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WWYD? Daycare Tipping
So, background: Jane goes to a Montessori School/Daycare in a house (it's not a home daycare, it's in a house, rather than in a large center). There are like 12-15 kids.
Last year we'd only been there 2 months, Jane was only PT and there were only two teachers that we knew so tipping was easy.
This year, she's FT and there are 5 teachers we see regularly (her main teacher, and then 4 HS/College helpers). The Director sent an email to the infant parents (7 of us) saying there had been questions about tipping and she was suggesting to make it easier that she collect $50 per family which she'd pool and give as Amex cards by seniority/hours worked, etc. So, main teacher would understandably get more.
WWYD? I was all for this (easy! less than we were planning to spend!) but DH is totally against it. He said it only pools $350 and then dividing that by 5 is only $70 and if the head teacher gets the most, it doesn't leave much for the others. He just feels that based on what we payand the fact that these people are with our daughter 12 hours a day feeding her, diapering her, teaching her (sniff, sniff...) that we should really give more to show our appreciation if we can afford it.
So....what would you do? Give the $50 and hope most families go along with it? Give the $50 but then do something supplementary for the main teacher only. Bag the $50 (it was an optional suggestion) and go on our own for everyone (which would probably be $200 Amex for teacher and $50 each at Sephora for the girls).
Opinions? I am really stressing over this. I want them to be happy but I don't want to step on toes and be the only family not partaking in the $50 thing.
Re: WWYD? Daycare Tipping
do you think the other families are going to do $50 and leave it at that?
I am giving my lady more than $50 just out of fairness and appreciation--it sounds like you feel like you should do something more.
Maybe do the $50 and then give them something more--I think your DH is right a $70 tip is not that much.
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I am making the gifts in my post below ($60) and in addition will plan to buy her another gift - we were thinking of paying for their Zoo membership this year ($150), last year we gave her a $100 Amazon card since she is a Kindler.
So I guess, I would go with your $200, and $50 ideas - they are slightly more personal and cost wise they seem more appropriate for what these people do. If you can afford it, it's a nice way to show your appreciation.
I always make sure to write a nice card too; for the love and education these ladies provide we all should be eternally greatful.
Our does something similar - they sell butter braids, get $5 for braid and then split that up among the entire staff. Being a bad working mom, I forgot my check with the order form and missed donating to that.
So...I'm going to write a check for $75 that is a direct donation to the overall fund and then bake cookies (with DD) and get a $25 Starbucks gift card for each of the 3 teachers. We'll do a card from my daughter, and I'm hoping (if we don't run out of time) to do her hand prints either on the card or the envelope. Her 3 teachers are equal.
My personal opinion on the pooled/central gift - it reflects the appreciation/value the center places on the staff (when they decide the allocation), not the appreciation and value I place on the staff. There is one teacher who is not my daughter's main teacher, that she clearly prefers and has made our transition to the center much easier. I will most likely do more for her, as I her value to me, for what she has done for my daughter, is greater than the others.
If that's what you feel comfortable giving, then go with what you had originally planned.
Daycare tipping/gift is making me so stressed right now.
I already pay an arm and a leg for daycare so honestly I would never think to give a teacher a $200 gift. Yes, I appreciate what they do, but can't afford that. I usually just give the lead teacher $20 gc. My girls also go to a bigger center with 50+ kids so they have several co-teachers, and for them I get smaller Dunkin Donuts gift cards.
Plus as a teacher myself sometimes I get gifts, sometimes I don't. I don't think less of students who don't get me a gift or give me something small, because this is my job and I am just doing my job which I do get paid for.
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All good feedback ladies, thanks.
I was all for the $50 thinking it was easy and equitable (assuming all families would do it) but then the more I thought about it (the more DH pushed me, really) I agree that we'd like to do something more.
Thanks for the feedback.
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Well said.
If you/your DH don't think the $50 is enough, then do more. Who cares if you are the only family who doesn't participate in the group gift. Gift giving is a very personal thing, and you should do as little or as much as you want.