Xmas Cards and Presents at Nursery

[Metrobaby]

dd does to nursery - she is 3yrs. The other day I got a list of all the names of the children in her class for sending xmas cards. I must admit I am surprised its happened so early - I thought kiddies xmas cards were only exchanged once they were at school. Is anyone else doing this for their ds or dd at nursery ?

Plus I was thinking of giving the nursery staff a present too. I'm looking for ideas. What do other people give ?

Yep - my DS (3.5) exchanges cards with all his nursery class.

In terms of pressies for nursery teachers - I have bought them all a really nice box of chocs this year - last year wine.

They do tend to get an awful lot of stuff - and I know at my DSs nursery at least 2 of the teachers would appreciate a hand made gift just as much if not more. Unfortunately time has run away with me this year and nursery breaks up on Friday so chocs were the easiest option

What a HORRIFIC thought! What are they trying to do to us? Yeah, we really want to spend all evening writing cards from one child who has no idea why for children who don't give a about Christmas cards. My ds is only two and I sincerely hope they don't try this one on me. I had intended to give a nice bottle of bath stuff for ds's keyworker - don't tell me I'm supposed to buy presents for everyone in the building....noooo

Should have said - DS is at nursery school - so only 20 in class and 4 teachers.

Still, only about 3 or 4 of them would be classed as his friends! He has been invited to all their birthday parties though - so cards just seem appropriate somehow.

Aloha, it's all a bit barmy isn't it.
I'm just going to do one homemade thingy from ds for all his little friends. They can share!

So is it customary in Britain to exchange Christmas cards with everyone else in the class??

In the USA, you exchange Valentines' cards with the entire class (the whole Valentine's thing is done, differently). I can't remember a universal Xmas card exchange -- think we're too sensitive to religious differences (there might be a lot of Jews, for instance). But Valentines' is very snobbish, because of course, you leave out the few children you REALLY don't like. Is that how it happens here, too, or does the school pressure the children they must exchange with everyone else in the same class?

yep metrobaby we got the same. like aloha, i'm very anti - what nonsense at their age (2-3) not to mention the waste, cost and most importantly time. i still haven't forgiven them for making us dress ds up as a bleedin' bell for his xmas play (as though working mothers have time for that crafty stuff). i might just do cards for the parents of children we have met outside nursery. presents for his keyworker and main contacts - usually either confectionary, vouchers or smellies.

ds (3 in feb) has already received 2 cards, which i really think is really very silly, he has no idea what they are. i have thanked the parents, but said "sorry, i just can't find time to reciprocate". even if it means he doesn't get one next year, who cares?! sorry if that sounds a bit bah humbug but i am having enough trouble writing my own!

At the nursery I work at, we have a little postbox so the children can post their cards in there. Yesterday, we chose a little boy to act as "Postman" and I can say firsthand these children (2-3years) were soooo excited at the prospect of getting cards from their friends

My own DD2 (4) is writing her cards today with me and I do buy presents for the nursery staff (even though they are my work colleagues )

DD and I sat last night with list and wrote christmas cards out - a bit crazy, I was trying to suggest writing 1 card to everyone but she wouldnt have it as everyone else has done indiviual ones and they have a little post box so she wanted to enjoy posting them through.

Going through the list, about 50% she hadnt even heard of the names as they are in different groups - completely barmy!!!

As for presents I think a communal big box of choccies for the teachers might suffice.

DD (aged 20 months) got a christmas card from one of the little girls in her nursery class yesterday - took me by suprise definitely!

We buy the two nursery nurses a small gift from DD. This year we have bought them both two glittery Lush bath ballastics, and wrapped them in a nice, pretty box.

We also buy a small present for the nursery room - a toy they can all use. This year we have got them a couple of sets of the "velcro" play food from ELC. They got a kitchen the other day but have no food to play with.

A LIST? That's awful! I ought to write some Christmas cards from dd1 to some of her little mates at childminder, but that's slightly different - and depends on whose names I can remember as well. Splendid childminder will get bottle of bubbly as I know that always goes down well.

I think I would be a bit irritated if I got a list of the other kids names for writing out cards - its the principle, I wouldn't want to feel compelled to do it!

I'm glad to see it's not only me who thought the idea of a list at this age was a bit OTT. I was beginning to think I was being a bit mean spirited about it as DH seemed to not to mind - but then again he wouldn't as it would be me writing 20 odd cards out.

BossyKate - I also have to provide a costume for my dd - but luckily as she is going to be a doll I am going to palm her off in a pretty dress.

Oh for goodness sake you lot!!! BAH HUMBUG!

Ds is 2.5yrs and we get a list of names from his Nursery. I was glad of it coz I couldn't remember some of them. My ds does enjoy opening his cards.

Nobody is forcing you to do it and I'm sure the Nursery aren't trying to put pressure on. The list at our Nursery was PURELY to let parents know who is in his group and also the spelling of some of the more unusual names. The parents asked for this list to be produced.

I'm going to spend all of 15 mins writing out 20 cards for ds tonight whilst watching Eastenders!

'tis the season to be jolly
fa la la la laaa la la la laa.

Afraid I have to agree with M2T about the list. Wish I had one for DS at school (yr1) would make life much easier. The kids whose names I do know, I only know the first, not the surname and of course the commoner names are duplicated even in a tny school.

Have to say I'm not going to do them for DD at nursery although I do feel she is a bit left out. At 3.5 she understands the cards and coos over her brothers. There would only be about 10 cards to do but I won't - more because I'm worried about missing someone out - a list would be great. I wouldn't feel obliged but it would just help. My two also had great fun making their own cards. Its all part of the fun and doesn't need to be expensive.

Well I don't care I would be really hacked off with a list!! I do a few cards, well Poppy makes them, for her special friends (my view is that if I don't know their names they aren't getting a card!) So I think there will be about 4 or 5 cards.

The teachers are getting little candles each. I got a job lot of nice small candles, wrapped them in tissue with a bow and they look really cool!

I must say we have just made 30 bags of chocolate coated honeycomb for DH to give as pressies at work (he's an actor so they all give little things) I couldn't believe how easy it was to make. If anyone has Nigella's Dom God book - look up cinder toffee!!

Crunchie - thats all well if you actually get a chance to go to your childs Nursery! I don't coz of my long working day, DH drops off and picks up. So I don't know which of the kids are friends with ds...... so the list is a God send!

My dd goes to a childminder which is different because there aren't so many children. They all swap cards and presents. The present thing I find a bit much, but seems to be the done thing. Last year they all got books, and this year they have all got puzzles. I also have to buy gifts for all the birthdays.

Have to agree with M2T....

For Xmas gifts at nursery we were aked to give boots gift vouchers - if we want to only of course - in £1 denominations and they will be shared out amongst all the staff. If we do donate vouchers we sign a card.

DD2's school in Indonesia asked children to bring in just one unaddressed card. Each child then received one card at the very end of term. It cuts down on the amount of hassle for parents, esp if you have more than one child at school.

Dd2 received two hand-made cards yesterday, from sisters. The mum must have sat down and made at least 60 cards with her girls - what a nightmare! Dd and I made eight before she (and I) lost interest.

Bossykate, shouldn't you actually be AT the Christmas play watching the bell??? At least he's not a mince pie!

it's tomorrow, i'll be there, don't worry! yes i am grateful he's not a mince pie, but some of the kids are carol singers - how hard is that? i am just so useless at crafty stuff - even if i had the time for it, which i absolutely don't.

M2T, Actually I don't get teh chance to drop her off, DH or someone else does usually, infact last time I did the teacher asked who I was!!

Seriously though I can see your point about the list, but I just hate the whole commercialisation of Christmas, probably being jewish has something to do with it!! Therefore I only send cards to those children that Poppy actually asks me to, or that I know she plays with. She usually makes them, so I could make 20 odd cards!!!

I've just written 40 cards for my children, one in nursery, and i have recieved none myself so far I feel very sad and lonely