Teacher gifts

[Becc1]

Our upcoming trip is the first time I've taken the kids out of school for a vacation. I was thinking of bringing something small like pencils or lolipops for my boys to give out to their classmates when they return to school but now I'm wondering if I should get something for their teachers. And if I do that then I would feel obligated to get their aides something as well (my one DS has a one on one aide while my other DS has a shared aide). And then there is the boys bus driver and bus aide, because my one DS is handicapped the boys have their own bus and their driver and aide are wonderful ladies. They go overboard on each holiday, showering both boys and my DD who is not in school yet with gifts. So this would be 6 gifts to buy, can anyone recommend a budget friendly gift to get them? Does anyone else get their children's teachers something if they take them out of school for vacation? TIA

 

[drcmk]

I may be in the minority here, but I never liked it when my kids got gifts from a classmate's vacation that was taken during the school year. I feel like it is flaunting the fact that one kid got to go on vacation while everyone else had to go to school. I say don't buy class wide gifts.

If you want to get a little something for a few favorite friends and distribute those outside of school, I think that is fine.

 

[ceecee]

I may be in the minority here, but I never liked it when my kids got gifts from a classmate's vacation that was taken during the school year. I feel like it is flaunting the fact that one kid got to go on vacation while everyone else had to go to school. I say don't buy class wide gifts.

If you want to get a little something for a few favorite friends and distribute those outside of school, I think that is fine.

 

[v.t.]

I agree that you should not get gifts for classmates. But you could do something for staff. Food is always a good choice, rice crispy treats maybe.

 

[minniebeth]

My DD's teacher went to WDW over the Christmas break and brought back the round Mickey Mouse stickers for all the kids in the class that you can get for free. They put them on their folders and loved them. I used to buy stuff like that for my kids to bring back to their classes, but everything has gotten so expensive, it's just not in the budget anymore, but then again, my kids have large classes (32/34).
I love bringing things back for the teachers and aides, especially since a lot of them love Disney. But even things that we used to bring back such as the tins of mints are like $4 each, pens like $5 and $6 a piece and notepads, etc. are the same price, when it all adds up, it really adds up! There honestly aren't many budget friendly trinkets anymore.
Anyway, some ideas might include:
Disney mints
Disney candies
Disney snacks like the pkgs of shaped pretzels or goldfisth type crackers
pens
markers
notepads
magnets
ornaments
dishtowels, cooking utensils
soaps (soap slices with Mickey head shapes at Basin)

I would go with something consumable or usable.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[sk!mom]

I may be in the minority here, but I never liked it when my kids got gifts from a classmate's vacation that was taken during the school year. I feel like it is flaunting the fact that one kid got to go on vacation while everyone else had to go to school. I say don't buy class wide gifts.

Agreed! I'm a teacher and mom. There's no need to make classmates jealous that your children went on a trip that some of them may never take.

The one time that we took DD15 out of school for 3 days
she was in 3rd grade. We did not bring anything back for classmates. We did bring her teacher a gift of Disney pens and notepads. We did this because he was so understanding and awesome about DD missing.

 

[shoney]

It is quite common around here, that people pull there kids out for vacations. We have never bought nor received anything from anyone. I wouldn't even have thought of it. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, I just don't think it is necessary.

 

[poohfriend77]

We brought back pens, notepad, a set of magnetic clips, and a cloth shopping bag for DD's teacher when we took her out of first grade.

For our last trip, we wanted to buy for DD5's kindy teacher, plus DD8's teacher and aide. I found a great idea here on the Disboards before we left. We bought candy in (almost) every country in EPCOT and put a sticker on each piece labeling where it was from. Some countries only have full-size candy bars in the $2-3 dollar range, but several countries (Germany, Italy, and France for sure) have individually wrapped candy that is around 30-50 cents a piece. I included a map of EPCOT in the gift bag, as well. The teachers loved them, and I probably spent about $25 for all three teachers.

Oh, I guess I should mention that we went in Feb. It may not work to carry chocolate around in your backpack all day if it's 90 degrees out!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

When my children were small they brought back choc. coins (in the days before allergies), stickers and mickey shaped straws (used to be a nickel when you had dinner in the castle). When DD was older we picked up books for the classroom library with a Disney theme. I can't remember specific titlesbut I remember one was an autobiography about Walt, one a book and map about Germany, one was the Anne of Green Gables series. I k now we also bought the Kingdom Keepers. Teachers usually got a pad of paper or something for their desk. I don't think it is flaunting the vacation. I can't remember a teacher that did not take some of their time to pull assignments for my kids to take on the trip. I always felt it was a small thank you back to them. The children in the class know about the trips. Some of the teachers had the kids report back about their trip so they knew where their classmates were. I think it is a personal decision.

 

[JandT'smom]

As a teacher I would like to say really no gift needed..but if you still want to a small food item only.

 

[averysmom]

I've never had kids bring back anything for the class... but I often get a little something.

 

[Pigeon]

I agree with the no gifts position.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I dont think there's a need to buy gifts for classmates or teacher. Use that money on your kids.

 

[scrapquitler]

I don't think there's any real reason to buy a gift for the classmates or teacher (but then again, we believe that souvenirs are something you buy YOURSELF so that you remember the trip).

If you really really want to buy something for your child to take to school, buy a book for the classroom library. There is a souvenir shop over near Splash Mountain that has a lot of books related to Disney Themes/movies. We actually bought a picture book of the Uncle Remus Tales there (maybe not a great choice for an elementary school) but there are tons of others available. Teachers always appreciate books, and it doesn't scream "I went to Disney World and you didn't".

 

[Becc1]

When my children were small they brought back choc. coins (in the days before allergies), stickers and mickey shaped straws (used to be a nickel when you had dinner in the castle). When DD was older we picked up books for the classroom library with a Disney theme. I can't remember specific titlesbut I remember one was an autobiography about Walt, one a book and map about Germany, one was the Anne of Green Gables series. I k now we also bought the Kingdom Keepers. Teachers usually got a pad of paper or something for their desk. I don't think it is flaunting the vacation. I can't remember a teacher that did not take some of their time to pull assignments for my kids to take on the trip. I always felt it was a small thank you back to them. The children in the class know about the trips. Some of the teachers had the kids report back about their trip so they knew where their classmates were. I think it is a personal decision.

We brought back pens, notepad, a set of magnetic clips, and a cloth shopping bag for DD's teacher when we took her out of first grade.

For our last trip, we wanted to buy for DD5's kindy teacher, plus DD8's teacher and aide. I found a great idea here on the Disboards before we left. We bought candy in (almost) every country in EPCOT and put a sticker on each piece labeling where it was from. Some countries only have full-size candy bars in the $2-3 dollar range, but several countries (Germany, Italy, and France for sure) have individually wrapped candy that is around 30-50 cents a piece. I included a map of EPCOT in the gift bag, as well. The teachers loved them, and I probably spent about $25 for all three teachers.

Oh, I guess I should mention that we went in Feb. It may not work to carry chocolate around in your backpack all day if it's 90 degrees out!

My DD's teacher went to WDW over the Christmas break and brought back the round Mickey Mouse stickers for all the kids in the class that you can get for free. They put them on their folders and loved them. I used to buy stuff like that for my kids to bring back to their classes, but everything has gotten so expensive, it's just not in the budget anymore, but then again, my kids have large classes (32/34).
I love bringing things back for the teachers and aides, especially since a lot of them love Disney. But even things that we used to bring back such as the tins of mints are like $4 each, pens like $5 and $6 a piece and notepads, etc. are the same price, when it all adds up, it really adds up! There honestly aren't many budget friendly trinkets anymore.
Anyway, some ideas might include:
Disney mints
Disney candies
Disney snacks like the pkgs of shaped pretzels or goldfisth type crackers
pens
markers
notepads
magnets
ornaments
dishtowels, cooking utensils
soaps (soap slices with Mickey head shapes at Basin)

I would go with something consumable or usable.
Good luck and have fun.

Thanks for the ideas!

I haven't decided yet whether or not I'm going to get the classmates anything or not but I don't see how if I did that would be flaunting their trip. If that's the case then should my child not discuss his trip with any of his friends?

The more I think about it the more I WANT to get my sons teachers and aides something. They all work so hard and I am so appriciative of all they do for my sons but I may save the gift and give it to them 2 weeks later as an end of school year gift.