What to bring home for Kids classmates??

[mchelle77]

My DD is in preschool and will be missing about a week and a half of school for our trip. We thought about several things we could do, but can't afford to buy something for EVERY single classmate, friend, relative, etc. So we will get a little something for her teacher (like a mug), a Xmas gift for her two cousins that are around her age, postcards for the grandparents (maybe little gifts if we find something affordable and suitable) and something for her best friend.

We were trying to think of WHAT to get her BF (she has a 1 year old sister as well, and I was conflicted about what, if anything, to get HER) so we decided to just bring a sheet of paper and, at the character meals, in addition to asking them to sign my DD's book, ask if they would sign the paper for her best friend back home. Then we'll laminate it and she can use it as a placemat (AND her little sister could use it as well) MUCH more affordable, and shows we were thinking of her on vacation

 

[ShelShelsmommy]

I teach Pre-K and always like to bring my kids back something. I typically just get a Potato Head Mickey Mouse Ears hat for everyone. I just fit them in with our box of Potato Head parts. This year though since I think we now own ALL of them I'm not sure what I will do. Guess just get a few more parts The kids always love that, and since I'm getting the box anyway it really doesn't cost anything.

 

[Sam's_Mom]

We send postcards from the trip to his friends. I ask for addresses before hand and write them on sticky labels, we buy the sets at different parks and then let him pick out one for each friend.

This is relatively cheap and the kids love it. Most of them never received mail.

 

[tinkerfan1]

When our kids were younger, we brought home the giant lolly pops. When we told the CM we were getting them for classmates, they gave us individual bags for each of them and Mickey stickers to put in each of them as well. We go at Thanksgiving time so we got the teachers a Christmas ornament, too, I believe. There is a particular one with the year on it that we like to get every time we go. They may change it slightly but we love it. Yes, everything is expensive at WDW but things like that are so special to give and to receive...

 

[Del]

We buy for the teacher only. Usually a pen and notepad set. I don't have enough time or money to shop for all these other people/children

 

[kbheap]

On our last trip, we brought back PEZ dispensers for her classmates. Mind you, she is only in preschool, but they loved them. We bought boy characters for the boys and princesses for the girls. They were only $2 each and I asked the cashier for enough tiny bags for each of them that way each kid felt like they received a souvenir from DW. We also bought some goofy candy sticks. They came in a pack of 6 for $4. When she got home the teacher let them all eat them during snack time and she took a great picture of all of the kids hamming it up for the camera with their Disney candy. It was too cute!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I think it's a nice idea. I understand what some are saying about "Don't rub it in the faces" of kids who can not go....but what about the kids who never get any presents/ nobody ever thinks to give them anything nice? I'd rather bring something back and let that classmate know we were thinking of them, and risk others being jealous. The school I last taught at was over 80% free and reduced lunch...and I know that most of those students did not get special treats often (bookmarks, lollipops, etc.) and would have been happy for a treat...regardless of where it came from!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we just came back and dd 4 had missed a week and a bit so we wanted to bring somethign back for her friends. i never even thought it would offend anyone! altho i must admit it was very hard to find something that wasn't insanely expensive. dd settled on 2 packs of character pens she picked out. they were 11.50 for 6 and she has 12 classmates. problem solved.

 

[BelleRocks]

I think it's a nice idea. I understand what some are saying about "Don't rub it in the faces" of kids who can not go....but what about the kids who never get any presents/ nobody ever thinks to give them anything nice? I'd rather bring something back and let that classmate know we were thinking of them, and risk others being jealous. The school I last taught at was over 80% free and reduced lunch...and I know that most of those students did not get special treats often (bookmarks, lollipops, etc.) and would have been happy for a treat...regardless of where it came from!

I think that's a nice way of looking at it. We did the character chocolate coins from the MK candy store, very cheap and easy, my DD passed them out at snack time.

 

[CoffeeCup]

I agree that bringing back little gifts for classmates often makes other children resent the fact that they haven't ever been to Disney World while your children not only were able to go, but also got out of school for the trip. As a high school teacher, I often have teenagers mention something that happened 5-10 years ago that made them resent certain other kids. Perhaps, you could bring back a Disney storybook and give it to the teacher to read to the kids in class. Many elementary and pre-k teachers spend their own money to build a classroom library, and most would appreciate a new book for the classroom.

 

[loud-frog]

I was one of "those" kids growing up. Couldn't afford the lunches and never saw Mickey or any place else for that matter. I would have loved anything from anywhere that said someone had thought of me. For those of you that think every kid should have the privliege to go to Disney or nothing because of jealousy- I disagree. Not trying to be argumentative - just saying- been there myself.

We always bring home a pen for the teachers and candy for the classmates.

Have a wonderful trip and it's nice of you to think of others. How they interpret a gift is up to them.(hopefully they will be thankful)

 

[islac]

you could just bring little stuffed animals or keychains. it doesn't really matter that much. it's the thought that counts.

 

[The Hendies]

A friend went to the dollar store BEFORE they went to WDW and picked up some trinkets. Her kids had something to pass out to classmates, and she didn't have to worry about luggage space, spending lots of money, etc. Of course, her own kiddos never realized where the trinkets came from!

 

[crash2000]

I was one of "those" kids growing up. Couldn't afford the lunches and never saw Mickey or any place else for that matter. I would have loved anything from anywhere that said someone had thought of me. For those of you that think every kid should have the privliege to go to Disney or nothing because of jealousy- I disagree. Not trying to be argumentative - just saying- been there myself.

We always bring home a pen for the teachers and candy for the classmates.

Have a wonderful trip and it's nice of you to think of others. How they interpret a gift is up to them.(hopefully they will be thankful)

I was one of those kids also, and remember a freind going, and when she came back, I remember feeling horrible, and poor ( not that i knew what that meant then), and asking my parents why we never goto disney, or florida, or on any vacation, and my mom breaking down, because we couldn't afford to...I'm not sure if bringing gifts back for the kids is a good idea.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We've never done it. It's totally not necessary.

Save your money or put it towards something fun for your own kids.