pressies for Teachers

psy

I'm a male primary teacher and I know it's a lot harder to buy for us men compared to the women!

I've got to say that any present I receive from a child is gratefully received, because I don't expect anything from the children. There are many families who cannot afford to give anything, and we don't think anything less of those who don't give presents.

I've found that presents with a personal touch are nicer to receive e.g. home made cards. The best present I ever received was a mug with my name on and a picture drawn by the child on the side of it.

For the first time last year I received beer which was a nice treat as I normally get wine (not my cup of tea!), but with Christmas coming up wine and chocolates always disappear over the holidays!

One top tip - no ornaments please!

td

I was given a lovely home made card and a couple of chocolates in a home made ribbon bag last year - the message was lovely inside and I knew it was heart felt and she wanted to give me it. These meant a wholelot more to me than anything that costs lots of money- if you don't have the money don't spend get the kids to do something themselves it's much cheaper and much nicer.

td x

Pink.

I agree that it's not necessary to give presents to teachers and if you can't afford it then you really shouldn't do it.

However remember your child and their feelings; if they are the only child in the class not to give a present, they may feel left out. There are plenty of things that cost very little. As mentioned before candles, chocs (matchmakers/maltesers etc don't cost too much) or something homemade are some ideas.

Personally I have been giving presents to teachers for over 10 years.

In that time I have been fortunate enough to have encountered only excellent, motivated, caring teaching staff. My children spend a large part of their day with these people and I believe they not only contribute to the childrens education, but play a very big part in their lives.

That's why, at this time of year, I like to say a small thankyou. Usually I spend around £5 and buy something not too personal, that I know has a good chance of being of use......candles, wine, luxury food, plant etc etc. The kids (well the younger ones anyway) then include a homemade card.

It's something no-one should be obliged to do, but it is worth saying thankyou if you feel thanks are due.

Pink

Savvy_Sue

Personally I have been giving presents to teachers for over 10 years.

In that time I have been fortunate enough to have encountered only excellent, motivated, caring teaching staff. My children spend a large part of their day with these people and I believe they not only contribute to the childrens education, but play a very big part in their lives.

That's why, at this time of year, I like to say a small thankyou.

Problem starts when one child has a teacher who isn't quite so excellent, motivated, caring etc ... you can't - I don't think - give to one teacher in a school and not to another, they are bound to gossip in the staff room and you don't want to make a difficult situation any worse.

I don't know why I never gave my kids' teachers anything: I think at first I didn't realise it was happening until the last day of term by which time it was too late. And then a few years I did ask my sons if they wanted to give Miss a present but they never did, so I heaved a huge sigh of relief. Plus it's not just the teacher, there's often a classroom assistant without whom I swear my youngest would have learned nothing in Reception. And it wouldn't be so bad if it was just Christmas, but I swear some kids were taking in presents at the end of every single term. Well now we're on a 6 term year that really is bad news!

What I did do was buy some books for the school library when each child left the school. When I started, it was partly to make sure there'd be at least one book the next child would want to read and possibly be stretched by, but that's another story ...

Trow

Maybe its because we are lucky to have a small school - but at our school the oldest class organise donations from the parents - £1 per child I think - and they then buy gifts for the teachers from that - which saves time and effort and the teachers get something worthwhile - it loses the personal touch, but the kids can always still make a card.

Mind you, thinking about it - this is a school where the parents club together for gifts when a teacher leaves...

Zeldazog

I don't know why I never gave my kids' teachers anything: I think at first I didn't realise it was happening until the last day of term by which time it was too late.

I was the same the first year, got to school the last morning of term - cant remember if it was end of year or Christmas - and realised that a lot of the kids had something, and we hadn't.

As a single Mum I can't afford much, but I know my son wanted to take something in, so last christmas we made some fudge, which I then put a few pieces in small basket - only about 4" in diameter - and wrapped up in cellophane and ribbon.

I doubt it even cost a pound to make all three, but is a nice gesture, and looked lovely, and I know they were VERY much appreciated.

At the end of the school year, I hadn't organised myself very well, so I just bought a few pick and mix from Woolies, and again wrapped them up in a bit of nice paper & ribbon for each of them.

Certainly at the younger ages, the classroom assistant/s is/are as much a part of their day as the teacher is, so yes, account for more than one present if you are going to do it. My son has had some excellent classroom assistants, so I thought they were as important as the teacher.

jockettuk

this year we will be giving my daughters teacher a bottle of babycham .. i think that any teacher that your child likes is worth there weight in gold and i also think that they deserve the break at christmas with a glass of something.. her teacher is not into choccies i know this from another teacher.  i also got the babycham on bogof at tescos so i have another for a present or can have it for myself....

Also last year tescos did a selection of things that the children can make or decorate for the teacher.. we got amug last yr..