Teachers presents?

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

I'm trying to keep costs down this Christmas. Not because I'm skint. We're not. But we're far from rich and i'm sick of constantly throwing money away because I feel like I have to.

Anyway, I've made these today for dd1s teachers at school and the guides leaders. I have another 5 to do for dd1s "people". They work out to just over £1 each including the chocolates, cellophane and ribbons. Dds will attach a personal note/poem to the side.
Not bothering with swimming teachers or the people who run the various clubs that I pay through the nose for this year.

Are they a bit naff?

[IceBearRocks]

2old2beamum it costs me fortune at Christmas. DS goes so a SEN school. The class has 6 children, 1 teacher and 5 TA's. Then he has a bus driver and personal assistant.
These people though care for my DS throughout the year. They feed and change and educate him!
They are worth every penny!

[RainyApril]

I hate the thought of a parent worrying about money though, and can promise you that a homemade gift or thoughtfully worded card means just as much.

[WeAllHaveWings]

everyone gives something and I don't want to single my dds out

do you think the teacher keeps a register of who doesn't give a present and then single them out? Unless your dd are extremely keen then they can do a card with a thoughtful message which will be very appreciated much more than yet another box of chocolate or wine they don't like.

[Ni58]

It's worth mentioning that lots of teachers buy every child a Christmas gift and use their own money to do so.
They also buy gifts for TAs and volunteers.
Saying thank you is a two way street.

[Dahlietta]

Ni58 that is a very good point! DS1's teacher bought him a book last year for Christmas and another one for his leaving present in the summer. They were very thoughtfully chosen books for the individual children. It's not a large class, but it must have cost her the best part of £100 all the same.

[Ni58]

In fact, I don't think it's even about saying thank you. It's saying Merry Christmas to people you care about. The children are important to us, we care about them, it's a way to show them that they're important to us.
In the same way, we make a big fuss of every child's birthday by gathering together, singing to them, giving them a card, a token gift, etc.

[sonjadog]

I´m a teacher. Teacher gifts are tokens of appreciation, they aren´t meant to be like the Christmas gifts you get your nearest and dearest. So something small with a card is entirely appropriate. As nice as a little token of appreciation is, it is neither required nor expected, as as some posters pointed out, we are already paid for doing the job. So if you don´t want to give a gift, then it will not bother the teacher at all.

Personally, I prefer edible gifts. I´m not a great wine drinker and it just sits there for ages until I get a chance to use it up, and knickknacks just gather dust.

[MrsHathaway]

redexpat makes a good point: hope all those reminding us that teachers get paid are putting their children's volunteer leaders (Brownies, football, Sunday school, choir) at the top of the Christmas list ...

[ShatnersWig]

Another thing that has started in the last 10-15 years from nowhere. It gets discussed among friends all the time. Friends in their 30s and 40s who teach say they get presents - usually a shed load of chocolate or alcohol at Xmas and end of summer term - when this never happened to our teachers when we were at school. Most of the teachers I know would prefer not to receive anything. If parents have got any spare cash, give it to the school itself which probably needs it.

[Glittermonster17]

I am a primary school teacher and I would be very happy receive this as a gift! We don't expect to be given gifts, a homemade card or a simple thank you to show appreciation always goes a long way! No one should be feel obliged to buy something but it's nice to know that you're appreciated in whatever form that comes!

[ProfessorCat]

No, they're lovely gifts with a personal touch and SO much better than bloody alcohol! I don't drink!

I really, really don't expect gifts anyway so it's always lovely to receive them but something like this is extra special :)

[BananaSandwichesEveryDay]

I am truly amazed that a teacher/ta would suggest that a card or gift from a child would make then feel more 'affection ' for the child. I can honestly say that for me, it makes no difference at all. And I'm sure that is true for most teachers and tas.

[ychafi]

I’m in my late 50s and used to give Christmas presents to my Teachers and Sunday School leaders - so it’s not s new thing!

[washingmachinefastwash]

Some people send gifts and some don’t.

I think your gift will be well appreciated OP.

[mmgirish]

I'm a teacher and I get lots of presents from big ones to small ones and I love them all. If I was given those sweets all wrapped up like that I would be delighted. They look very festive. I give presents to my child's teachers too.

[Ceesadoo]

Lovely and thoughtful.

[licencePlateIsFresh]

I'm a teacher at a school with wealthy parents (£20k+ a year fees) Some do give extravagant presents but others more along the lines of yours OP. A token of appreciation is lovely.

I re-gift a lot (Gucci scarves, Chanel purses) but have kept every handmade card from a child I've ever been given. I've been given flights to a hotel in Spain owned by parents before, an iPad, a spa day (lunch, not included, cost me £35 ), a Go Pro and a hot air balloon flight.

Ironically, the expensive gifts tend to come from parents I see least of. The parents who do homework and read with their children, help with scenery and costumes and the Summer Fete etc are more likely to help their child make a card and some biscuits (or bag of chocolates) and they're the ones we love and know there's some thought behind them.

The best present I ever got was from all the parents and made with the class teddy which gets sent home and children write about.

The parents collaborated throughout the year and made a "What Zoe (the Zebra) Really Got Up To" book. Apparently she was in Stringfellows, met a punk band, fell asleep on a park bench; there were photos of her hungover, crying with running mascara holding a cigarette and empty champagne flute and having an affair on my classroom desk. One of my prized possessions simply because of the thought and time that went into it.

tl;dr - not naff. The idea is lovely. The poem could be naff if your daughter's copying something awful off the internet. A nicely written "Happy Christmas Mrs / Mr X" or "thanks for x, y, z" might be nicer.


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You're right that we're paid to do a job @SoulStew but that doesn't mean it isn't nice to show someone they're appreciated. I would never feel obliged to give a gift to anyone nor do I expect one but your attitude is quite recognisable as a 'type' of parent. I guess it's the same as a 'thank you'. Teachers don't need or expect them from children or parents but it's lovely to get one at the end of a long day or week.

[Louise201710]

I wish I was giving this gift for just doing the job I was paid to do. It’s the same when people clap because the plane has landed...I wish someone would clap me just for doing the very basic requirement

[strangeEvents]

Louise201710

If I've deciphered your post correctly, you wish you were given a gift or applauded?

Tell me, do you sometimes feel underappreciated? If so, would a small token of thanks help you give a tiny bit extra to a difficult job?

[BananaSandwichesEveryDay]

Louise201710

In my experience, teachers, TAs, do far more than 'just their job'. I've known very few teachers who haven't paid for things for school without being able to claim that back. Fruit tasting for our topic on the Caribbean? - Teacher paid for that. Material for the batik pictures your child made last Christmas? - teacher paid for that. New and engaging books for the class book trolley? - teacher bought those. The little 'rewards'your child brings home (stickers/certificates/small prizes)? - teacher pays for those. If I want to give a child a stick let for effort, I have to buy them myself. I have also bought pencils, rubbers etc, which otherwise don't need, so that those children who don't have their own, can borrow mine. I give every child only year group a small gift and card at Christmas. I like doing it. But, contrary to what some people believe, it's not part of my job or paid for by school.
Give or don't give. Your choice and will not change my view of your child, or how I treat them one jot. But don't suggest that we are being given thanks 'just for doing our job'.

[DreamingofBrie]

I'm a teacher and never expect a gift from students. However, I've kept every thank you card that I've received from my students, and I get them out to read and cherish when I'm going through a rough patch! Its nice to know that I was appreciated.

OP, your gift is lovely. I would be touched to receive something like it .

[Louise201710]

Strange events
I do get rewarded. It’s called a salary

[Ojoj1974]

As a child I used to plant bulbs. I remember it being lovely and Christmassy

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

I'm a TA and a Guider. A present like that would make me smile, the personalised note/poem even more so.

With my Guiding hat on a thank you or even a bit of recognition I am a volunteer would make me smile too, doesn't need to be a gift, just a 'thanks' as you pick your girls up from any trips/last meeting of term.

[MistressDeeCee]

Who started this thing of giving teachers presents?! It smacks of wanting your child to be favoured. What's wrong with a card? Parents who are forever thinking of ways to stand out at the school just create rods for other parents' backs. Especially poorer parents who can't afford fancy gifts. It all becomes a lemming-like tradition. I don't think teachers should be allowed to accept gifts anyway.