I usually do not get many gifts from parents any time of the year, due to the area I teach. That said, I love and appreciate every gift that is given. I know that the family has gone out of their way to think of me. My favorite gifts are cards and words of thanks.
As a parent, I try to give my son's daycare providers a gift that my son has helped to make; usually it is a batch of cookies. Other times, he has helped to write his name on the cards we send to school. I try to include him as much as possible.