Parents, do you buy gifts for your child's teacher?

[mommaU4]

If so, for what occasion? I know Christmas is pretty much a given. But what about at the end of the year as a thank-you? Or the very beginning of the year as a welcome back? And all the holidays in between like Valentines for example?

This may seem like a weird question but where we used to live the teachers were showered with gifts for every little event. Not that I begrudge them a gift or that they don't deserve a little something, but the parents in my kids classes always seemed to take it to the extreme.

Now here in MI, I don't see it happening as much or at all. Even at Christmas time. So I guess it just depends where you are at?

What's it like in your area? Just curious.

 

[CEDmom]

We gave my DD's teacher a Christmas gift and DD will make a Valentine for her. We'll be moving before teacher appreciation week but we'll probably do something for that at her new school. For the end of the year I'll probably just send a note in thanking the teacher. If DD really wants I'd probably let her pick out a little gift.

When DD was in daycare I gave more frequent gifts but I felt my DD got very good care from people who didn't get paid much and didn't have great benefits. Public school teachers are in a completely different category.

 

[jesszac610]

I usually do a nice X-mas gift for both of my kids teachers-1 in Elementary and theother in middle school. Then through out the year, I send in supplies that they would need to buy out of their pocket--hand sanitizer, dry erase markers, soft tissues, protractors etc. instead of sending in small gifts for the holidays.

 

[barkley]

we do christmas.

at our previous school (another private school) it was a frenzy of gifts for the teacher-birthday, christmas, teacher's day, staff appreciation day...there was ALWAYS some parent calling up for some collection for a teacher gift (it got to be way overboard). what killed me was prior to staff appreciation week-we would be sent a flyer about "in leiu of personal gifts staff members would appreciate a cash donation, contact x in administration"-and they had a recommended amount (similar to tipping scales on cruise lines: if your child attends x number of days this is the recommended amount, if you have 2 children"-if you did'nt do it on your own you would get a call from "x in administration" inquiring when they could expect you to drop off your "donation" (failing that they would sik the room parent for that class on you).

 

[laura001]

When my kids were in elementary school I didn't buy the teacher a gift, what I did do was make a donation to the school library for a book and dedicated to the teacher. I always figured that they received all kinds of stuff that they didn't need, so might as well give something that wasn't wasted away.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I usually do Chirstmas and end of year. My daughter pre-K teached is a DVC member and for christmas we got her a disney snowglobe. She has the same teacher again this year (she is wonderful).

 

[Glynis]

For Christmas, I usually put together a basket of supplies that are running low by this time; tissues, dry erase markers, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, etc. We have a book fair twice a year and I always choose one book for each of my kids teachers for my kids to "donate" to the classroom, and I do an end of the year gift; a small flowerpot that my kids decorate with a packet of forget-me-not seeds to go with it.

 

[minkydog]

i give my DS10 teachers gifts at Christmas and at the end of the year. Sometimes it's gift cards to a restaurant, a nice cooler for picnics, yard torches, dinner they can warm up at home, or tickets to a movie theater. I also send in homemade cake(with whipped cream ), popsicles in the spring, sliced watermelon, and soft drinks throughout the year. DS attends a severe/profound disabled class and they work their butts off for him. On his birthday I always donate a developmentally appropriate book to his classroom.

 

[LBAK]

I give a gift at Chrsitmas and at the end of the year. Also, some chocolate for Valentines Day and possibly Easter depending omy DD's relationship with the teacher. I do gift cards or something for a hobby of theirs. Something to help them destress.

 

[we3disneygo]

currently we are at a new school this year, she had 5 teacher and we did something for each one. not sure about Valentines day, dd is 12 ? and we usually do a gift card at the end of the year. one year when dd was in the second grade she had the best teacher, we took up a collection....asked for 1.00 per kid, we got maybe 7.00, anyway we made a book for the teacher, each kid did one page, everyday she got a gift...her favorite candy, playground equipment, jumpropes, balls, etc. it was alot of fun !!

 

[Blondy876]

I'm a teacher and if I receive a gift it is usually only on Christmas. For my girls teachers I give a gift a Christmas and I plan to write thank you notes at the end of the year. And now that my oldest dd can write she will also write a note.

I would never have thought about a gift for any other time of the year. Although when I was pregnant I did get a couple of gifts from parents when I went out on maternity leave. I thought that was very sweet of them.

 

[GoofyDad869]

We get the kids' teachers gift certificates for Amazon.com at Christmas and at end of year. Most of the time books make it to the classroom.

 

[MNmom2]

We buy for Christmas and end of the year. Also, get the teachers books for their classrooms at the bookfair and send snacks in throughout the year. I think many times teachers are under-appreciated and we just like to let them know what they mean to us.

 

[daisyduck123]

My kids give their teachers gifts all the time...but then again, I am a 1st grade teacher & I teach at DS7's school.

We're leaving Saturday for 8 days at POP.
We will be bringing back some awesome souvenirs for their teachers.

Last year, we got DD10's 6th grade teacher Math teacher one of those pretty Magic Kingdom travel coffee mugs with the no-spill lid. We enclosed several different kinds of Disney coffee with it. We chose this gift because DD10 said he drank coffee every day in math.

The teacher who teaches across the hall from me is turning 29 tomorrow.
She doesn't know it but the parents are throwing her a surprise party.

 

[KAMLEM]

I am amazed at how much money of their own money teachers need to spend on supplies. At the beginning of the school year I give each teacher a $50 gift card to Staples so that they can stock up on whatever they need. At Christmas I give them an American Express gift card so they can choose whether they want to spend it on themselves or on school supplies. At the end of the year I usually give them something a little more personal as a thank you.

 

[aprilgail2]

I give a 25.00 gift cert to Macys for Christmas...my daughter gives the teacher a little chocolate heart for Valentines day and for Easter she gives a chocolate bunny ( I work for a quality chocolate company)...the end of the year we ususally give another 25.00 gift cert. someplace.

 

[MoniqueU]

Christmas and the end of the year here.

 

[grlpwrd]

Well, I give a gift and thank you card to my kids' teachers for Christmas and at the end of the year, but for teacher appreciation week I try to participate in the teacher's luncheon by making meals for them and giving their homeroom teacher a supply basket, giving the classroom or library books, and volunteering when I can throughout the year.

Not everyone gives gifts here, though, as it's customary to really be involved in the school instead. We have a very high percentage of involved parents and I think that's a gift in itself.

 

[MariettaC]

When my kids were in elementary school I didn't buy the teacher a gift, what I did do was make a donation to the school library for a book and dedicated to the teacher. I always figured that they received all kinds of stuff that they didn't need, so might as well give something that wasn't wasted away.

That's a great idea and I know appreciated by most teachers. Thank you.

 

[lemondog]

At Christmas I make them baked goods and donate items to their classroom.

At the end of the year I do get them a gift.