Does anyone else NOT remember bringing this many gifts to school on the last day before Christmas vacation?
(somewhere, Lynn Spence is crying)
Yesterday I was getting everything organized to bring to school Friday. And I thought back to when I was little and realized that I can’t remember bringing gifts to school for teachers. I’ll have to refer to my Mum on that one. I’m pretty positive that my Mum didn’t drive me to school and carry in a large box full of gifts for various members of faculty at my elementary school.
Out with a group of friends last night I was asked by a teacher “Why are you buying them gifts?” One mom jokingly said “Because I’m supposed to!”
I told her because both my kids have phenomenal teachers and I want to show my appreciation by way of a nice gift and Christmastime is a good time to do that. Also, one kid has a phenomenal EA who I would like to give a nice token of appreciation to.
The teacher whose kindergarten room I work in and the other woman who does the same job as I do at the school – lovely people that I get to spend my days with when I’m there. I’d like to give them something as well. I also bought a little something for Eva’s two Montessori teachers (gifts are not in the above photo)
It doesn’t hurt that I LOVE to Christmas shop (no, really…I do) so I don’t mind buying gifts for people who I think deserve a nice little something as another way to say “Thank you!”
And can we just talk about this? OMG this:
This is the cutest bottle holder I’ve ever seen. I love these little Santa pants so much that I had to buy several (Zellers – $1.99) and anyone who I was going to buy wine for now gets TWO bottles!
This is the cutest bottle holder I’ve ever seen. I love these little Santa pants so much that I had to buy several (Zellers – $1.99) and anyone who I was going to buy wine for now gets TWO bottles!So tell me – what’s your take on teacher gifts for the holidays? Do you buy gifts for teachers? Principal? Secretary?
I just buy for the people working directly with my kids (or me!)
Where do you draw the line?
I just buy for the people working directly with my kids (or me!)
Where do you draw the line?
Hi Kay – thanks so much for your comment! I love hearing from people who read the blog and give me feedback!
So funny you posted that – we are on the same page!!
I gave my younger son’s teacher 2 bottles of Vino Verde (portugese wine) – his fave! He was extremely appreciative of that and guaranteed it wouldn’t last til Christmas!
My older son’s received a Chapters gift card and a beautifully painted ceramic travel mug from us.
Both teachers and EA received handwritten cards from the boys!
As a teacher, I have to say that the gifts I love the most are the cards from my little students with messages that they write themselves. I have a big keepsake box (organized by year) with each and every single card I’ve ever gotten since I started teaching. If parents want to give gifts, donations are wonderful or Tracey’s idea of Indigo gift cards so that we can buy books to use in our classrooms!
As a mom, I like to give our daycare provider a gift to say thank-you for nuturing our daughter and making her feel safe and loved while Mommy and Daddy are at work. As others have said, it’s the personal relationship of someone else caring for our child that makes me want to show her an extra special gesture of ‘thanks’. And yes, I give her gifts that I would like to get (like the mentioned gift card to Indigo and a bottle of wine!) 🙂
Great post Christine! I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now after one of the parents at our school pointed it out to staff. Both myself and my mother used to work in autistic classrooms. Your family is beautiful and you are one amazing Mom! Enjoy the holidays 🙂
I’m with Jen! 🙂
@Jen TOTALLY agree with you and I get it! I do not “do” teacher gifts. In the past a homemade card from my kids and maybe some baking I’ve set aside.
SOME people have the exception to the rule (as always) but I believe most people do it for themselves. To make themselves feel good that they are wonderful people who remember EVERYBODY or stressed b/c what will others think of them if they don’t give a gift. Not really because they want to but b/c they “have” to b/c everyone else is doing it. It’s gotten ridiculous and in my experiece, over the top. People trying to one up one another. Ok not consciencely but that’s what they are doing. Keeping up with the Joneses.
It’s their job to be a teacher. A gift should be the exception not the rule! If they’ve done an outstanding job or your child has had a particular attachement, fine but every year just b/c, no way! Over indulgent.
now watch the flames… 😉
Jen – I get your side of it too. I do.
It’s a personal thing. For me, the teachers spend 6hrs a day, 5 days a week, 9 months a year with my children. Teaching them, keeping them safe and ensuring they enjoy their time there.
It’s also different with us having a special needs child – his teacher and EA devote 110% to Cuyler’s growth and development every day. They want as much success for him as we do and that is invaluable to us. The beaming smile he gives them every morning walking into class tells me he’s exactly where he needs to be. With who he needs to be with. The least I can do is give them a small token of appreciation for all the do for my children.
I only buy for Cams teacher, Cuylers teacher and Cuyler’s EA. That’s it.
The other two I buy for have nothing to do with my kids, they’re friends and make my day enjoyable when I’m working there.
The blue bags are filled with cards and candy canes for the boys to share with their classmates.
Sara – I worked in a YMCA childcare facility for 6yrs before I had Cam. Gifts from families were appreciated but never expected. I never once played favourites – don’t worry about that!
And Laura – I disagree about Christmas being the one time to show appreciation. It’s certainly the most convenient. I tell the teachers and EA on a very regular basis how much we appreciate them and all they do. I have given handwritten cards every now and then as another way to say thanks.
As I said – it’s a personal thing. We all do what we’re comfortable doing.
I do think I will check out the World Vision site that several friends used this year and maybe do that next year.
@Jen – I assume you would receive gifts from your clients if you worked with them 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. If your husband was keeping the snow cleared on ONE street, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week and built a personal relationship with every one of the people on the street, I’ll bet they would give him Christmas gifts too.
Giving a teacher a gift is not to appreciate them or thank them for doing their JOB – it’s to thank and appreciate them for building a relationship with your child and caring so much about them.
If you don’t want to (or are not allowed to) buy a gift for a teacher, I would hope they will receive a Christmas card with some lovely words about how much they are appreciated by you and how loved they are by your child. I’d rather have that than a couple bottles of soap.
santa pants! i’m going to zellers today. i usually donate to unicef for the teachers although this year they’ve asked that it be the stephen lewis foundation. i’d rather do that. i know a couple of kindergarten teachers personally and they are just overwhelmed with stuff, most of which they can’t use.
Hey,
I think i’m the only one on the other side of the “opinion” fence but I don’t really believe in gift giving for teachers. Abby’s preschool has a ban on such things. It’s not that I don’t think they don’t work hard and don’t deserve to be appreciated (I have several friends/family members that are teachers and also worked as a teacher’s assistant), it’s just that it’s their JOB.
I don’t get gifts from my clients at Christmas time because they appreciate the beautiful images I capture of their families, not does my husband receive gifts for working 24hr 7days a week to keep the city free of snow.
I think the whole gift giving thing for teachers is a bit out of hand, especially because most parents think it is expected.
When I had my business, used to assemble gifts of cookies and chocolates, etc. for gifts. For my preschooler (with something like 8 educators) I’ve been giving gift cards to Chapters/Indigo… that plus maybe a bottle of wine for the director. This way, it’s just envelopes – no one will feel awkward or “shown up” I hope. Now that my son is in the first grade, I just send a single gift (gift card) to his teacher.
Which reminds me – I have to get to Indigo this week…
I scrapbook and make cards so each of my three kids’ teachers will get a set of 8 handmade cards as a Christmas gift. Two of the classes are doing a group gift of a World Vision gift certificate, so I put $10 for each of those teachers. I don’t do the teacher’s aids or other school staff, but I do bring in baked goodies for the staff room a couple times a year.
Here’s what gets me – I am a dayhome provider. I care for 7 little people 50 hours per week in my home. I spend more time with them than their parents do. I make sure they are safe, warm, happy, loved, fed well, taught, entertained, cuddled, and know how great and capable they are on a daily basis. Last year one of the families gave me 2 bottles of Bath and Body Works soap for Christmas. Another family gave me a box of chocolates. Another family gave me a nice gift, but the card said “Thanks for helping our household run smoothly”…uh, really? That’s what I do? Seems more appropriate to give to your housecleaner, no? Trust me, there is very little appreciation in this job for how much work we caregivers do, and Christmas is the one time you can show your appreciation. (just wanted to mention, we live in a very upper-middle class suburb-city with a lot of disposable income – I know the means were there, but not the desire, I guess)
As for your comment Sara, I would really hope that teachers know that it’s the parents who buy the gifts, not the children, and that they would not take it out on the kids (or give favour to those who give expensive gifts)
A few years ago we decided that we would forgo traditional teacher gifts and now make a donation to a charity instead. We have donated to the Scott Mission, the Yonge St Mission and the Canadian Cancer Society. The kids give their teachers cards that have a note inside saying that in lieu of a gift, we have made a donation in their name. We have had a great response to this and feel good knowing that in some small way, we have a made a difference!
I’m so in love with those santa pants I’m dying….
I’m bringing Wills daycare teacher a small gift card. They’ve only worked with him for a month. I really think that gifts should be banned at school and that people can contribute to a group one or something. Just my thought here but if you can’t afford a big gift and another kid walks in with a big beautiful gift – your kid will feel like crap. Also, and I even hate saying this, but maybe the kids with big gifts may get favoured…AHH I hate even typing that.. I know at my granny’s home, you weren’t allowed to give individual gifts because they were afraid of that. I’m curious to hear what the teachers out there think??