To buy or not to buy...Teacher's presents

Chell

I bought for DS school teacher but decided not to buy for the two teaching assistants as it just becomes too much.

I was going to buy for DD's keyworker at preschool but as cash is tight I decided against it. DD actually has about 10 staff who work with her at various times throughout the week.

I bought a gift for a lady who volunteers to help with reading in DS school and also runs the toddler group that I attend with DD (based in the school). I also bought for the other lady who runs the toddler group and is a dinenr lady, she is paid but helps with lots of fundraising type events after school.

moneypooh

I don't buy. I don't think parents should feel pressurised to buy anything at all. As it was said before do you buy presents for your GP, practice nurse, dentist, postman, dustman etc... If you do then fair enough.

My DS has paid his debt to his teachers by working really hard at school, getting brilliant SATs results and therefore making the teachers look good - so everyone should be happy.:j

Rachie_B

MrsTine wrote: »

if your daughter wants to take something then how about making some cookies or some fudge? my neighbour is a teacher and i know she'd rather have that than a pressie or yet another greatest teacher mug/plaque/badge
and money saving too

some people are not keen on accepting "home made" edible gifts ,just in case
esp when they think kids have made them lol

when i was a pre school teacher the nicest / "meant the most" gifts were cards / pictures etc made by the children,and a personal thank you from the parent ( always made me fill up !!)

and of course things like chocs,wine,posh biscuits always went down well too :rotfl:

piggybankrupt

Thanks so much for replies folks.

DD has a brilliant TA so I couldn't give a gift to the teacher without giving one to the TA. I agree it's become too commercialised and expensive and will probably get DD to make a card or picture as suggested.
I agree that we don't give pressies to other professions which is partly what prompted the OP - however as a Nurse myself we do recieve the odd box of choccies but for us as well the thank you card from a satisfied patient means much more.

clairehi

Last year I made baskets of homemade muffins for the staffroom. At Christmas I got Oxfam unwrapped gifts (textbooks for a school in Africa). I must admit this year I have lost enthusiam somewhat so just got the kids to make cards. Hilariously, DS1 wrote "Hope you have enjoyed teaching me" in his one, I dont know what the teacher made of that! Had to tell him to write thank you underneath...

belfastgirl23

I think it's a nice thing for the children too, to learn to say thank you and tell someone what they mean to them rather than buying a pointless piece of rubbish...don't forget too some teachers (like the rest of us!) will be on diets esp coming up to school hols so sweet things might not always be appropriate...

cookiedough38

I work at a playgroup and am always grateful of any gifts that I recieve. I had a good luck card today from one of my key children as I am also leaving to have a baby. The message was really lovely with a personal message and it will beat any chocolates that get shared out at the end of the day tomorrow.

oystercatcher

My brother and sister in law are both teachers and are inundated with tacky gifts , as they live in a small town they bring the gifts over to go in the charity shops where we live so that the locals don't see all their gifts being recycled.
I'm afraid homemade food is just not trusted at all and is highly unlikely to be eaten. Who knows who's cats and dogs and children have been sniffing the home made sweets/biscuits.
Toiletries, sweeties and wine tend to be recycled as Chsistmas presents , I always get a nice collection in my stocking from them!

Of course all the parents and children are thanked enthusiastically, after all the teachers also teach manners !!

If you must spend money the the oxfam gifts sound the best ideas .
I think cards are appreciated especially the ones where a bit of effort has been involved.

Oystercatcher

bunty109

Parents in one of our classes have clubbed together: teacher is getting a photo album with pictures of the children and messages written by them and then both she and the TA are getting some vouchers to spend somewhere (Next or wherever). I think it's great as with everyone clubbing together they get something useful!

Becles

We bought the Oxfam Unwrapped gifts too. One son bought a bit of a classroom and the other bought two text books.

My eldest left primary school and wanted to get something for all the teachers, so he bought an Oxfam gift that teaches a teacher in Africa. He wrote a message on it thanking all the teachers for giving him a good start in life, and he'd bought them this gift so children without teachers would be as lucky as him. I thought that was really sweet!