For those that "graduate" from my program - ie start young and stay till school time it is a much bigger deal than if the child leaves before. For the long term clients I do the pictures. Used to burn them to a CD but now do the flashdrive idea. There are some really cute ones too you can get such as animals, cars, etc. too. That then makes the gift look a lot nicer. This also applies to a child leaving because they are moving out of the area.

For those that leave on lesser terms it depends on how long they have been with me and why they are leaving. We always do fancy cookies on the last day or near the last day where I make large sugar cookies and we ice and decorate and eat them. So for some that is all they get as in nothing as a keepsake since it would almost seem like a slap in the face to them with the idea of no matter what you do you will have to think of your time here and how you acted, treated us, etc. or a slap to me when they basically don't take it home or fold a picture up and stuff it in a pocket - you just know it is headed for the garbage. Also it is the parent taking it away from the child so you just know in some cases better to do nothing than let the parent teach the child how to be vindictive or hurt his feelings badly. Really sad when doing nothing is the best thing you can do for a child.

Issues like this when a family leaves for financial reasons or changes their mind and keeps child during mat leave are unexpected reasons and therefore already causing me financial hardship so I really don't do a lot in those cases. Again wrong to punish the child and I need to keep my emotions in check.

Keeping it low key helps in all areas since child likely doesn't understand what is happening. It just seems wrong to have a party to celebrate not having to deal with a problem child for much longer, lol, but child does deserve to have some sort of closure to their time with you. Letting them choose from two options for lunch or two activities is possible. As far as a gift goes not sure as you don't want it confused with a birthday for the child.

I have a certificate from a mailbox magazine that says about attending preschool and I print that on the child's favourite colour of cardstock and give that with a couple pictures to those leaving for school. Only those that stay till at least June before school get one (unless they moved that last year). I have been thinking of creating something similar to say attended daycare at and give that to anyone leaving and put on the dates they were here. It looks nice in a baby book down the road and if they don't keep it all it cost me was a piece of cardstock and an envelope and a couple pictures of happier times.