Working Mom Asks How To Handle Holiday Gifts For Daycare Teachers — 'Is $100 Cash Per Teacher Generous Or Stingy?' (2024)

When the holiday season comes around each year, we all seem to have one question on our minds — what are we going to buy for those special to us?

While loved ones are often at the top of anyone’s gift-giving list, it’s also important to remember others outside of your inner circle who have made an impact on your life in the past year. For many, that includes teachers.

One San Francisco area mom is doing just that by planning holiday gifts for her child’s daycare teachers. Butshe’s sparking an interesting debate while doing so.

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One working mother wants to know if $100 is enough to give teachers as a holiday gift.

The mother, who took to the “Working Moms” subreddit to ask for opinions, is considering giving each of her son’s teachers $100 in cash for Christmas. She provided background on her situation, saying her son attends an in-home daycare that is run like a preschool which costs $2,000 per month for each child. There is an owner and two teachers to consider gifts for.

Her post boils down to this: “Is $100 cash per teacher considered generous or stingy?”

Working Mom Asks How To Handle Holiday Gifts For Daycare Teachers — 'Is $100 Cash Per Teacher Generous Or Stingy?' (1)Photo:Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

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Answers from the Reddit community were surprising. One commenter stated, “We are planning to do 100-150 per teacher” for three teachers. Another, whose child has two teachers and floaters each, said, “We give $75-100 in a Target gift card to the main teachers, and $50-75 to the floaters.”

A third mother chimed in with her opinion on giving cash in general, adding, “I give cash because my daycare severely undercharges what I think I should be paying. They enjoy the surprise bonus.”

Another user offered a different take on the debate, opting for lower monetary amounts. “Between my three kids we have fourteen teachers, assistant teachers, speciality teachers [and] speech therapists to buy for,” she wrote. “I’m aiming for $25 for lead teachers and $15 for assistant teachers. We spend over $2,600/month on child care.”

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The rising cost of child care will make giving gifts to teachers difficult for many.

The idea of giving multiple teachers $100 each in holiday gifts is bound to raise eyebrows for some, especially asthe costof child care continues to skyrocket.

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A report by theWomen's Bureaufound that child care currently costs “between 8 percent and 19.3 percent of the median family income per child, and above what the Department of Health and Human Services considered affordable child care: 7 percent of a family’s income.”

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In a time when many parents can barely afford child care, it’s not surprising that some would find the idea of giving $100, or any amount, too much.

Good Housekeeping recently surveyeda group of teachers about holiday gifts from students, and one thing was clear: “Gift cards make the best teacher gifts,” with Amazon, Target, and Visa being the preferred options. But the default amount for an Amazon gift card on Good Housekeeping's list? Only $25.

For those struggling to make do with any gift card at all, there is good news. “They really do believe it’s the thought that counts,” the publication shared, “and notes, handwritten letters, handmade items or home-baked goodieswere really valued.”

It seems everyone does have a different opinion on the subject. It really depends on each individual family’s circ*mstances, too. For some, $100 is right on the mark, while for others it’s overly generous. It certainly seems that no one finds it stingy, however.

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The point of the holiday season is showing people you care about them, not putting unwanted financial or emotional stress on yourself and your family. One Reddit user seemed to express this best when they said, “Give whatever you can afford. Teachers are grateful for anything.”

That’s a sentiment we can all benefit from.

RELATED:Mom Says She's Against Free Daycare Because 'Every Family Needs To Take Care Of Their Own Children'

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Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer for YourTango who covers entertainment and news.

Working Mom Asks How To Handle Holiday Gifts For Daycare Teachers — 'Is $100 Cash Per Teacher Generous Or Stingy?' (2024)

FAQs

Working Mom Asks How To Handle Holiday Gifts For Daycare Teachers — 'Is $100 Cash Per Teacher Generous Or Stingy?'? ›

It seems everyone does have a different opinion on the subject. It really depends on each individual family's circ*mstances, too. For some, $100 is right on the mark, while for others it's overly generous. It certainly seems that no one finds it stingy, however.

How much to tip a daycare teacher for Christmas? ›

Experts recommend tipping each staff member who works with your child between $25 and $70, depending on your circ*mstances. Alternatively, gift cards or presents worth roughly the equivalent work, too. (Again, The Emily Post Institute recommends an additional small gift from your kiddo.)

What is an appropriate amount for a teacher holiday gift? ›

The State Ethics Commission for the government of Massachusetts, for example, states that teachers "may not accept any gift worth $50." Most other states have the same ethics code, but with a limit set even lower. A safe bet would be to keep your gift under $20, and public opinion is right around that same number.

Is it okay to give teachers cash for Christmas? ›

If you suspect that your child's teacher is not making a living wage, by all means feel free to individually give them presents of gift cards, useful items, or even cash — if and only if you can afford it, yourself, and if the gifts fall within the ethics of the particular school.

Is it appropriate to give a teacher a gift? ›

Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in the world, but it's far from easy and can feel thankless at times. While giving a gift at the end of the school year isn't required, it's a nice way to tell teachers THANK YOU for being there for our kids every day.

How much should I spend on daycare Christmas gifts? ›

For nannies and home daycare providers, etiquette would say a monetary gift equal to one week's pay would be recommended. If your child goes to a commercial daycare I would recommend a monetary gift of $25-50 for your child's main teacher, and $10-$20 for classroom aids.

Should I give Christmas gift to preschool teacher? ›

A holiday gift is great way to show your childs' teacher you appreciate them. It truly is the thought that counts, a homemade gift or a heartfelt card is just as good as something store bought. The decision is up to you and your family, there are many ways to show appreciation outside of a holiday gift.

Is $100 too much for a teacher gift? ›

It really depends on each individual family's circ*mstances, too. For some, $100 is right on the mark, while for others it's overly generous. It certainly seems that no one finds it stingy, however.

How much should you spend on a gift card for a teacher? ›

Most teacher gift cards fall between $10 and $30, but there is no required amount for a gift card — we're sure they would appreciate any and every amount you want to give! There's no pressure for an amount. Choose an amount based on your budget.

Is a $10 gift card too cheap for teachers? ›

Price range for teacher gifts

If your child has the teacher for just one period of the day, $10 to $20 is appropriate.”

How much Christmas gift for preschool teacher? ›

A good rule of thumb is to spend around $20-$30, but if you have a larger budget, you could go up to $50. If you have multiple children in school, you might want to consider pooling your resources with other parents to split the cost of a more expensive gift.

Do teachers prefer gift cards or cash? ›

Most teachers tell SheKnows that gift cards are what they prefer. Especially those that can be used on classroom supplies (sadly).

How much money to give a teacher for Christmas? ›

According to surveys like this one from the website SheKnows, most parents give the teacher something worth between $10 and $50. My dad was a teacher for 40 years, so I decided to ask him.

Can teachers accept gifts over $50? ›

It is illegal to accept a gift that could be construed as a reward for a past official action or because of the position an individual holds in the decision-making process. It may be permissible in some states to accept an item such as a gift basket valued at less than $25 or $50.

Can teachers receive cash gifts? ›

And more than any physical gift, teachers appreciate your support. Whew. OK. That being said, if you're insistent about giving gifts to the teachers you care about this holiday season, there is one gift I can guarantee every teacher is happy to receive and will definitely put to good use: cash.

How much should I tip my trainer for Christmas? ›

Your personal trainer

Suggested Tip: Up to the cost of one session. After sweating it out with your trainer all year long, you might find you've become quite close. Consider a generous tip especially if you have an ongoing relationship with the professional and believe you have received above-average service.

How much to give daycare teachers for Christmas in NYC? ›

Day Care Provider- $25 to $75 each and a small gift from your child.

How much should you gift your child's teacher? ›

Our etiquette expert would like to remind parents, “You don't have to spend a lot of money, and sometimes, a handwritten note from the heart is the best gesture of appreciation.” That said, Schweitzer says that, depending on the school policy, $50 may be appropriate (and she prefers a pooled gift) if your child has the ...

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