not to show off or put pressure on other parents. I’m just doing it as a thank you. I’ll do it discreetly.

Chattymummy

bertsmom wrote: »

I'm not a mammy so I'm afraid I've no proper advice to give here really but just a thought I had when I seen the thread title was " jesus Shur why would you be gifting anything to a creche, childcare is so expensive!"
I certainly don't think you are being stingy but I know a thank you cards is always lovely to receive.
The mugs for staffroom is a nice idea to be honest I personally would never eat something homemade from a household I have never been in!

I didn't title the thread 'jesus Shur why would you be gifting anything to a creche, childcare is so expensive!"?? I'm little confused, excuse me if I'm being thick hahaha.. I have mentioned its a really hard job they have and immensely appreciate them taking great care of my son but I'm not in a financial position to basically keep up with the popular crowd if you get me..

alroley

bertsmom wrote: »

I'm not a mammy so I'm afraid I've no proper advice to give here really but just a thought I had when I seen the thread title was " jesus Shur why would you be gifting anything to a creche, childcare is so expensive!"
I certainly don't think you are being stingy but I know a thank you cards is always lovely to receive.
The mugs for staffroom is a nice idea to be honest I personally would never eat something homemade from a household I have never been in!

Childcare workers are paid terribly

bertsmom

Chattymummy apologies I wrote that post as I was speaking I had meant that when I first read the thread title I was wondering why anyone would be buying gifts for a creche as I had always thought of it as a very expensive service for parents.
I don't mean to take from the work that the people who work in the creche do and I do know they are probably not highly paid but it's just such an expensive time of year for people anyway I didn't imagine it to be a 'thing'.
As I said though I am not a parent and I know my sister used to always think it a bit mad when her kids were in primary school that parents sent in gifts, she used to just roll her eyes lol.

Chattymummy

pc7 wrote: »

I got little sets in boots (3 for 2) and will give to girls in room to say thank you. They do a great job and it’s jusy a token. It’s not to show off or put pressure on other parents. I’m just doing it as a thank you. I’ll do it discreetly.

No I think it was just the tone of the responses I was looking at on parenting sites from both parents and childminders in creches.. Few suggestion where to buy 6 bottles of wine cause sure there on offer, that's my main query in this thread, is that what is expected.. What you have suggested is lovely too but unfortunately my situation is different, where my son is part time sessional, so there could be up to 6 childminders when I arrive and pick up depending on group numbers.. Again I don't want to come across as anything other than a first time mammy who is learning daily on what the norm is compared to years ago when I was a child.. Also note my son only started few weeks back so I'm completely new to all of this hahaha.. Gawd I've a long road ahead in learning I feel...

Chattymummy

bertsmom wrote: »

Chattymummy apologies I wrote that post as I was speaking I had meant that when I first read the thread title I was wondering why anyone would be buying gifts for a creche as I had always thought of it as a very expensive service for parents.
I don't mean to take from the work that the people who work in the creche do and I do know they are probably not highly paid but it's just such an expensive time of year for people anyway I didn't imagine it to be a 'thing'.
As I said though I am not a parent and I know my sister used to always think it a bit mad when her kids were in primary school that parents sent in gifts, she used to just roll her eyes lol.

No problem at all haha, tired mammy here too so I misread your thread too..

pc7

If he’s only in a few weeks I wouldn’t be giving a gift. For me it’s a four day a week job they do and have done for over 2 years. They have a good relationship with the kids and I appreciate it. Also appreciate they are paid peanuts. Again it’s just a token.

Aineoil

Chattymummy wrote: »

I didn't title the thread 'jesus Shur why would you be gifting anything to a creche, childcare is so expensive!"?? I'm little confused, excuse me if I'm being thick hahaha.. I have mentioned its a really hard job they have and immensely appreciate them taking great care of my son but I'm not in a financial position to basically keep up with the popular crowd if you get me..

Childcare is very expensive and you pay for the service. I am a primary school
teacher myself and I don't like getting presents from children at Christmas. The parents who give presents mean well, but the children of some parents who don't feel out of the loop. We have a" no present" policy but some parents disregard the rule and some teachers just love showing how popular they think they are by off their presents.

One of the nicest presents I ever got was lovely baked cake by mum and her son.

But the best present I have gotten was from a mum and dad wanting to speak to me before Christmas ..... I was quaking in my boots! I thought they wanted to give out to me. But they just wanted to thank me for the work I did with their son.

Long rant....but kind words are better than any present ever. Kind words stay with you for a lifetime and sometimes you'll never really remember who gave you a present.

bertsmom

Aineoil wrote:

Childcare is very expensive and you pay for the service. I am a primary school teacher myself and I don't like getting presents from children at Christmas. The parents who give presents mean well, but the children of some parents who don't feel out of the loop. We have a" no present" policy but some parents disregard the rule and some teachers just love showing how popular they think they are by off their presents.

Aineoil wrote:

But the best present I have gotten was from a mum and dad wanting to speak to me before Christmas ..... I was quaking in my boots! I thought they wanted to give out to me. But they just wanted to thank me for the work I did with their son.

Aineoil wrote:

Childcare is very expensive and you pay for the service. I am a primary school teacher myself and I don't like getting presents from children at Christmas. The parents who give presents mean well, but the children of some parents who don't feel out of the loop. We have a" no present" policy but some parents disregard the rule and some teachers just love showing how popular they think they are by off their presents.

Aineoil wrote:

Long rant....but kind words are better than any present ever. Kind words stay with you for a lifetime and sometimes you'll never really remember who gave you a present.

Aineoil wrote:

One of the nicest presents I ever got was lovely baked cake by mum and her son.

That is so lovely!! I'm sure your little students appreciate how nice you seem and it's so nice that your not swayed by the biggest and best gift, you seem really sympathetic to parents who perhaps can't afford to give gifts.
I used to worry my sisters kids would be looked at a little differently due to her never giving gifts to teachers but she's a chef with sometimes not enough shifts to be able afford luxuries and I suspect she just didn't feel the need. I hope they had teachers as kind as you😊

Chattymummy

Aineoil wrote: »

Childcare is very expensive and you pay for the service. I am a primary school
teacher myself and I don't like getting presents from children at Christmas. The parents who give presents mean well, but the children of some parents who don't feel out of the loop. We have a" no present" policy but some parents disregard the rule and some teachers just love showing how popular they think they are by off their presents.

One of the nicest presents I ever got was lovely baked cake by mum and her son.

But the best present I have gotten was from a mum and dad wanting to speak to me before Christmas ..... I was quaking in my boots! I thought they wanted to give out to me. But they just wanted to thank me for the work I did with their son.

Long rant....but kind words are better than any present ever. Kind words stay with you for a lifetime and sometimes you'll never really remember who gave you a present.

Tks, you sound like an amazing teacher, well done cause it sure is not easy job you have.. I couldn't do it and that's for sure..

Chattymummy

bertsmom wrote: »

That is so lovely!! I'm sure your little students appreciate how nice you seem and it's so nice that your not swayed by the biggest and best gift, you seem really sympathetic to parents who perhaps can't afford to give gifts.
I used to worry my sisters kids would be looked at a little differently due to her never giving gifts to teachers but she's a chef with sometimes not enough shifts to be able afford luxuries and I suspect she just didn't feel the need. I hope they had teachers as kind as you😊

Your so right.. Faith in the human race restored hahaha.. Kind words are the best gift. Costs nothing to appreciate with words, its sometimes lost in this mad world we live in these days..

missyb01

At my lg's creche, any gifts received are all put in together and then the staff do a raffle of sorts.

I brought in chocolates last year, ended being 2 boxes on the floor of about 60 boxes!!! Never again.

This year I'm getting a voucher for the girl that looks after my girl the most. She adores her and has really blossomed from being around her.

Aineoil

bertsmom wrote: »

That is so lovely!! I'm sure your little students appreciate how nice you seem and it's so nice that your not swayed by the biggest and best gift, you seem really sympathetic to parents who perhaps can't afford to give gifts.
I used to worry my sisters kids would be looked at a little differently due to her never giving gifts to teachers but she's a chef with sometimes not enough shifts to be able afford luxuries and I suspect she just didn't feel the need. I hope they had teachers as kind as you��

I get more than well paid for the job I do. Well it's not just a job...I really love what that I do and I love the children. I just feel, why would anyone need to give me a present?

Parents shouldn't give gifts to teachers. We are well paid for what we do.

Children are miracles.

evolving_doors

Aineoil wrote: »

I get more than well paid for the job I do. Well it's not just a job...I really love what that I do and I love the children. I just feel, why would anyone need to give me a present?

Parents shouldn't give gifts to teachers. We are well paid for what we do.

Children are miracles.

Do you work in a creche?

Roesy

The school I teach in has a no presents policy which is great. I buy small gifts for the key staff in my children’s rooms at crèche, there’s no such policy there. I don’t feel obliged to do it, I see it as a small token of thanks to the ladies who see as much of my children on a working day as I do and who take such good care of them. My children love the staff and most days bounce in the door to see then. I have three kids under four so between them we have six staff to buy for. My eldest will make a card to give her teacher too. I’ll buy a box of biscuits/chocs for the staff room and then pick up a small little gift for each of the staff directly involved with my kids. If the kids had just started in the crèche I’d leave it at a box of chocolates or a cake and a card for the whole staff.

Roesy

Aineoil wrote: »

I get more than well paid for the job I do. Well it's not just a job...I really love what that I do and I love the children. I just feel, why would anyone need to give me a present?

Parents shouldn't give gifts to teachers. We are well paid for what we do.

Children are miracles.

I’m a primary school teacher too but did a little crèche work one summer when I was in college, I also have a cousin who works in a crèche. We are well paid, in general crèche workers aren’t. They work a lot longer hours than us too. Obviously I’m not saying that you should have to give them a gift because they aren’t well paid but just pointing out that a primary school teacher and crèche worker certainly aren’t on the same salary.

BuboBubo

Don't know anything about babies/creches/wages for childcare workers etc, but I'm wading in anyway...

Honest opinion, make a cake if that suits you. Another poster mentioned they might eat something from an unknown source - but;

Wine? Not everyone drinks wine. Some people don't drink alcohol at all.

Chocolates? Could be vegan/lactose intolerant/doing slimming world?

Those "Boots Gift Sets", some people have allergies to certain soaps, and may dislike stinky bath bombs or candles.

Make the cake, or mince pies, or buy a tin of biscuits or sweets for them to share in the staff room. Please don't get stressed about what the others are doing.

nikpmup

jlm29 wrote: »

My lbs school has the same policy. I’m sure they no more want thirty (or however many) bottles of wine and boxes of chocs than the man in the moon.
Something to share is a good idea. You could even buy something like a nice set of mugs for the staff room, or some kind of Christmas decoration if you didn’t want to do cake. Though cake is always good. I like cake a bit too much!

Beg to differ! My mother was a lollipop lady for years in a local school, and at Christmas every year she would be laden down with biscuits and choccies and wine. It's only in the last couple of years since she retired that we've had to buy our own Christmas goodies Op, I'm going to be getting a very small cheap present for my sons montessori teacher who to be fair has been brilliant, but I'll try to get something meaningful. Try notonthehighstreet.com or thecraftygiraffe.co.uk for small gifts.

Millem

My friend told me that all the presents get put together and divided out in her creche.

I am secondary school teacher and any type of food goes down such a treat in the staffroom!! Again we don’t expect anything. One of the tastiest things was cheese and crackers

Op it’s no biggy if you get a present or not!

shesty

See my mum is a primary school teacher and honestly, some of the stuff she has come home with over the years.....the so-called Celtic Tiger years were ridiculous, she would come home laden with stuff twice a year.It was only when I moved out, I realised that I had to start buying my own boxes of Christmas sweets and the like!!!However I know how much they all appreciate cake or the odd box of sweets in her staffroom, hence my thinking.In our case, my little girl has five or six teachers in her playschool room, and I get the impression there is just one who is kind of assigned to look after her as I hear most about her.But she does tell me on and off about the others too, and a different one again does early morning care with her for 30 mins or so.I just can't buy them all something (and I don't know all their names!!!) so I was trying to come up with something to share.It's not a creche, it's a playschool specifically.
I've seen some small cake businesses are doing gifts of cakes for teachers too, if you had qualms about baking yourself, you might be able to order them for a tenner or so.

Digs

I can only echo what others have said also. My Mam is a primary school teacher too, although in the last few years a school principal so the gifts changed a bit but she always said the gifts with a bit of thought meant the most. She used to come home with some amount of soap gift sets and tins of biscuits and there really was no need!

People can be really thoughtful, when I had my two daughters some pupils Mams and Grannies actually knit gorgeous little cardigans and gave them to my Mam for the girls!! So lovely and definitely the type of things you remember.

She’s had some lovely cards written to her over the years with very nice messages of thanks that have meant a lot, also a few Home made biscuits, candles etc

I’ve always had mine in a Child minder but last year when my daughter was doing her ecce I sent in some rocky road and brownies. I gave her room teacher a separate bottle of wine.

appledrop

The creche my little boy is in is great + I will be getting a nice present for his key worker. They go over + above for what they do + are paid very little in comparison to primary school teachers. Each to there own but I don't think it's right to suggest if you get them a nice present it's just to keep up with the Jones.

Chattymummy

appledrop wrote: »

The creche my little boy is in is great + I will be getting a nice present for his key worker. They go over + above for what they do + are paid very little in comparison to primary school teachers. Each to there own but I don't think it's right to suggest if you get them a nice present it's just to keep up with the Jones.

I think you have misread my comments and query!.. I agree with everything you said about all who work in creches, this is why I was reluctant asking, I did not want my question yo undermine anyone.. From my personal experience on local parent groups, from people I know, people are suggesting buying 6 bottles of wine and chocolates.. I think a personal gift to whoever is assigned to our children should get a token of appreciation, but my son just started beginning of october and his my first child and I'm a bit late to the game, so am out of touch with what is the norm these days.. My son could have up to 6 ladies in the toddler room.. I simply cannot afford to buys 6 presents and i did not want me or my son to feel like the odd balls out, if you get me... Is it gone like america where everyone is tipped.?...
Again my question did not mean to offend anyone.. And the comment on keeping up with Jones, come on, are you telling me there aren't people just doing things to say ohh look at me aren't I great.. Its very hard mingling with some parents, like a click.. But hey ho, a mamma here trying to figure the hard game of parenting and all that goes with it..

fineso.mom

Hi OP. I work in a preschool with two others. We do get presents from some parents but not all. It's lovely to get them but we definitely don't expect them nor would we think any less of the parents or children who don't give us a present. Over the years the presents I remember are the cards saying nice things about me and thanking me for specific things I might have helped their child with. Being patient with a child who had behavioral issues, being kind to a very timid child etc. A parent simply acknowledging in a card that we care about their children and do our best to make sure they have a good experience in school means so much.
It's hard being a parent sometimes but don't be stressing about this honestly. You do you as they say, don't worry about what the rest do.
Perhaps a homemade cake /biscuits for the room and a card for the staff member your child mentions most and don't spend another minute worrying about it.

Chattymummy

fineso.mom wrote: »

Hi OP. I work in a preschool with two others. We do get presents from some parents but not all. It's lovely to get them but we definitely don't expect them nor would we think any less of the parents or children who don't give us a present. Over the years the presents I remember are the cards saying nice things about me and thanking me for specific things I might have helped their child with. Being patient with a child who had behavioral issues, being kind to a very timid child etc. A parent simply acknowledging in a card that we care about their children and do our best to make sure they have a good experience in school means so much.
It's hard being a parent sometimes but don't be stressing about this honestly. You do you as they say, don't worry about what the rest do.
Perhaps a homemade cake /biscuits for the room and a card for the staff member your child mentions most and don't spend another minute worrying about it.

Tk you for replying, appreciate your kind advise

pwurple

We usually do a card ,which the child helps with, stickers, a scribble or a hand print, and some chocolate. A few Terry's choc oranges, or a box of biccies  for them to share. USA biscuits or similar. 
Sending booze into a creche doesn't sit right with me!