To wonder why people give gifts to paid staff and not volunteers?

[CaterpillarCara]

It is the Christmas season and all the teacher gift collections are apace.
I actually am not anti- giving things to teachers, I think they work very hard and give a lot of themselves.

But Thursday night was our end of year Scout event. Our Scout troop is lucky to have a bunch of extremely hard-working volunteers. The children have a phenomenal time. Did anyone give them a thank you or a gift? (beside me, that is). No.

They are largely the same families as at school. So income, culture, etc, do not explain it.

Why, if you are giving to the people PAID to help your children, would you not give to the people who do it for FREE?

I would really like to either understand so do please explain!

When ds was at cubs and scouts I gave gifts but, more importantly, we both thanked the leaders at the end of each session.

I have to say when I was a youth leading running a weekly group (for 5-10 year olds) I was often given christmas presents, and birthday presents too.

I am now in a more senior voluntary role so don't work with the same children week in week out but do still get the occasional present at christmas.

, we both thanked the leaders at the end of each session.

I do think that says more than any present TBH.

I love getting a call/card/email after an event I have arranged or helped at thanking me and telling me how much they or their child have enjoyed it.

Agree - it is the thank you that is key, however it is expressed. I got the sense with our leaders (due to their huge gratitude to my thanks) that maybe it is often not expressed!

I always try to email, post on the group Facebook page, etc, to say thank you.

We're off on another awesome Scouting thing today, so will say lots of thank yous again.