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Original poster

Is it normal to give going away presents when a child leaves nursery?

12 replies

crumpet · 05/10/2004 10:18

I've seen a couple of references on mn to people giving toys or other needed items to their child's nursery when they left. DD is leaving her private day nursery in the near future, and I just wondered how usual it is to donate something. Have many of you done this and if so what sort of things did you give?

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hoxtonchick · 05/10/2004 10:20

When ds left his university nursery I just got little Bodyshop boxes for the woman who ran his room & his key worker. Didn't think about buying something big for the nursery. And his present one has such brilliant facilities that they might be a bit offended!

Nimme · 05/10/2004 10:21

crumpet - we donated a few things whilst DD was there (books, puzzles etc) but when she left we gave her teachers booze!

miranda2 · 05/10/2004 10:29

at ds's nursery when a child leaves all the other children in their room get given sweets! August was mad, with all the kids leaving for school - ds got used to getting a pack of sweets every day...

Original poster
crumpet · 05/10/2004 10:42

Thanks for these suggestions. DD's nursery recently had a revamp and is really well equipped, so I was wondering about things for the staff instead. The kids in her room are all under 2, so probably a bit early for sweets. Interesting to see that it seems fairly common to do something though, as I'd never heard of it until seeing it on here. But then my mum was a teacher and always got stuff at Christmas and the end of the school year, so I suppose this is just the start...

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eidsvold · 05/10/2004 11:52

I gave the nursery some of dd's toys when we moved but we were relocating overseas and figured they could use some of the things.

When dd leaft - we gave her key worker and the carers in her room something as well as a goodbye card to all the nursery nurses as they all had something to do with dd ( well known little monkey) We also gave something to her original key worker who was brilliant when dd first started.....

gave them body shop sort of things and a photo that had been taken professionally of dd and her key worker (they were in a mag article together)

bundle · 05/10/2004 11:55

our nursery is a registered charity and many past parents have donated either money or special things (eg wooden nativity set) when they left.

Original poster
crumpet · 05/10/2004 13:02

I've just been out and got a Pooh cake and some balloons for a leaving tea, and a dozen mini bottles of cava for the staff. Will hopefully be organised enough to manage cards and rice crispy cakes on the day too.

Thanks for your suggestions - I hate not knowing the form!

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Hulababy · 05/10/2004 17:52

I have no idea if it is usual or not but when DD left her private nursery last summer (she moved to another one closer to home) I did buy them a gift. I spent £20 at ELC on outdorr sports toys - they were all on buy 2 for 3 so I got quite a lot for my money. DD had been there 2 years and I had been really heppy with it.

We have also donated thinks over the 2 years too - toys DD has outgrown, and books too. I also gave them my rocker chair when DD had finished with as I knew they needed some more.

At Christmas I used to give DD's key workers a small gift each - there were two of them, and a small present (£5-£10 in value)- toy or books - suited to the room she was in.

Original poster
crumpet · 05/10/2004 17:58

I think it might have been a post of yours I had seen on another occasion, Hulababy, which started me thinking. Its a nice idea to do something, especially as for me this seems an extra special move, with it being the first time. I'm hoping dd settles at the new nursery and feeling guilty at uprooting her (moving house as well)

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Hulababy · 05/10/2004 18:07

How old is your DD crumpet?

DD has now started her new nursery. She's been there for just over a month and loves it. She has mad new friends and looks forward togoing. If anything I would say I am even more impressed with this nursery than the last (which we loved) as she does so much. She brings art work home every day (she goes 2 days a week) , they have a huge garden and play out twice a day, they have soft play downstairs, they cook and bake, they go for walks to the botanical gardens and go shopping to the little tescos.

DD really settled in very quickly. the trick I found was to disappear out the room wuite quickly as soon as I saw here occupied. She never even asked for me at all in the first trial 45 minute session.

Hope it goes smoothly for you too.

SueW · 05/10/2004 18:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster
crumpet · 06/10/2004 09:23

Thanks Hulababy, she's 20 months. But she's been at the nursery since she was 4.5 months, so I am feeling a bit funny about uprooting her and about her last day. She will be fine, I think this is just that I feel that it's a bit of a milestone in her life! The new nursery is purpose built, has lovely facilities and in the country rather than the inner city. But the people at the old one have been such an important part of her life so far.
SueW I know what you mean - the staff are paid appallingly - they are paid less than the nursery fees. But there are a few who have really stood out in terms of the care they have given dd (whereas the manager is not shy of coming forward if she thinks the fees may not be paid on time!)

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