Do you buy teachers Christmas presents?

[Superheroessidekick]

So I normally get my ds teacher a thank you gift at the end of the summer term but I'm now thinking do I get something for Christmas? Last year I got them a box of nice biscuits but this year I'm thinking they must have had shit loads of biscuits lol. Any suggestions? Or do you not bother? X

[ChristmasEvePJs]

Check if there is a class whip round, someone does this for DD's nursery and then we just give a handmade decoration to her key worker.
DS's teacher is getting a gumball machine for his desk.

[AnnaMarlowe]

Yes, we do, just something small like a plant, a bowl of planted bulbs, poinsettia etc.

[IoraRua]

Please, no biscuits or chocolates. We get so many! Ditto mugs, fridge magnets and anything else branded Worlds Best Teacher.
I like handmade cards from the children best, I can keep those. Don't like decorations as while it's cute and I appreciate the thought, I can't keep all the ones I get - I have too many! So I don't tend to ever use them.

Something small like stampers for childrens work, or stickers or something I would genuinely appreciate and use.
But don't feel you have to buy something, teachers don't expect anything.

[PennyHasNoSurname]

I got Prosecco from Asda, 6 for £25 so Ill probably take three of them in (1 teacher and 2 TAs) for dds preschool.

Prosecco ok?

End of term July gone I put a fiver Costa voucher in each of their thank you cards. Will do something similar this July.

[captainflash]

penny I am now secretly dreaming your child is in my class. Prosecco and then a Costa voucher at the end of the year? I'd be made up!

I appreciate most consumables really. They always get used over Christmas or my own children eat them. Wine, at worst, can be re-gifted or taken to parties. We sometimes swap round in the staffroom too. I don't drink red but colleagues do.

But please don't feel you have to. I wouldn't think anything less of your child if you didn't.

[LorelaiDanes]

I don't get anything. My mil is a teacher and she'd rather not have anything, partly because parents get competitive and partly because a lot of it is stuff she won't use and she hates the waste.

[Eva50]

I've got a bomb cosmetics Christmas gift box for ds3's teacher but now I'm not so sure. I hope she's not allergic. She has a teenaged daughter so she could always share.

[PurpleDaisies]

The best "presents" are Christmas cards with meaningful personal messages in. Nothing else is required and it is actually a pain dealing with so many mugs/boxes of chocolates/bottles of wine. Sorry to be a grump! Obviously I smile sweetly and say thanks to anyone who gives me a present.

[ShatnersBassoon]

No, it's not something I feel is necessary or hugely appreciated. I hear so many teachers complaining about all the mugs, trinkets and chocolate they get given.

I make sure all the volunteers who run groups and teams for my children are given a little something though.

[OSETmum]

I just get some chocolates. I'm a TA and can honestly say I appreciate and use every single thing I get. I'm secretly hoping for a Molton Brown bauble from the bargain thread, not because I want anyone to go to all that expense for me but purely because I'll know that mum is a Mumsnetter

[crispytruffle]

Class rep organises a collection and we all put in and do a class card (each child gets a sticker to write a little message or just to sign). They always get vouchers for John Lewis or similar. I find is sad to read that teachers find it a pain dealing with gifts! .

[mercifulTehlu]

I don't buy Xmas presents for my dc's teachers. I'm a teacher myself, and while I appreciate the thought behind the gift, I'd rather have a 'Merry Christmas ' or a card from the child. I can't help but feel that parents buy gifts for teachers because they feel they ought to, rather than because they want to.

[crispytruffle]

*some!!!

[PurpleDaisies]

crispy When you're in primary you can end up with 20 boxes of chocolates and 10 world's best teacher mugs at Christmas, and again at the end of the year.

You either have to get fat or give lots away which you feel guilty about because it was a present. I'd rather parents bought their kids a book instead.

[Comingfoccacia]

No, they just get a home made card.

[crispytruffle]

mercifulTehlu

As a parent I have never felt I needed to, I have wanted to and my children really like the idea of giving something to their teachers who they have always been really fond of. I have to say we've always been so lucky to have such fantastic teachers and since they spend so much time with my children I like to give them something little in a way of a thanks I suppose. Also, at the end of the Christmas term my children always come home with something little even if it pencil or a little christmas choc etc from their teacher and I know its come out of their own pocket.

[blossom101001]

I, although not necessary, love all of my mugs, chocolates and trinkets that I get each year. Last year one of my students gave me a bottle of coke- why because he knows I love it! I have all the teacher mugs that I have been given apart from a few I have dropped. I am a prolific tea drinker.

So not all teachers feel that these types of presents are rubbish.

[Cressandra]

I'd echo everything crispytruffle said.

We have been ever so lucky to have fabulous teachers and I do really want to show my appreciation, especially since they tend to give the children a party bag type present or choc lolly. But I do think things have got out of hand and it's getting embarrassing for staff and parents alike. I've had written thank you notes from teachers twice now - the very last thing I wanted to do was put them under obligation to write thank yous and buy for 30 children! One of them was only for a book we gave for the classroom too, not even a real gift for the teacher herself.

[millimat]

As a teacher I live and appreciate every present. True- we could get lots of chocolates, but there's thought in there.
As a mum, I like to buy teachers present took show my appreciation as I for one know the stress of the job, but they never show it to my children.
DD1 is more in High School so have no idea how to do presents? I'm thinking just the form teacher?

[Superheroessidekick]

Thanks everyone. I love the idea of a costa voucher

[weeonion]

We have dd1's teacher 2 nice notebooks, funky paper clips, a stamper set and some stickers. That came to about £5.
Every other year I have done an Oxfam gift of books for a classroom in a developing country but this dd really wanted a "proper" pressie for her teacher

[MidnightVelvetthe4th]

I buy them a Lush gift set or a set of 3 small jars of pickle/chutney from Lakeland. I have to say I'm a little at teachers who are ungrateful and would consider my gift a pain!

[Ragwort]

No - I have never seen the need to buy a gift for any of my DS's teachers - I (or he) would always send a card and a hand written note but I actually feel quite strongly that teacher gifts should really NOT be encouraged. So many other professionals are just not allowed to accept gifts.

I do think the people who deserve presents are the volunteers who give up their time and energy for our children - sports coaches, cub and brownie leaders etc.

And I volunteer in a charity shop and we are inundated with unwanted teachers' presents after every Christmas - anyone want a 'world's best teacher mug' or ten. .

[BetweenTwoLungs]

If you have a particularly good teacher, the best thing ever would be a letter saying what you have appreciated and a copy going to the head. That would make my life complete if that happened!

[randomcatname]

No, I think it's bonkers unless you have a particular reason to - like your dc have had a challenging year and teacher has gone above and beyond for them. But normally no way. All the teachers I know roll their eyes at all the stuff they're given. A nice handmade (by the child) card is lovely, and besides, christmas is expensive enough without adding more into the mix!