Christmas presents for charges

[FizzyPink]

Just wondering what nannies do about giving Christmas presents for charges. I always buy something small e.g. a sticker book for £5 or less for birthdays but just wondering what people do about Christmas??

This is my first Christmas as a Nanny so not really sure on the "done thing" but I've put together a photobook of our summer. I started working in July so it's a book of our first 2 months together, we had a great summer "Gromit Hunting" and I took loads of photos so thought this would be a nice memento for my charges aged 4 & almost 2.

When i was a nanny, I used to buy a gift, normally something I thought was lacking from what was already there, eg painting stuff or other craft materials. Gave me something to do for the next few days I was working. I'm a cm now and buy a token gift for the children in my care. However this can get expensive if you have lots of part time children so I feel quite lucky to just have full timers this year.

I always buy books. I love Jonny Duddle pirate set on the Book People. They also do other lovely sets for younger children and older ones as well. I always manage to find something cheap and lovely there.

I knit dinosaurs for them. The kids tell me what dinosaur they'd like this time and I do it :) currently finishing a pink triceratops for one of my charges birthdays :)

I'm a CM and take advantage of the 3 for 2 at boots. I tag them on to my other shopping so barely notice the cost.

Small amount of money on a book or educational toy

I've spent about £10 on each of my charges (2 of them) I've been with them for 5 years though I used to spend £5 max.

I love buying kids presents and have gone overboard in the past spending anything between 30-50.Soon mounts up. This year I am trying to keep it to 10-20 for each child(2 in my current position and 3 from my last one)

I have nannied for the same family for 8 years, (only a couple of days a week in the holiday now). I used to buy them a joint present, usually a board game which always went down well. Now they have cash so they can top up their mobiles! :)