If, like me, you’re spending a lot of time making your list and checking it twice, please don’t forget the teachers. Our children’s teachers; the unsung heroes who we entrust to instruct, develop and shape our children during most of the hours that they’re not with us. Isn’t that worth more than the $5 contribution to the group gift? (not that the group gift isn’t appreciated; I’ve heard from many teachers that one big gift is so much nicer than 25 bottles of cheap perfume!)
My sister’s a grade three teacher and has always done very well by her students when it comes to holiday giving. She has received lovely jewelry, purses and thoughtful cards. So I asked her what the hot trends were, and what teachers really admitted to wanting when they chat in the staff lounge.
Thoughtful
A gift card for a coffee shop is a lovely idea; but make sure you go the extra step and find out whether your child’s teacher is a Starbucks fan or a Timmie’s girl. As grateful as I am for the fistful of Starbucks gift cards that I inherit from my Tim Hortons-loving sister every year, I’m sure her students would rather she was using the cards they gifted her.
Charitable
A group gift of a donation made to an appropriate charity is always a wonderful idea, especially when it’s something that the kids can get involved with. Again, do your homework and find out whether there’s a cause that’s particulary dear to your child’s teacher’s heart. My sister planned and hosted a pancake breakfast for her class last year to raise awareness for breakfast programs in underprivileged schools. Thoughtful parents made a donation in her name to the program.
Indulgent
I was recently given an Indigo gift card, and I spent a lot of time drooling over the new lifestyle products that Heather Reisman’s stocked on the website. Give a teacher an Indigo gift card and she can choose that
hardcover novel she’s been dying to get…
or a box of Godiva chocolates…
or a baked brie maker for hosting over the holidays!
Practical
Rather than giving the teacher a bottle of your favourite Shiraz, and then finding out she’s allergic to wine, give a gift certificate to the liquor store so that she can pick out something special for herself over the holidays. Even a teetotaler is bound to need a bottle of something to take to a New Year’s Eve party!
Gift cards in smaller denominations are a lovely gesture for the school secretary who calls to tell you when your child has fallen off the monkey bars, for the librarian who recommends a book other than the Big Book of Gross Stuff, and for the gym teacher who tires your kid out before sending him home!
I think that you really do have to remember that its the thought that counts and that with a heart-felt card, $5 to Tims is cool. I would go for Tims over Starbucks for that amout only because the money will stretch that much farther. I also like the idea above of Alice’s idea above of Brownie/cookie mix in a jar.
One other alternative: a group gift: maybe new crayons/markers/glue for the classroom? If its a home-based daycare, I am sure the money for supplies is coming out of their pockets so stuff like that shows you value them and their program.
But for a middle income family, what amount on a gift card is appropriate if your child is in a school based daycare with 3 main teachers? Not to mention a daycare administrator and a cook.
My husband is also a teacher – gift cards are much appreciated, but he also loves the homemade things, the cookies, the brownie mix in a jar, etc. He works in a less privileged neighbourhood, so he is very encouraging of the sorts of gift you can put together simply instead of spending the same couple of dollars on something at Dollarama.
I really like the idea of gift certificates, especially to Chapters/Indigo (or the like) since EVERYONE can use a book of some kind, but the shop also offers gift items, as you listed above. That is, of course, if an alternate, more personal gift can’t be found – we don’t always know what the teacher might like!
And don’t forget your school crossing guard, if you use one!!
The wood? Ooof, how wonderful of him. And loving. 🙂
We always give $5-$10 into the “class pool” but we also give a small gift that the kid’s pick out that’s a bit more personal. I find the kids really like to be involved in the process. It’s not common practice for all teachers to receive gifts. I remember telling a friend who lives in a different part of our city and she had never even heard of this. She ended up baking cookies with her daughter every year for their teachers. So, it’s good to see that teachers are very appreciative! It’s truly the thought that counts!
Thanks for this post…you really did get into the minds of us teachers. My favourite gifts are always those that really show the family cares. Over the years, I have loved recieving books for my classroom library, supplies for our class garden, and-my all-time favourite-a piece of wood a boy brought back from his cottage because that was all he could afford.