Gift Ideas for Teachers/Teaching Assistants/Dinner Ladies

teagan1966

hi im a dinner lady ,
we dont expect anything, but i have to say we always feel under appricated and like cindarella lol
thank you goes a long way
i think its because they dont see us as much and think we do nothing all day except serve dinner !
teagan

kms26

I have just read this whole thread and i can see both sides.

I am a mum of a nursery, primary and a secondary child. I like to give presents to the teacher, as the way i see it they have my children for 6 hours a day, they have to make sure they are safe, warm and happy. My primary child has a few learning difficulties and although he doesn't have a 1 to 1 teacher he can be a handful. I feel i have quite a good relationship with my kids teachers and i like to say thank you for all they do. Yes it is their jobs and yes they do get paid for it BUT their day does not end when the children come home, i have known all of my kids teachers to still be at school upto 3 hours after hometime. All of my children receive gifts from their teacher at christmas, easter and end of year, it may not be alot but it is a little something and my kids are always so happy to receive something from their teachers and would be terribly upset if they didn't have something to give no matter how big or small.

My feeling is if you want to give a gift then that is fine, i personally do steer away from the best teacher things. This year for the nursery staff i am going to buy a jar of coffee, bag of tea bags and a tin of biscuits. i intend to get a small gift for my sons main teacher in nursery too. I am not too sure on the other 2's teachers yet.

The teachers at our school are always highly appreciative of anything they receive and i would be none the wiser if they regifted or sent to a charity shop. This way, i am happy, my children are happy and the teachers are happy in front of us.

13Kent

I think that on the whole most teachers would be appreciative of any gift given and the thought that goes into it. Of course gift vouchers are well recieved especially if they are from a group of parents who have clubbed together, but understandably many children like to give individual gifts.

Handmade cards are a favourite as the children have taken time over them.

Handwash and hand cream gifts are useful - some teachers choose to leave these in school so that they can use them during the day instead of the standard soap from the dispensers, and some hand cream is a bit of a luxury for everyday use in school.

Biscuits or cakes (homemade or bought) or chocolates in the staff room also go down well, but I agree with not giving them on the last day - either given the week before so that teachers can enjoy them during their last week, or as a welcome back pressie after the holiday. One year I sent in a couple of boxes of strawberries for those ladies watching their figure - coupled with a couple of pots of cream for those that were not!!

Some luxury coffee, tea or hot chocolate for the staff room would also be well recieved.

Diaries or notebooks are handy, but the larger sized ones rather than tiny hand bag sized ones, as are pens - teacher's pens are always disappearing! Calendars are also a useful gift.

Ornaments are a bit hit and miss, if they are not your taste then it's really awkward to know what to do with them, even if they are your taste sometimes you don't have places to put them - if you've been teaching 10 years and 5 children gave you an ornament for Xmas and you get another 5 at for the end of term then that adds up to 100 ornaments over those 10 years that you've got to find a home for, and even if they are all lovely where do you put them? Teacher mugs are lovely, but the same thing applies!! You feel really bad having to store things in a box or give them away because you simple don't have somewhere for them to go!

I would say on the whole go for presents that can be used rather than those that can be kept, together with card. If you feel that the teacher has worked particularly hard to help your chld then include letter of appreciation which states how they have helped - the teacher can keep this and sometimes these are kept in teachers appraisal files as evidence of their good relationships with parents and children and of their good teaching and are worth much more than any bought gift.

starlight189

I'm a KS1 teacher, and I would never expect a present from children. As other people have said, it is our job and we are paid to do it.

Having said that, most teachers I know go well beyond the call of duty (and their job description!!) and it is nice to know that it is appreciated by parents. The absolute best way to do this is to thank the teacher verbally or send a letter/card. I keep every single card/letter/picture and stick them all in a scrapbook so I can look at them if I'm having a bad day!

If you really would like to buy a gift then, from my perspective, anything you buy will be gratefully received. Nothing too expensive though please!

Some ideas that I've heard of/ had:

* Socks! Yes I love it!
* Baked goods (I would probably eat them, but I know some wouldn't)
* Jewellery (one year a parent got me some lovely beady bracelets that are just my style!)
* Vouchers (meals, shops, cinema...)
*Plants (I treasured my orchid!)
* Stationary / things for the classroom (The amount of money I have spent on whiteboard pens, glue sticks, glitter....etc....) Highlighters, a funky clock, stamps, notepads).
* Wine (just check they drink it!)
*Scarves/ gloves
* Survival kits/ Pamper kits.

I'm a NQT, so I would LOVE a best teacher mug/ornament/notepad! I think I'm a rare case though.


Like I say, never feel that gifts are expected. I would never look down on a family who didn't send me a gift or favour one that did! If you would like to get a gift then it's most definitely the thought that counts.

Threebabes

Debenhams had the hot water bottles with matching bed socks on offer so I bought one of them for my dd's teacher. Its a lovely set. With a small box of christmas biscuits.

themull1

I'm not a teacher, but i would never eat home made stuff. there are loads of people who live in really dirty houses, who don't wash their hands etc and i wouldn't want to be ill over the festive period.

BAGGY

themull1 wrote: »

I'm not a teacher, but i would never eat home made stuff. there are loads of people who live in really dirty houses, who don't wash their hands etc and i wouldn't want to be ill over the festive period.

Equally you don't know the state of some restaurant kitchens. Even the large chains. I am a cub leader and I would eat home made stuff. after all, I've eaten food on camp with grass and bugs in it. Never killed me:rotfl:

kms26

Just bumping for new ideas for summer

Firsttimemum_2

Home made cards are always the best or at least hand written by the child, to be honest I would be happier with a normal small bar of my favourite chocolate than a lavish box of chocs especially as most of my children are from low income families it really is the thought that counts Hth

Firsttimemum_2

suemj wrote: »

Hmmm - Thank you all for your input, both positive and negative.

I actually get on really well with my son's school teacher and TA's and have had a fair bit to do with them as in going in to help at any given opportunity. I'm actually quite tempted to ask them directly what their opinions are, as I do feel I put a fair bit of effort and thought in each year, worrying to get it right and if this really isn't appreciated, then I would rather just give them a card.

I have actually done a fair bit of baking, biscuits and cupcakes for the whole class, as my son is always nagging to take something in. I've always done more than enough for the kids and the teachers and unless they are lying to my, they've always told me they had one too and they were lovely. Hmmm, maybe I have my head buried in the sand.

I would say on an hygiene front, that surely many teachers would get a good idea on seeing the parents/children. I know if they have cake sales at school I try to steer my child to buy certain cakes/biscuits that have been brought in by certain children - obviously, I have no control in the end as to who he buys from, he'll no doubt go by what looks most appealing to him at 7 years old, which I'm sure is very different to what I would consider to be appealing, he obviously wont be thinking about what goes on behind the scenes in making them. lol.

So far though, the sock cupcakes seem to be quite popular. I quite like the idea of a scarf for the teachers as mine definitely does like to wrap up warm and would probably appreciate one like my mum knitted for me using pom pom wool. Nobody seems to be liking my idea of the cookies/cakes in a jar. Wine, but i'm not sure that's what I'd like to do. I can see the appeal of vouchers, but feel this is very impersonal and not much thought required.

I've got to admit, I don't like this feeling of having to give something - I do think a policy of cards only would make life so much easier and less stressful as I just don't like giving rubbish.

Thanks again for your input.

Sue xx

I love the idea of cookies or brownies in a jar because when I made them I would think of the child who gave them, I would eat most home made gifts but admit it would depend on which child I was given them by. I often eat cakes children bring in that they have baked at home and who thought I might like one, its a nice treat at any time of year x