Presents for Teachers

enthusiasticsaver

I don't recall ever giving either of my daughters' teachers presents and they are in their mid twenties now so perhaps this is something new. I think I would resist doing anything to make Christmas even more consumeristic (is that a word??) than it is now. Don't be pressurised into it just because some parents do it. I am sure most teachers do not expect it.

lobbyludd

my kids made a home-made christmas decoration - a star or pinecone or drawing or similar - the point being for the child, if they want to, to give something out of love rather than for the teacher to receive a special treat IYSWIM (plus the TA's x30 children - think about it - it's bonkers)

Fully expected that the teacher would thank the children and quietly bin the decorations later. Just like they do with all the stuff my dd currently makes them throughout the year.....

until the point at which the kids no longer wanted to do this and then we did nothing.

I cannot remember ever giving a teacher a gift as a child.

Hoipolloi

Something simple like home made biscuits (or purchased ones) popped in a cellophane bag, staple a pretty piece of card at the top ( or a plain one) and write merry Christmas on it.

I don't think it is a necessity to buy teacher gifts, by any means. It seems to me just another thing that has come over from the U.S.

There is nothing wrong with giving teachers gifts, but there should be no pressure to do so and i would encourage the child to make something, they will then feel such pride in giving to teacher. So biscuits, or a nice picture, or if the child can write, a little note of thanks or something like that.

mioliere

When my children were at school there was no pressure to give gifts to teachers at Christmas because it just didn't happen. I think it must be a worrying expense for many parents, at what is an already expensive time of year, especially those who have more than one child at school. I think the schools should be discouraging it and, instead, perhaps have a collecting tin in each class to collect money that could go to a local charity, along with a Christmas card that all the children have signed. That way, if a family has a limited budget, a child could donate just a few pennies discreetly into the tin.

lobbyludd

there is also the gift giving to teachers/TA's at the end of term and increasingly at Easter too: completely nuts. We don't do these either (other than a drawing/letter from the child if they want to).

I regularly say thank you to their teachers for things I am grateful for, and I also hear a lot of other parents doing this even when they have a complaint.

Frith

Here we've got sloe gin just waiting to be bottled. Son has asd and 3 TAs on a rota to help him and I think they'll deserve it!

hilstep2000

When I was teaching I always appreciated home made gifts. I also liked (and gave my kids' teachers) a bottle of wine!

rosie383

Nellie_the_Viking wrote: »

The nicest thing I have ever received at Christmas was a note from a parent thanking me for the effort I made and support that I gave to their child. We rarely get thanked, and often the only real contact teachers get with parents is when the parents want to complain about something, or when there is a problem. A card or note saying "thanks for teaching my kid" means a huge amount.

I am going to do this. I do say thank you but I suppose it does mean a bit more to go to the effort of writing it down. When I was nursing it was a wee thank you card or letter that always meant so much more than a gift.

OrkneyStar

I'd say the best gift a teacher can receive is a child and parent who respect them, and who will co-operate with and support them. All the rest is just stuff imho.

Horizon81

Seriously don't bother. As already said, it's not as if you go on a naughty list if you don't give them a gift. In fact, they'll respect you more if you don't give them a bottle of cheap wine that someone gave you in 2011.