To give kids' teachers Christmas decs they've made as prezzie - or is that mega stinge

[Schoolquestionz]

Just that really.

They've made them...

Is that REALLY stinge or should I nip out and buy wine?

Decs, prezzie, stinge.

WTF?

Having taught primary for many years, to be honest I've had a lot of boxes of chocolates, scented candles and "World's Best Teacher" mugs (Not wanting to sound ungrateful, but, you know, there are only so many chocs even I can eat!) One of the best presents I ever got was from two Year 2 children (best friends and both quite artistically-talented) who got together to make me some Christmas tree decorations. They were really cute and very personal to me - I loved them! Those two children must be about 25 years old now but I still have those decorations and get them out every year to put on my tree and remember those kids. So I'm all in favour of handmade gifts!

To be fair though...I did get one present that was fantastic. My lovely 6th form class had one of those magic mugs made..as I made a brew the mug revealed a picture of that class. It makes me smile every time I use it (rarely though as I consider it to be very special and precious).

I'm a TA and something made by a child would be preferable to a bit of tat picked up by a parent at the last minute in the supermarket.

As this thread shows there is quite a divide over how people feel about things made by children.
All the decorations on my tree are ones I have chosen because I love them and whilst there is a range of colours, they all go with each other and I wouldn't just stick a homemade decoration on there.
My own kids decorations got their own small tree.

I think the whole thing has inflated too much and is getting embarrassing. A lot of people gave £20 to the class collection last year - I think the teacher got £200 and the TAs £100 each. I think some of the teachers are getting embarrassed too. They are reciprocating with buying the children 30x party bag bits and writing thank you letters and they give me a gift for helping in class. I don't want them to feel obliged to do all that, I just want to say a heartfelt "thank you" without putting any obligation back on them. So we are sticking to simple and home made this year.

Oh no. My plan was to make a few of bauble decs for the teachers and teaching assistants.

I love my mishmash tree with a few nostalgic decorations. Quite looking forward to making them. But it involves clear baubles, glitter, snow and sequins, maybe a personal note inside too. I don't do crafts so I'm going all out here!

It's it tacky? Shall I go and buy wine instead?

I would love home made baubles.

As long as the children (not parents) made them

Lol caboodle. I sound a bit excited about these baubles. I'll be unleashing the sequins and letting the kids go ahead. If i start twitching, I'll do some for our tree instead!

I was a teacher until last year. I'd have loved a bauble or something crafty that a child had made. I'm afraid I'd be appreciative of the thought of home-made sweets but I wouldn't actually eat them.

Absolutely no need to buy anything as well. Wine is always lovely whoever it is from but I'd be really upset if I thought a family were stretching themselves to get something for me. I struggled to afford gifts for all the staff that worked with my children at Christmas so I know how that feels.

My DS made Christmas tree decorations for his teachers when he was at primary school. One TA liked hers so much she asked and paid him to make some more

Feeling really guilty I didn't send anything this year money is really tight and I honestly couldn't afford it. I'll buy something for end of the year but Christmas is killing me. I hate Santa

Cattychatty
Please don't worry. I tell my classes over the years that there is no need for present at all. I say that they give me a gift every day and that gift is their good behaviour.
I've really struggled financially myself this year. Really seriously struggled.
So please don't worry. We don't expect anything.

It's a combination of Christmas wishes and a thank you for all the seen and unseen effort that the teachers and TAs put in. We can't afford to go beyond 2 or 3 pounds at most, but I'd rather give a little something and a nice note than nothing at all. It can feel like a thankless and overscrutinised job sometimes so it can't hurt to show that there are parents who appreciate what they do and the enormous part they play in the children's lives.

Crunchymum:

Decs, prezzie, stinge.

WTF?

**

Didn't realise grammar was audited on here.

And if it was - WTF - bit overused don't you think?

I like getting little homemade things/cards from the children :) it shows that they care :) although the best present I got at the end of last year was an email from a parent to the head teacher to say how much they had appreciated my support and what specifically they had liked about my teaching that year. Made me feel really lovely that they had noticed what I had done for their child and that they appreciated it.

Also, if you are giving things your children have made it's nice to send them in a few days before the end of term if possible so that they can be displayed, I have some things up in my classroom that the kids have made and they get really excited seeing their presents being used.

My most treasured gift ( that I still have 10 years later) is a glass that a pupil decorated herself with glass paint at an after school
Club. I love it as she made it herself and so spent time and effort on making a gift for me. I expect nothing & have never been given wine! Hand made are lovely & really appreciated

I think if a real life teacher looks down at a gift made by the children they teach, then they are in the wrong job.

It is so true that unfortunately parents feel the pressure to buy something. It doesn't necessarily mean they go for expensive presents, but you can't let your child go to class empty handed when everybody else brings something. As a parent, I buy something because I have to, I don't feel like I have a choice.

I am a teacher and for my own children I send biscuits and chocolates for all the staff in their class at Christmas- that's it.... I really don't understand this thought process of expensive gift!

dingdong I agree completely with your first point.

I know what you mean about not wanting to send children empty handed. I know both as a teacher and a parent how excited children get about giving gifts and it's nice to encourage that. But remember that any halfway decent teacher will show as much gratitude for a 60p chocolate bar or homemade card as for a bottle of expensive wine. I really hate the expectations that have been created that put pressure on the parents.

I'm giving £10 gift vouchers to teachers and £5 gift vouchers to the TAs, some people will see that at OTT and others probably see it as stingy. My only motivation is to give them something to show appreciation for all the hard work they do day in day out with the children.

^All the decorations on my tree are ones I have chosen because I love them and whilst there is a range of colours, they all go with each other and I wouldn't just stick a homemade decoration on there.
My own kids decorations got their own small tree.^

I've seen that said before on here and it makes me really sad that your kids decorations are not good enough to be on the tree with all the other ones.

Christmas trees at home shouldn't look like something in a department store, they should be a joyful mish mash of decorations from store bought to the ones your children have made very year of their lives, to that broken one that you love and can't quite bear to get rid off. Christmas trees should be full of family history, not soulless perfection. The tree is a Christmas centrepiece both literally and symbolically, not just another tasteful decoration on your own so tasteful home.

I always imagine people who say this are also the ones who won't display kids art work, or let them have their toys out of their room

A happy messy chaotic joyful Christmas to you all