Lil' OT: First Day of School Gift for Teacher?

[Caitsmama]

Is this normal ? My dd will be starting Kinderg. this week, and wondering if it is "normal" to bring the teacher a first day of school gift.. or is it not acceptable?
Thanks!!

 

[sammielynn]

I never sent a first day gift or even thought about it. When my boys started school it was all I could do just to get them there without falling in the floor and crying. If anything it should be small. It really is a nice idea.

 

[txgirl]

it's a nice gesture You will hear from a lot of people who don't think it's necessary (and it's not) but I love to send in some notepads in a basket with some baked cookies. Teachers can't have enough notepads and I think it's a nice way to start the year. I usually include a note with my phone number and e-mail, letting them know that I am willing to help out. Later they will put out a sign-up sheet but it's nice for them to know that a parent is already on board to pitch in.

I have friend's who are much more elaborate with their gifts and other friends who do nothing. I want my teachers to know they are very important to our family!

 

[poohbear2]

Sometimes teachers will send home a " WISH LIST" with items such as tissue,
bacterial cleanser, etc. As a teacher, I go through tissues like crazy each year and would be so greatful for parent donations.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I never sent a first day gift or even thought about it. When my boys started school it was all I could do just to get them there without falling in the floor and crying. If anything it should be small. It really is a nice idea.

I'm only laughing because this is so familiar to me!

The only thing I send in at the beginning of the year are reward stickers that I buy for the teachers to use. I used to send in Lysol wipes, too, but I had one teacher send them back home and tell me she couldn't use them in case a child in her class was allergic so I don't send them anymore.

 

[HayGan]

DS#1 starts Kindergarten tomorrow and I thought about sending something but something tells me it isn't a good idea. I'm sure that we will be receiving a "wish list" at some point as well as Christmas and end of the year gifts. I've only met the teacher once for 5 seconds - I don't understand the need to give her a gift already. I really don't see any need to send his teacher something right now (and the possibility of having him look like a teacher's pet already.)

But this is just my opinion

 

[3princesses+aprince]

We don't do first day gifts, but there is always a wish list for us from teachers, like tissues, cups, napkins,etc...

 

[KirstenB]

We had "business" day a week before school starts. It's a time to meet the teachers and drop off school supplies. I just buy a little extra of the supplies and bring them in then. There are always some kids whose parents can't afford supplies, so the teachers often wind up buying them. I figure this is an easy way for me to say "thanks in advance" to the teacher, and hopefully save them a little money.

Then I do small teacher gifts at Christmas and year-end.

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks for your advice.. I think i might send in a small bottle of my hand sanitizer (I make it myself, for my store) and a teacher themed rubber duckie.. Just a little welcome thing.. I figure it might open my dd up to going up to her teacher and breaking the ice - so to speak. My dd really wants to give her a lil' something special.

 

[MrsPete]

We usually take a small potted plant for the teacher's desk, but we take it on Open House night, which is held the week before back-to-school day.

 

[TallyLassie]

Both my kids brought large red apples on the first day of school. My DS's new kindergarten teacher gave him a hug and thanked him. Made his day.

 

[kidsicet]

I have always encouraged my kids to bring a small gift on the first day of school - not so much to appear as a "teacher's pet", but to help aleviate their own anxieties about a new year and a new teacher. Somehow, a small boquet of flowers has a tendancy to take away any first day of school jitters they may have. They look forward to walking in that first day and handing their new teacher their flowers. For us, it gets the school year off to a nice, positive start. I also want our teachers to know how much we appreciate everything they do, day in and day out.

 

[McKelly]

How about an educational toy or game to add to his/her classroom? This would also benefit your child.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We've done the apple thing on years when we've gone apple picking before the start of school. When we haven;t gone apple picking, we don;t bring anything special for the first day.

 

[disykat]

Definately not normal. I do think an apple, flowers from your own garden, a picture your child drew, etc. would be nice.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we live in NY and I taught for 7 years and have never gotten any, heard of any or seen and "firsy day gifts" IMHO I dont think its necessary on day 1...but maybe the 3rd week in ,when I was pooped as a teacher it would be a lovely thought!LOL

 

[vhoffman]

I have aother thread that's turned into a bit of a rant about gifts for the teacher for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc., however, I did send a gift of sorts for the first day, I do this every year--

I have each kid make a card for their new teacher and enclose a recent picture of them. I put it in a brown bag they decorate and put in a nice, big apple. We usually give that at Meet the Teacher Night. Its great for both the children and the teacher. It gets the kids thinking forward towards the new school year as they work on their card, helps them to learn the new teacher's name, and is much appreciated by the new teacher who has to learn 20+ new faces at once. Its inexpensive and isn't quite a gift, IMO, as a Welcome gesture. Always goes over big!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm only laughing because this is so familiar to me!

The only thing I send in at the beginning of the year are reward stickers that I buy for the teachers to use. I used to send in Lysol wipes, too, but I had one teacher send them back home and tell me she couldn't use them in case a child in her class was allergic so I don't send them anymore.

many schools are not allowed to have any type of cleaning supplies in their room anymore due to allergies. Last year we weren't event allowed to have our bottle of Purel out in the even a student went to touch it.. We were also told that we were no longer allowed to have asprins, tylenol etc in our purse anymore in the even a child went into it. HELLO... to me if a child went into my purse, I am going to call the police on them.. but that is what we are told. We must lock up anything that we have like the purel, asprins etc.... Gone are the day's of just placing your purse in the desk draw.
Years ago we use to clean the "toys" with a bleach water solution, now we can only use a mild soap that is provided by the school district. Next they will be telling us no baby wipes...

I do like your thoughts on the stickers, you can never have enough of them for positive reinforcement.. as opposed to time out

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If anyone wanted to send in a gift for the teacher the first day, make it a class gift. While some teachers do send home a wish list, some do not. Here are just some of the things you can send in that your child's teacher would love:
note book paper
pencils
crayons
glue/glue sticks
these would be used for the students who's parents cannot afford them for their child (and it happens often believe it or not)

more ideas:
alcohol/fragrance free baby-wipes
tissues
baggies (various sizes)
sharpie markers
stickers
paper towels
napkins
paper cups/plates
plastic forks/knives
laytex-free gloves (upper grades for use in science)
laytex-free band aides (yes, just for small boo-boo's to avoid going to the clinic)
post-it notes
note paper (stationary, nothing fancy)
small trinkets for a "treasure box"

So while these may be "gifts" they are used for everyone in the class, not just the "teacher"..and would be of great help to her/him. The way many schools are short on funds, much of the above would have to come out of the teacher's own pocket.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

many schools are not allowed to have any type of cleaning supplies in their room anymore due to allergies. Last year we weren't event allowed to have our bottle of Purel out in the even a student went to touch it.. We were also told that we were no longer allowed to have asprins, tylenol etc in our purse anymore in the even a child went into it. HELLO... to me if a child went into my purse, I am going to call the police on them.. but that is what we are told. We must lock up anything that we have like the purel, asprins etc.... Gone are the day's of just placing your purse in the desk draw.
Years ago we use to clean the "toys" with a bleach water solution, now we can only use a mild soap that is provided by the school district. Next they will be telling us no baby wipes...

I do like your thoughts on the stickers, you can never have enough of them for positive reinforcement.. as opposed to time out

I guess it makes sense, except the purse part, I guess that's just what things are coming to in the schools anymore, though.

I met my second graders teacher today and I offered to send in extra pencils for her class and she was very excited about it and said they ALWAYS need more pencils. At .25 a pack I can definitely handle that!