Teacher Gifts?

[mjkacmom]

Based upon what I've heard, then they'll complain that the $5 wasn't enough to really buy anything and/or that the gift card was to a store they don't shop at.

I've seen many of these threads, and the teachers who have gently added their input have always seemed grateful for all gifts, especially hand-written notes. I think it's very helpful to know that they are overwhelmed with the amount of body lotion, candles, ornaments, and mugs they receive.

I used to sometimes give homemade treats, but thanks to the information on these threads, I always just give gift cards - I'm not using them as a way to cheap out on a gift for the people who spend as much time with my children as myself.

 

[Tinkh]

I've seen many of these threads, and the teachers who have gently added their input have always seemed grateful for all gifts, especially hand-written notes. I think it's very helpful to know that they are overwhelmed with the amount of body lotion, candles, ornaments, and mugs they receive.

I used to sometimes give homemade treats, but thanks to the information on these threads, I always just give gift cards - I'm not using them as a way to cheap out on a gift for the people who spend as much time with my children as myself.

See this is where I am saddened. Because of this gift card preference, you are missing out now on sharing that moment with your children and teaching them how to work towards giving a gift to someone they care about. I say forget the gift card and go with the life lesson! If the teacher throws the baked goods out, then I can understand, but the teacher will hopefully recognize that they are doing what they love which is teaching children valuable lessons.

 

[mjkacmom]

See this is where I am saddened. Because of this gift card preference, you are missing out now on sharing that moment with your children and teaching them how to work towards giving a gift to someone they care about. I say forget the gift card and go with the life lesson! If the teacher throws the baked goods out, then I can understand, but the teacher will hopefully recognize that they are doing what they love which is teaching children valuable lessons.

Don't be sad - my kids like picking out where to get the gift card, and enjoy making cards for their teachers. Our go-to's are usually Target, Staples, Barnes and Nobles, Starbucks, and I usually do Dunkin Donuts once a year, because you can have them made with photos, and the kids love picking them out.

 

[linnell]

I bought my son's teacher a little utility bag that will fit a small box of tissues. I'm going to put the tissues and some hand sanitizer in it.

 

[Bob NC]

See this is where I am saddened. Because of this gift card preference, you are missing out now on sharing that moment with your children and teaching them how to work towards giving a gift to someone they care about. I say forget the gift card and go with the life lesson! If the teacher throws the baked goods out, then I can understand, but the teacher will hopefully recognize that they are doing what they love which is teaching children valuable lessons.

The teacher is giving your child valuable lessons all day every day of the year.

Does a little "thank you" have to be another lesson she's teaching?

 

[violetrose]

I've seen many of these threads, and the teachers who have gently added their input have always seemed grateful for all gifts, especially hand-written notes. I think it's very helpful to know that they are overwhelmed with the amount of body lotion, candles, ornaments, and mugs they receive.

I used to sometimes give homemade treats, but thanks to the information on these threads, I always just give gift cards - I'm not using them as a way to cheap out on a gift for the people who spend as much time with my children as myself.

I prefer the homemade gift. I guess everyone is different. I have one student who is now a senior, she has brought me in chocolate chip cookies every Christmas since she was a freshman. I hope I get them again this year!

 

[marcyinPA]

I prefer the homemade gift. I guess everyone is different. I have one student who is now a senior, she has brought me in chocolate chip cookies every Christmas since she was a freshman. I hope I get them again this year!

There was a mom at my preschool who made the BEST chocolate chip cookies EVER. I had her two oldest kids. She has one more who will start next year. I hope she sends her daughter to preschool! The cookies were incredible, and I love the family!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

See this is where I am saddened. Because of this gift card preference, you are missing out now on sharing that moment with your children and teaching them how to work towards giving a gift to someone they care about. I say forget the gift card and go with the life lesson! If the teacher throws the baked goods out, then I can understand, but the teacher will hopefully recognize that they are doing what they love which is teaching children valuable lessons.

But giving a gift card is still giving. You can give a person ANYTHING and make it a lesson in giving for your child. Giving is giving, period. (and for the record, I normally don't throw out baked goods, unless they aren't very good I do appreciate every gift I receive. I just don't always have a use for some of the gifts I receive.)

(I have received tons of gift cards over the years- and many of them have come with a homemade gift or card from the child. I have all kinds of hand painted and hand drawn items that held the gift cards that the children picked out.)

 

[Andtototoo]

I've seen many of these threads, and the teachers who have gently added their input have always seemed grateful for all gifts, especially hand-written notes. I think it's very helpful to know that they are overwhelmed with the amount of body lotion, candles, ornaments, and mugs they receive.

I used to sometimes give homemade treats, but thanks to the information on these threads, I always just give gift cards - I'm not using them as a way to cheap out on a gift for the people who spend as much time with my children as myself.

The problem is that even the gift cards aren't good enough. Walmart is the anti-union/dirty/sourceofallevil and they won't shop there. Don't like Target. Etc. And then the amounts given weren't high enough.

But giving a gift card is still giving. You can give a person ANYTHING and make it a lesson in giving for your child. Giving is giving, period.

Sorry, but I truly don't see the lesson in "We're in line at Target. Grab a gift card for your teacher." (Then again, I also don't see the point of or emotional value to family gift exchanges that involve nothing more than swapping gift cards or cash.)

I'd much rather teach a lesson about generosity by taking my kid shopping for Toys for Tots or the Giving Tree at church. And in fact, that's exactly what we did after I read thread after thread of teachers kvetching about the horrors of holiday gifts -- took the money I would have spent on teachers and my dd and I went out shopping for those less fortunate. IMO, that's a far more valuable lesson than, "Your teacher probably won't like any item we could choose or make for her/him, so we gonna give him/her a plastic card that's basically cash."

 

[Pollyanna Poppins]

I just wanted to add that as an ex-teacher my favorite gifts were the hand made ones. I still have a beautiful handmade ornament from a little girl in 3rd grade that I really love. Ornaments are gifts I typically buy for our Sunday school teachers etc... One kid gave me a diet coke which I still remember after 13 years. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy to be meaningful. There is something I still find amazing about children's artwork. I also kept many cards that I was given from students at Christmas and the end of the year.

 

[shellybaxter]

No kidding. I'm a teacher and I feel really embarrassed whenever I read those type of posts.

I teach high school, and usually receive a few presents each year. Nothing fancy, and always appreciated!~

I agree - I've been employed at a preschool (first as a teacher and now as the director) that primarily serves low-income families for over 20 years. I've gotten many different gifts over the years; candles, dollars store figurines, gift cards, homemade cookies or candy, plants, bath stuff, never anything extravigant. And you know what - I've treasured it ALL, because it came from the heart of the children and families I've served. It's not the gift - It's the thought. It's means as much as the mother who was in my office today with tears in her eyes thanking me for "being there" for her child while she completes a particularily hard course of study where she is out of the home a couple of day a week for clinical training. Appreciation is appreciation - in whatever form in comes. Teachers that complain about gifts make me crazy.

 

[Jeafl]

Based upon what I've heard, then they'll complain that the $5 wasn't enough to really buy anything and/or that the gift card was to a store they don't shop at.

That's really sad. You must have had some bad experiences to feel that way.

I can honestly say that not one single co-worker of mine has ever complained about ANY gift they have received, and I certainly haven't either. In fact, the lunchtime conversation on the day before winter break is generally how generous our stidents have been to us.

Yes, we get lots of lotions, coffee mugs and ornaments, but we appreciate every single one of them. Yes, it is usually more than we can ever use, but the thought is what counts. I don't know about other schools, but any food that is set out in our staff lunch room or office usually gets eaten by SOMEONE.

Some of my most memorable gifts have been handmade cards and gifts. I still have cards from students that I had years ago. Probably my favorite gift of all time was a small cardboard box painted and decorated by a student of mine that was homeless. I still use it in my classroom; it holds my binder clips and I think of her every tme I use it.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

We always used to when my son was in middle and elementary school. High school there are just too many teachers. However, some of these threads just make me sad. I get it. Teachers want gift cards apparently, but I think that there was a huge lesson my son learned when we would shop for his teacher's presents. It taught him to pay attention to their likes and dislikes and also to be generous.
Every year, my son would pick his teacher's presents. One year it was a stuffed pig because his teacher had told him she loved pigs. I guess it's understandable that the teacher might not have been overjoyed with the present, but she was lovely and gracious about it. She appeared to really appreciate him paying attention to what she had told him at the beginning of the year. I don't think it should be about gift cards in my opinion, and I hope that teachers do recognize that even if they get 100 mugs that those little ones were probably picking those because the messages on there said "Best Teacher" or whatever.
A little one is going to learn how to buy for those they care about without expecting something in return. I would try to steer my son towards items that I thought his teacher would like the most, but 9/10 they want the catchy item that in their mind is the perfect gift.

I think this is WONDERFUL what you're teaching your son. I teach older kids, so I don't typically get gifts, but when I have in the past, it warmed my heart when it was obvious that it came from the kid or his/her thoughts, like if I got something disney or related to a favorite show/book/whatever. The parents wouldn't necessarily know that I like these things, so it's great knowing that the student saw something and got it because he/she thought I would like it (even if what they thought I'd like was 'another' "teacher" mug). It really is the thought that counts when it comes to teacher gifts, particularly the student's thought. The best thing I've ever received from a student goes back to my student teaching when a girl wrote me a good-bye/thank you letter. It's nothing I could eat or spend or smell or drink out of, but it's by far the best thing a student could get me. It's gone with me to every classroom I've taught in, and I'll still pull it out from time to time when I need a little reminder that I do, in fact, love my job and there's a reason I'm doing it.

But to the original question, I think I stopped doing gifts for teachers once I hit middle school and had teachers for different subjects. After that, I only got a gift for a teacher if I really felt connected to them, which I think was three times between fifth grade and graduation.

 

[luvmy3]

My youngest is still in elementary school so I will do gifts for his teachers this year. There are 4 teachers in the room and I'll just get them gift cards to Target. I'll have ds make them each a card. I think he has a crush on one of them so I can't wait to see what his card says

I used to do the BBW lotions, or ornaments, or candles until I came on the DIS. I guess I never really thought about every child in the class doing the same thing and the teacher ending up with 15 candles, and 10 bottles of lotion. Gift cards ever since.

 

[Pollyanna Poppins]

I just wanted to add that even those gifts that you particularly don't need, I needed to regift. We were on a very very tight budget so I appreciated having something to give away to others that I otherwise could not have afforded. 10 bottles of lotion would have been fine by me.

 

[Ember]

I appreciate any gift that is given. My favourites so far (in five years of teaching) have been:

- Tea - I don't drink coffee and when the kids notice I drink tea and bring in new kinds to try I love it!
- Homemade goodies - Maybe I'm not paranoid enough, but I figure most people are clean and won't cook with cat litter... So I'll eat most things kids bring me.
- A Kate Spade wallet - One of the mum's had noticed I got a Kate Spade handbag for Christmas (It was lime green and she commented on it) and she got several parents together and surprised me with a matching wallet at the end of the year. I love how much thought and consideration was put in, even more than I love the actual wallet. I still use it daily, three years later.
- Any donation in my name - I've had donations made to the Cancer Society, to the Humane Society and to different children's charities. I appreciate them all!

I also love gift cards and school supplies. One child brought me a set of 20 or 25 red pencil crayons, because my class sets had all run out of red. I still don't know where they found such a thing, but I sure did appreciate it!

Even the things I don't really need or can't use I'll pass along to people who will enjoy them, so nothing is thrown away or wasted.

How sad that people complain about gifts. They should never be expected, and no matter what you should be grateful that someone took the time and effort be kind.

 

[badblackpug]

I used to give gifts, then I saw teachers kvetching about every kind of gift on message boards and stopped.

Exactly! Every year when these threads come up I am thankful that my kids go to a public school that has a "no gifts of monetary value" policy.

No matter the amount of trouble someone goes to there always seems to be someone that comes on and says, "I don't like that," "I have to many of that," "i would never eat that," "Just give me cash." ie: a gift card.

 

[CariAEB]

My mom was a 6th grade teacher for 30 years. That's about the age the gift giving stops around here but they usually still do it that year. I was her scribe usually when she brought things home the last day before break, helping her write down what was from everyone so she could say thanks. She always loved anything consumable. Baked goods and gift cards on the top of the list. She had TONS of mugs and ornaments and when she got mugs she would try to use them a few times in the classroom for the kids and it could get a little nuts. She always liked some nice stationary as a gift because she would use them to send the thank you's to the kids. Any baked goods she would use at our house over the holiday to share with everyone so if it wasn't something she would like, someone did. There was always yummy homemade breads and stuff for breakfast and cookies for dessert. She did say though that some of her favorite gifts were just heartfelt thank you notes that were obviously from the kids themselves and NOT from the parents.

For my little one's day care I usually make a tray of assorted baked goods and bring them to the school with ziplocs so they can bring home whatever they like and give them each a Dunkin gift card. My older daughters classes have usually taken to having a parent volunteer to collect money anonymously via mail or through their kids folder in an envelope and then buying one gift from the whole class. That way if you can give what you can afford and everyone feels included. They usually get a really nice gift card for a local restaurant, and something like a plant to go with it. It depends on the teacher.

 

[marcyinPA]

The problem is that even the gift cards aren't good enough. Walmart is the anti-union/dirty/sourceofallevil and they won't shop there. Don't like Target. Etc. And then the amounts given weren't high enough.

Sorry, but I truly don't see the lesson in "We're in line at Target. Grab a gift card for your teacher." (Then again, I also don't see the point of or emotional value to family gift exchanges that involve nothing more than swapping gift cards or cash.)

I'd much rather teach a lesson about generosity by taking my kid shopping for Toys for Tots or the Giving Tree at church. And in fact, that's exactly what we did after I read thread after thread of teachers kvetching about the horrors of holiday gifts -- took the money I would have spent on teachers and my dd and I went out shopping for those less fortunate. IMO, that's a far more valuable lesson than, "Your teacher probably won't like any item we could choose or make for her/him, so we gonna give him/her a plastic card that's basically cash."

I think giving trees and Toys for Tots are awesome. We participate in those as a family as well. However, I think it's a sad commentary that you feel that all teachers are ungrateful. Personally, I am grateful for any gift, but if someone asks my opinion on what kind of gift to buy, I will admit that a gift card is probably a better route to go rather than a teacher mug. Do I cherish every good thought? Of course. Do I keep them all? Um, I really can't- or I'd run out of room!

I also don't get why you feel that giving a gift card to a teacher isn't a good enough expression of gratitude towards that teacher. Any gift is a nice gesture, but what is specifically wrong with thanking someone with a gift card? Especially if that person would really appreciate it??

You must have had some really bad personal experiences with gift giving to teachers to feel this way.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I get what you're saying but why give a gift that they might just want to ditch in the break room?

I honestly don't think about it. We just give chocolate. We've done so every year. To be frank, my life is non-stop this week through New Year's (and half of it is the school's fault). My high school and middle student children's teachers should appreciate that they get anything at all, even if it's a quick bag of chocolates.