Yay or nay on this teacher gift idea

[summerrluvv]

As a teacher, anything is appreciated! But I once saw a great, inexpensive gift. Someone squeezed wrapped candy into a whisk, put it in a celophane bag and wrote a note saying, "Whisking you a Merry Christmas." You could even add a $5 Starbucks card inside the bag and make it inexpensive.

Love this too!!!

 

[summerrluvv]

OP, I kind of borrowed your idea.

Joann's has the cutest little gingerbread spatulas on sale right now. The handle is stainless and the plasticy/rubbery part is a brown gingerbread man. I got that (50% off so it was 3.99), a gingerbread man cookie cutter they had for a dollar, a gingham gift bag and am going to buy a gingerbread cookie mix from the store and put them in the bag. I found a cute gingerbread man ornament at the Dollar Tree. I'm going to hang that off the outside and put the rest of the stuff inside the bag. If I can find a gingerbread man dish towel, I'll cushion them with that. If not, I guess I'll just use tissue paper. So without the cookie mix, it was only $7, including the gift bag. Not bad and that spatula is so cute!

I was just at Joann's today and saw those spatulas, so cute! I didn't know they were on sale though. I did pick up the four pack of gingerbread man cookie cutters in various sizes. It as around $3.49 for the pack. I have to hit up dollar tree and see what I can find there. They always have GREAT seasonal stuff.

 

[RSADP]

YAY YAY YAY!! I LOVE IT and I'm STEALING it!

 

[charming23]

FYI, I was at target tonight and they had really cute seasonal oven mitts with either gingerbread mix or sugar cookie mix in them. They were 4.99. They had another similar set but I can't remember what else you got with the mix.

 

[TupperMom7]

Last year I did something similar. My DH owns a solid-surface countertop company and I had him make up some corian cutting boards.... I paired them with Tastefully Simple dip mix and beer bread mix and made them up all pretty with tulle and ribbon They were a big hit

Can you send me that gift? Sounds great! I love Corian - we have the counter tops in our kitchen.

 

[TupperMom7]

FYI, I was at target tonight and they had really cute seasonal oven mitts with either gingerbread mix or sugar cookie mix in them. They were 4.99. They had another similar set but I can't remember what else you got with the mix.

Are they with the Christmas decorations?

 

[charming23]

Are they with the Christmas decorations?

They were down an aisle that had small gift baskets and foods right near where the decorations were.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One of the best gifts I got as a teacher (and this was about 35 years ago) was a small hammer that the mom had painted the handle and decorated the handle with strawberries painted on over the white paint. I have had this hammer in my kitchen drawer ever since that time and use it often.

I also have a few Christmas ornaments that I got from my kids.

 

[Sagginit]

you can buy a bundle of solid colored towels at a place like marshalls or walmart, get some sort of stamp and fabric paint and let your child decorate them for you instead of just snowmen, it makes it more personal and lets your child participate more in the giving aspect. i know anything that was made for me reminds me of the person who gave it to me.

 

[badblackpug]

It's not a "requirement" to give a gift, but they do a lot for my child, so I think it's deserved.

I understand that it is not required, and I agree teachers do a lot for our kids, but this gifting thing has become waaaay out of hand, thus the reason it was stopped here. A hand written note or drawing from the child is fine, but nothing of monetary value. Parents were getting more and more ridiculous about the cost and extravagance of the gifts, plus there are some families that just cannot afford the gifts, thus causing embarrassment to the child that shows up empty handed. Plus, there is the appearance of impropriety. The better the gift the more preferential treatment the child gets. I'm not saying this actually happens, but someone could make a case for it. I read an article that discussed the issue in (I think) the Maryland area where the gifts were as extravagant as use of a ski cabin, and spa weekends.
Also, after reading on here how many gifts go "in the trash" or are unwanted, I would be even less inclined. I think my child would be devastated to learn that that gift he/she picked out or that batch of cookies/brownies she worked so hard to bake went in the trash or were considered "junk." I was always taught that you appreciate any gift you get, because no one had to get you one. (Shoot, my ex was the worst gift giver. I thanked him and smiled through shoe trees!)

My final point is there are no other professions in which it is expected to give a gift. You don't pick out gifts for your doctor, or lawyer. I understand something a little extra in the tip envelope for your "tipped" workers, such as your hairdresser or housekeeper or paper boy.

Oh, by the way, I have to agree with all the above that if you are giving a gift please try to avoid specific religious icons. You don't know what, if any, religion the teacher practices.

 

[summerrluvv]

That's why I said seasonal...not Christmas.

Anyway, I went to The Christmas Tree Shop today and found snowman kitchen towels for $1.99, snowman pot holder mittens for $1.50 and blue spatulas with a wooden handle for $1.00. I bought betty crocker sugar cookie mix at Target (2lb bag) for $1.69.

I've been trying to find inexpensive gourmet pancake mix and I'll tie a wisk to it and make a tag that says "whisking you a happy holiday", for a few of the other teachers (dance school, daughters pre-school teachers) but I can't find any inexpensive mix. Anyone seen any?

 

[qtwns]

I always buy my holiday teacher gifts at Target after Christmas sales when things are 75% off. I have gotten great gifts ($30 seasonal trays, candle holders) for next to nothing.

 

[MickeyP]

I understand that it is not required, and I agree teachers do a lot for our kids, but this gifting thing has become waaaay out of hand, thus the reason it was stopped here. A hand written note or drawing from the child is fine, but nothing of monetary value. Parents were getting more and more ridiculous about the cost and extravagance of the gifts, plus there are some families that just cannot afford the gifts, thus causing embarrassment to the child that shows up empty handed. Plus, there is the appearance of impropriety. The better the gift the more preferential treatment the child gets. I'm not saying this actually happens, but someone could make a case for it. I read an article that discussed the issue in (I think) the Maryland area where the gifts were as extravagant as use of a ski cabin, and spa weekends.
Also, after reading on here how many gifts go "in the trash" or are unwanted, I would be even less inclined. I think my child would be devastated to learn that that gift he/she picked out or that batch of cookies/brownies she worked so hard to bake went in the trash or were considered "junk." I was always taught that you appreciate any gift you get, because no one had to get you one. (Shoot, my ex was the worst gift giver. I thanked him and smiled through shoe trees!)

My final point is there are no other professions in which it is expected to give a gift. You don't pick out gifts for your doctor, or lawyer. I understand something a little extra in the tip envelope for your "tipped" workers, such as your hairdresser or housekeeper or paper boy.

Oh, by the way, I have to agree with all the above that if you are giving a gift please try to avoid specific religious icons. You don't know what, if any, religion the teacher practices.

Wow! A lotta hostility here. I'm glad you can't give gifts. You sound like you were looking for an excuse, and it dropped right in your lap.

 

[LuvBug1977]

2 or 3 years ago I bought inexpensive dishtowels with snowmen on them from Walmart... I think $1.00 each and then emroidered the teacher's and aide's names on them. They went over well. I think your idea is great also!

I've also made candy bouquets for valentines day. Tape mini-candy bars to wooden skewers and add to a small vase or pushed into floral foam in a small bucket.

 

[AlternateEgo]

This year I bought $10 Mrs. Fields gift certificates from Restaurants.com and am using them for the cookie cookbook and 2 Dozen cookies on sale for $10.

I was thinking about putting some ingredients in there too, but now I am liking the idea of putting a few utensils and dishtowels instead.

 

[peppermintpea]

I understand that it is not required, and I agree teachers do a lot for our kids, but this gifting thing has become waaaay out of hand, thus the reason it was stopped here. A hand written note or drawing from the child is fine, but nothing of monetary value. Parents were getting more and more ridiculous about the cost and extravagance of the gifts, plus there are some families that just cannot afford the gifts, thus causing embarrassment to the child that shows up empty handed. Plus, there is the appearance of impropriety. The better the gift the more preferential treatment the child gets. I'm not saying this actually happens, but someone could make a case for it. I read an article that discussed the issue in (I think) the Maryland area where the gifts were as extravagant as use of a ski cabin, and spa weekends.
Also, after reading on here how many gifts go "in the trash" or are unwanted, I would be even less inclined. I think my child would be devastated to learn that that gift he/she picked out or that batch of cookies/brownies she worked so hard to bake went in the trash or were considered "junk." I was always taught that you appreciate any gift you get, because no one had to get you one. (Shoot, my ex was the worst gift giver. I thanked him and smiled through shoe trees!)

My final point is there are no other professions in which it is expected to give a gift. You don't pick out gifts for your doctor, or lawyer. I understand something a little extra in the tip envelope for your "tipped" workers, such as your hairdresser or housekeeper or paper boy.

Oh, by the way, I have to agree with all the above that if you are giving a gift please try to avoid specific religious icons. You don't know what, if any, religion the teacher practices.

FYI,.....i would never let a student know that I am not inclined to eat their baked goods. I choose not to eat a baked good because Im leary of how it was prepared,etc. Just me...thats how I am
Also...I appreciate the thought and give them as much attention as the one who comes with a gift card, or even a note. I just received the NICEST note from a parent whose child has been having a difficult time in my class and it was better than any gc, or present. It means that i have made a difference and thats what its all about!

 

[lovintennessee]

One thing my daughter loves to do for her teachers is taking a terra cotta pot and putting her handprints on it with paint in the shape of a heart. We then choose a blooming plant and my daughter writes the message "Thanks for helping me bloom." It is always a huge hit.

But I agree any gift would be appreciated.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm a teacher, and I like things like this because after being married for 16 years, a lot of our kitchen stuff is worn out and needs replaced! I have a child this year (and I had her brother two years ago) whose mom is the manager of Williams Sonoma at our mall. She gave us the awesome WS dish towels and dish clothes with the silicone collapsible measuring cups and silicone measuring spoons the year we had her son. My co-teacher and I were thrilled with this gift!!

 

[summerrluvv]

One thing my daughter loves to do for her teachers is taking a terra cotta pot and putting her handprints on it with paint in the shape of a heart. We then choose a blooming plant and my daughter writes the message "Thanks for helping me bloom." It is always a huge hit.

But I agree any gift would be appreciated.

We did that for pre-school end of year gift 7 years ago. Except I wrote "thanks for helping me grow" and something else..I forget now.

 

[annsteere]

I'm wrapping-impaired. I can't get a mental picture of how I'd put these items together and make it look good.

Could some of you please post a pic of your "final product"?