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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Presents for teachers

197 replies

6079SmithW · 03/12/2017 20:45

I have two primary school age DDs and I am all out of ideas! Without help their teachers will end up with wine (AGAIN). AIBU to ask for your suggestions please?

OP posts:
TheOriginalNNB · 03/12/2017 20:46

What’s wrong with wine?

Wine/choc/biscuits/card

billybagpuss · 03/12/2017 20:47

Christmas decoration for the tree. I have received a few over the years and treasure them all, it always brings a smile every year when they come out again, especially for students who have long grown up and moved on.

monkeysox · 03/12/2017 20:48

Wine. Always wine 🍷

parrotonmyshoulder · 03/12/2017 20:49

DD always chooses her own. Last year they got gemstones. Sometimes it’s been a bookmark, or some cute stationery. She seems to know what they’d like...or she thinks she does anyway.
No sure DS is going to have the same sort of insight. I may have to step in.

parrotonmyshoulder · 03/12/2017 20:50

DD always chooses her own. Last year they got gemstones. Sometimes it’s been a bookmark, or some cute stationery. She seems to know what they’d like...or she thinks she does anyway.
No sure DS is going to have the same sort of insight. I may have to step in.

Ilikesweetpeas · 03/12/2017 20:53

Wine is good! Teacher speakingSmileWine

fortyfourfeasts · 03/12/2017 20:58

Wine. Stationery. Chocolate. Please don't feel you should though, a heartfelt note is genuinely worth more than any gift.

MumW · 03/12/2017 21:05

We've always made a cake or some biscuits.

sanityisamyth · 03/12/2017 21:08

Just painted 4 mugs at a pottery painting shop for my DS’ nursery teachers :) did the same last year for different teachers and they loved them!

juddyrockingcloggs · 03/12/2017 21:10

My present would be the wages that my sons teacher gets each month!

Joking. Kind of!

We don't give presents to teachers, a card yes but not a present!

SaigonSaigon · 03/12/2017 21:13

A decent bottle of fizz, like Prosecco, for my DS's teacher. I figure you can't go wrong. If they don't drink, it can be regifted. It's just easy

cowssheephens · 03/12/2017 21:15

Wine sounds great to me.

WishingOnABar · 03/12/2017 21:16

I used to put effort into personalised gifts but the truth is with so many kids giving the same thing they must be swamped with best teacher mugs and boxes of chocolates. I have given a small voucher for paperchase for the last two years and both times received a very grateful thank you from the teachers after, if you use a lot of stationery in your job its lovely to treat yourself to the ‘naice’ stuff!

Sloegin2 · 03/12/2017 21:17

My son attends a specialist school: 5 teachers/TA’s in a class of 6 children.
I’ve wrotten a heartfelt card to them plus the head/deputy head and have bought some high quality home-made fudge (well, not home made, but home made by a crafty lady) and a gin bauble each to thank them for the love and care they show my son each day.

BringOnTheScience · 03/12/2017 21:19

Former teacher here ...
Wine
Chocolate
Personalised post-its / note block

Or ...

Class set of Pritt sticks
Class set of coloured pencils

BringOnTheScience · 03/12/2017 21:20

(Please .... no mugs. We have dozens.)

Macaroni46 · 03/12/2017 21:25

Another vote for wine. From a long serving teacher

RavenWings · 03/12/2017 21:33

Some suggestions: Card, biscuits for the staff room, cute post its/pens etc, class materials (books, fun science things), vouchers (coffee shops or books?), a charity donation to a charity that you know they support (aka do not get if you're unsure). It all depends on the person. I've gotten herb pots and cacti too, but the kids knew I liked cooking and I had a cactus in my classroom.

Nothing wrong with wine/ chocolates, they're standard presents and the thought is appreciated, but being honest - they are a bit forgettable. I don't think that really matters though, but personally I'd steer away from giving those.

I think my favourite present ever was the sponsored elephant from dswt, or a class butterfly hatching kit. Cards and letters are really the best by a mile, though. I have a box of them from over the years that I look through every now and then.

Not mugs, handcreams or anything homemade. I'm not into Christmas decorations made by the children or anything Best Teacher.

YouTheCat · 03/12/2017 21:38

Wine!

Kraggle · 03/12/2017 21:41

I’ve got dds teacher and TA’s a beautiful notebook and personalised pen each. It’s her first Christmas asnonly started school in Sept so I hope they will be ok. Will also buy biscuits or chocolate tub for the staff room.

Maelstrop · 03/12/2017 21:44

No present, but wine, homemade cake always welcome! I echo the heartfelt note-if appropriate and cc a similar email to the head, that's worth it's weight in gold, iyswim!

Glumglowworm · 03/12/2017 21:52

My mum was a teacher, wine and chocolates and smellies were always appreciated. Not everyone likes random smellies though. But equally not everyone drinks. They’re all easy to regift if they’re unsuitable, and won’t clutter up the teachers house before being binned, they’ll be eaten/drunk/used by someone.

I get the occasional gift from Brownies and Guides, usually chocolates which are very much appreciated (but never expected!). I don’t really drink so would regift wine, but I’d still be very grateful to have received anything. As I said, it’s really not expected! A simple “thank you” from girls and parents is plenty!

FlouncyDoves · 03/12/2017 22:15

Depends entirely on how much you want to spend. Wine is good, if they drink. If not then a £10 gift voucher for somewhere generic - Amazon/John Lewis - or other (shop bought) consumerables.

Chapman31 · 03/12/2017 22:16

I have had almost 50 best teacher mugs and coasters in the last few years - DH counted them! Neither of us drink tea or coffee!
Scented candles, chocs etc go down nicely! Alcohol tends to get regifted! Also homemade cakes tend to get avoided (too many years watching children cook and touch things they shouldn’t without thinking!)

Becles · 03/12/2017 22:16

A note or a drawing, but if in doubt stationery and wine!

No mugs I have the first 4 or so I was given the rest goes straight to the charity shop.

No homemade food though, most ends up in the bin at home because there are so mamy families with day to day hygiene issues and I wouldn't want to eat anything from their home if I'm honest.

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