Christmas gift for nursery key worker and

polkadot90

After reading this thread, i think i'll get my little one to make a home-made card - I hadn't got a clue before - it's been interesting reading it from a teacher's point of view!

Toonie

As a keyworker in a preschool I have to say we love Christmas cards by the kids, we think they are fantastic. If you do want to buy a present, as suggested a box of chocolate/biscuits is probably the way to go, as we tend to share them out or have them in the staff room.

lauren85

I have one child at school and one at playgroup. At playgroup there are 7 playleaders and they all look after the children equally, so it’s not fair to single one out for a present. We will be making presents – chocolate truffles and stained glass cookies. The kids can get involved doing it and I will just pack them into a nice gift bag.

themull1

I would go down the box of biscuits route - i wouldn't eat anything home made off anyone unless i knew them well and what their kitchen was like!!

IrishRose12

I'm a classroom assistant and I'm not keen on biscuits chocolate wine etc. They usually get given to family friends and the local pensioners club.

I personally like the best teacher/classroom assistant "tat" that others don't like. As someone else on here said, I remember each child who gave me mine, and have them on a shelf in the spare room.
But then again, I don't expect gifts from parents either, they are appreciated though especially the ones where you know thought has been put into the gift.
Homemade gifts be they ornaments or homemade cookies/cupcakes, I think shows how much you are appreciated and thought went into the gift. A box of chocolates/wine/biscuits - while they are appreciated - IMO I think it's a lazy way to go.
However you do get the parents who do put thought into wine buying and the children are sent in to ask you what colour of wine do you drink :rotfl: That's putting thought onto it IMO lol

This is why for my own children's teachers and classroom assistants, they don't get biscuits/chocolates or wine.
I try not to buy them soap sets either at Christmas, as I myself always have loads of them come Christmas, good thing about that is that I don't have to spend money on Shower gel or bubble bath and soap till June:rotfl::T
I take the children around the shops and see what they think their teacher and assistants would like. Last Christmas my son wanted to buy his teacher and Classroom assistant a pack of Buy Staedtler Marker pens each as he said they always use them to write in their books :rotfl: Very well noticed I thought so bought them a pack each aswell as daughters teacher and assistant, and a travel mug each. My daughter wanted this as her teacher and assistant apparently go to their breakfast club and get their tea in those.
Have to say I met one assistant at a course we were on, and she thanked me and said they were great and well used. One teacher told me at the PT meeting that is was a lovely thoughtful idea.

For end of year there in June each got a £10 book token, I knew 3 out of the 4 were going abroad on holiday so they got a Nivea travel set each also.
I got an assistants survival kit in June there and I love it. SO much so I'm planning on making up my own kist and sell them on ebay with a few changes made to what I find handy in the classroom lol.

mr_knight

When they broke up in the summer I made them a cake to share. For Christmas I made a hamper with some nice tea, coffee, biscuits etc in them to share. They really liked the hamper.

skullncrossbones

I'm a manager of a preschool and my heart sinks everytime I get a box of chocolates. If your child is there from 8-6pm 5 days a week my team and I are technically their surrogate family, and we care for them as if they were our own. I'd much more appreciate a picture/card drawn by your child than chocolates, or anything homemade. Least then some thought went into it. Basically a box of chocolates is easily bought, quick and a waste of money in all honesty. I get much greater happiness from reading the lovely words you've written in a card and the pictures drawn by the children.

IrishRose12

skullncrossbones wrote: »

I'm a manager of a preschool and my heart sinks everytime I get a box of chocolates. If your child is there from 8-6pm 5 days a week my team and I are technically their surrogate family, and we care for them as if they were our own. I'd much more appreciate a picture/card drawn by your child than chocolates, or anything homemade. Least then some thought went into it. Basically a box of chocolates is easily bought, quick and a waste of money in all honesty. I get much greater happiness from reading the lovely words you've written in a card and the pictures drawn by the children.

Totally agree.
Store bought chocolates/biscuits and wine are a lazy idea IMO, and I never send my children in with anything like that as I want to show their teachers and assistants that they are very much appreciated.
As I said before, from working with children in a school myself I know what not to buy so to speak lol. And I always get the children to write their own cards for them also instead of me writing it. Shows that they know what they are writing and why they are writing it.

skullncrossbones

I don't mean to sound harsh, and realise some families can only afford a box of choccies, but honestly save the money for something got your child/ren. You would not believe the amount I've had over the summer from school leavers. Last Xmas about 20 or so parents clubbed together and got all staff an voucher split equally, I have many colleagues but we all ended up with about £15. That was well received and it meant we could treat ourselves. Just another idea. Hope to have not offended anyone, just wanted to be honest.