Just wanted to empathize with you....even though this is an old post! I was an infant and toddler teacher in a child care center for five years, and have a home day care now, and we never did, nor do I do now, have holiday swaps. It puts families on the spot-some people don't celebrate that holiday, and some would LOVE to participate if they weren't already struggling to meet ends meet, but really don't have the money for it. I've always done small holiday gifts that I give to all the children (a board book, a coloring set, etc) but don't think swaps are a great idea in a child care setting.

The only things that we'd have parents sign up for were to bring a food item for special party days-and we'd get signs taped down right next to our time clock at the center about two weeks prior, where EVERYONE could see it-and we'd also mention to parents to check it out if they were interested in signing up-it wasn't a mandatory thing.

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