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
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