Holiday Tipping Guide For Those in Your Children's Lives

Tipping during the holiday season is a way to showing appreciation and thanking those who take care of your children, and who also may have a hand in helping you manage your busy lives. Saying thank you will make the caregivers in your life feel appreciated and your thoughtfulness will not go unnoticed.

Tipping is completely up to your discretion but here is a guideline on appropriate tipping to get you started. Don’t feel that you need to tip everyone you see on this list, those that you and your children come in contact with regularly should be at the top of the list.

If you cannot afford to tip everyone that you’d like to, that’s OK too, however, you should still but make sure you let them know how much you appreciate them. Alternative and cost-friendly ways to thank those individuals may include homemade cards, gifts, a handwritten and well-thought out noted and baked goods.

One important rule of tipping – whether it’s a teacher or your trash collector, make sure you don’t just hand out cash if you are tipping with money; include it in a card with an envelope and present it in a discretionary way.

BABYSITTER(s)

One evening/day’s worth of pay and a small gift (homemade is great!) from your kids
Alternative: A gift card equal to one evening’s worth of pay or small gift

MOTHER’S HELPER

One day’s worth of pay and a small gift (homemade is great!) from your kids
Alternative: A gift card equal to one day’s worth of pay or small gift

NANNY

One to two weeks’ worth of pay and a gift from your kids
Alternative: Several days worth of pay, a gift certificate and additional paid days off during the year

AU PAIR

One to two weeks’ worth of pay and a gift from your kids
Alternative: Several days worth of pay, a gift certificate and additional paid days off during the year

DAYCARE/PRESCHOOL TEACHERS

$25 – $50 per teacher and a gift from your child
Alternative: a gift card, restaurant gift certificate or nice gift if you know the teacher very well, that is equal to $20-$40, per teacher

SCHOOL TEACHERS

A small gift – homemade is great – from each child to their teacher
Alternative: Handwritten and thoughtful note/card from your child

TEACHER’S AID

A small gift – homemade is great – from each child
Alternative: Handwritten and thoughtful note/card from

PHYSICAL / SPEECH THERAPIST

A small gift – homemade is great – from your family
Alternative: Homemade item or bakery items

TUTOR(s)

Cost of one session in cash and a gift from your child
Alternative: A gift card equal to the value of one session

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

$10 – $20 depending on how many children ride the bus
Alternative: A gift card equal to the value

COACH

A holiday card and small gift from your child
Alternative: A small gift card (Starbucks, etc.)

Want more holiday tipping guides for home related services and professionals, pet related and senior care related. Read This Comprehensive Holiday Tipping + Gift Guide

Holiday Tipping Guide For Those in Your Children’s Lives

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