Should nannies give holiday gifts to kids or families?
Regardless of religion or cultural affiliation, for many people the holidays are a time of giving. Beyond your own family and friends, you may give tokens of appreciation to neighbors or organizations, to service staff or colleagues. But for nannies, the spirit of giving can sometimes be impeded by question marks - should nannies give gifts to the families they work for? And what about babysitters and nannies who work for several families - should they give presents to every child they’ve seen throughout the year?
While it may feel strange to give gifts to what is technically an employer, it can feel just as weird not to give gifts to a family with whom you’ve grown close, and to kiddos who adore you and don’t care about the nuance.
Never fear, the team at Smart Sitting has rounded up a few tips about gift-giving this holiday season and how to maintain the merriment far into the new year.
First: There are no rules about giving gifts
The first thing to remember is there aren’t really rules about whether nannies should give gifts. As we always say, the nanny-family relationship is such a special type of employment. The parents are your employers, and you work for them, but for many nannies it is also a loving and familiar relationship. So for this reason, the rules and customs get muddled.
It is not uncommon for nannies to give gifts to their charges, but go with your gut and do what feels right to you. It may also feel less complicated to give gifts just to the children, since kids sort of play by their own rules where the holidays are concerned!
Give gifts to the kids you see most
If you juggle several families throughout the year, or provide date-night sitting for some families here and there, the number of children you’d love to give a present to quickly goes beyond what you can count on ten fingers - and probably what your wallet can allow! Use your judgment here. It is totally okay if you want to give presents to kiddos you see on a regular basis and not to those you only see occasionally.
Some full-time nannies who also work as occasional or fill-in sitters will do this, giving something to kids they see every day, but not to children they only see here and there. The nanny-kiddo relationship is such a special one, and it makes sense to acknowledge that relationship by giving something to those charges you’ve truly spent the year with.
It’s the thought that counts with gifts
Another important thing to remember is that if you want to give a gift, it is the thought that counts. Let’s be honest: kids love unwrapping pretty much anything in bright, crinkly wrapping paper and will often be just as excited for a small gift as something elaborate.
Parents, on the other hand, will most likely see the care and thoughtfulness of your gift rather than think about whether or not you spent as much as Grandma did. They’ll understand the meaning behind it and its token of your affection for the kiddos and the family.
And isn’t that what gift-giving is all about?
Make presents for parents together
If you want to express your gratitude and appreciation to the parents you work for but feel strange buying something personal for them, try making it a joint activity together with the kiddos. You can make a lovely craft together, plan a holiday performance, or even decorate a sweet frame with a picture of you and the kiddos from the year.
This way, it’s a lovely gesture from the kiddos, but one the parents will very much understand is a token of your appreciation as well.
If all else fails, bake!
Buying presents can be tricky, especially for employers whose house you are in every day. One tried and true way to show your generous holiday spirit without making it too complicated is through baked goods.
A yummy treat shows your appreciation (see “It’s the thought that counts”, above!) without breaking the bank or your brain. If you are not a baker yourself, something delicious from a neighborhood bakery may be just the ticket.
Baked treats also make a great gift:
For families you work for occasionally
When you work for lots of families and the numbers get overwhelming
If you only recently started working with a family and don’t quite know what’s appropriate in this working relationship
Looking for your next great family?
Perhaps this is your last holiday season with your current employer, or you are longing for a new family to love and bake for in the new year. Whatever the reason, if you are looking for a nanny job, we have you covered. As a nanny agency with over a decade of experience matching nannies and sitters with their ideal families and jobs, we take pride in our ability to help top caregivers find their next great job.
If you think you have what it takes to be a SmartSitter, send in your application today. We can’t wait to hear from you!
p.s. We have even more tips, tricks, and advice to advance your childcare career: Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss out!