Daycare teacher gifts?

[amberpi]

What do/did you do for your kids' teachers? I asked FB and got so many ideas (I'm NOT pinteresty) my head is spinning. Trying to see if I can take those thoughts and any ya'll might have and come up with a quorum. I already asked the school and they sweetly said anything was appreciated. I was thinking $25 Target giftcards? Some of my friends suggested amounts I thought were pretty crazy like $100 per teacher.

If it helps, the kids attend a private Montessori daycare.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I gave a combination of gift cards and a small gift or handmade item. Never more than $20 for a gift card. We always included a note, as well.

 

[amberpi]

I gave a combination of gift cards and a small gift or handmade item. Never more than $20 for a gift card. We always included a note, as well.

I wouldn't inflict anything I'd try to make on the teachers, unless it was a baked good and I don't want to go down that path, the kids can't even bring food from home to school. A thoughtful note is a great idea. Those are the little things I'm not up on yet.

 

[mjkacmom]

Gift cards and nice notes, same goes for elementary school teachers. For some really great teachers, I wrote letters to the principal and cc’d the teacher (usually for an end of year gift).

 

[SaintsManiac]

I wouldn't inflict anything I'd try to make on the teachers, unless it was a baked good and I don't want to go down that path, the kids can't even bring food from home to school. A thoughtful note is a great idea. Those are the little things I'm not up on yet.

I like to gift the travel cups with straws with the gift card. You can get great deals on them just about anywhere. I was lucky that our daycare didn't have food restrictions at the time. Our after care program sure does, though!

Now that my daughter is in primary school I usually do a gift card and dry erase markers, pens, etc.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

My step-daughter is a teacher and she appreciates gift cards, Target, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts are a some of her favorites.

 

[SuperPreparo]

When my daughter taught preschool she really appreciated gift cards as gifts. She would have loved a $25 gift card to Target.

 

[amberpi]

My mom and BF are both teachers and I know appreciate the gcs and notes, but lord, some of the elaborate things I was hearing about made me feel like I was really falling down on the job. I'm not going to hand weave a basket filled with artesianal jellies.

 

[SaintsManiac]

My mom and BF are both teachers and I know appreciate the gcs and notes, but lord, some of the elaborate things I was hearing about made me feel like I was really falling down on the job. I'm not going to hand weave a basket filled with artesianal jellies.

Umm no and anyone who has that kind of time well, good for them.

It never fails that someone sends treat bags for every kid in the class on Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. I don't think I'll ever have the energy!

 

[amberpi]

Umm no and anyone who has that kind of time well, good for them.

It never fails that someone sends treat bags for every kid in the class on Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. I don't think I'll ever have the energy!

I'm scared. I'm already intimidated by some of the bday parties I've been to. We did the musuem which has strict rules about decorations and stuff, but I figure I can't do the same thing every birthday.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I do $20 gift cards to either Target or Starbucks. I have a lot of teacher friends and they have told me pretty much unanimously, that teachers want gift cards. They don't need coffee mugs, ornaments, or any other hand crafted creations LOL

 

[tvguy]

Home baked goods were what we gave.

 

[easyas123]

I do $20 gift cards to either Target or Starbucks. I have a lot of teacher friends and they have told me pretty much unanimously, that teachers want gift cards. They don't need coffee mugs, ornaments, or any other hand crafted creations LOL

I have two friends who are teachers....I end up with more yankee candles that they pawn off on me after the holidays than I can count! But they don't pawn off the Starbucks or Dunkin cards ha ha!

 

[anniemae]

I think most teachers appreciate gift cards, in any amount. They have more mugs, pens, ornaments, plaques and cups than they know what to do with (according to friends and relatives that are teachers.)

ETA: Just like the pp, I was also given many mugs and travel cups from my cousin who is a teacher! She just had too many.

 

[amberpi]

Home baked goods were what we gave.

I had considered that in holiday baking but the kids can’t bring food products into the school so I reckon it applies to teachers.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I directed a center so I heard the honest responses to some of the gifts My staff were ALWAYS appreciative of everything their parents gifted but many items were immediately donated to our thrift shop. Things like mugs, candles, ornaments, figurines, and body lotion get overwhelming....

They especially appreciate a handwritten note, maybe attached to the family photo Christmas card. They always hung them in their room for the rest of the year and for some teachers, those notes of appreciation got them through hard days.

And really... giftcards made the biggest difference. During the holidays especially, my staff were strapped for funds - early childhood education does not pay well - and they had families of their own to shop for. They loved GC's for fast food, so they could use them on lunch break to grab lunch, or places like Target/Walmart. My infant room teachers often wore scrubs to work so parents would often pitch in money and buy them a GC to a scrub store. If $5/teacher is the budget, I promise that $5 to ChickfilA was better than $5 in lotion or candle.

(don't worry about the Pinterest moms! It makes a cute Instagram pic but that's about it )

 

[BLAZEY]

I did a $10 Starbucks or Timmies gift card for each of the teachers in DD daycare class. I would have DD make a card (she drew on the front of the card) and i would tuck the GC inside. I think they were appreciated and easy to do. Now that DD9 is in school, many years the class reps put a card in a envelope at the office, we sign a it and drop some cash inside for the class group gift. Usually 1/2 have been Indigo, Staples or Walmart GC for classroom wants or personal use. The other half usually a coffee shop or favourite restaurant.

 

[amberpi]

(don't worry about the Pinterest moms! It makes a cute Instagram pic but that's about it )

I’m such a terrible parent I don’t even have Instagram to brag on the kids and dh and I decided we’re not Xmas card people although we are having family portraits before a fancy dinner on Saturday to celebrate dh’s bday. I did buy the kids the matching pjs and the family stockings. I’m putting the evil back into evil step mother lol. I do actually try really hard.

 

[AndreaDM]

Will the children's mother also be buying gifts for the teacher?

 

[amberpi]

Will the children's mother also be buying gifts for the teacher?

She doesn't want the expense of the school, so has her parents watch them. Which is fine, but, no, she is not involved with this.