To ask teachers and teaching assistants what you would really like for Christmas from a parent?

[Whosthecrazy]

Dd is in nursery and has I think 4 teachers in her class, 2 she is very attached to! I’d like to get them all something nice for Christmas but don’t want to fall into the trap of smellies or boring chocolates! So please, what would you really like if you could give a wish list?!

I'm a TA, was a teacher.

In all honesty? I don't want gifts. I feel guilty at the money spent on me especially if I know the family can soemtimes struggle. I hate the fact that people feel under pressure to buy something and then I feel guilty if I don't like the thing.

Also I have a raft of allergies.

I love a handmade card.

If a gift is a MUST then things like post it notes, glue sticks and other stationery stuff. I'd really like a decent pencil sharpener and a rubber that actually rubs out!

My kids are currently at secondary school and I tend to drop off a box of biscuits and tea and coffee for the staff and then smaller packs for the office ladies who have to listen to my rambling messages when DD is kicking off and I need to warn her teachers.

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My dad was a teacher and still has a picture that one of his ( incredible artist) former pupils have him. I remember having loads of selection boxes at Christmas because he got so many, when he moved to a posh area he got more wine.

In the baby and toddler rooms they didnt wear outdoor shoes just slippers so I used to get the staff socks. Eg if the room was called duckling / snowflake etc I'd get socks and give those with a note. I used to hunt around for ones ar a decent price on Internet. Sometimes you get lucky and "nice" brands are selling for £3/£4

Every year there seems to be a theme, if that the phrase. It’s all mugs or candles, vases, photos frames. 30 of the same present .
Best present was warm gloves .
A card with lovely words is much appreciated.

A card with a meaningful message. I’ve kept all of mine over the years, and I treasure them. The best gift by a mile.

In fact, there’s a particular one from one mum that I keep to hand and re-read a lot, whenever I am feeling down about the profession (a lot this year).

Wow had no idea this would get so many responses! Thank you all so much. Will definitely get dd to draw a scribble picture and some other thoughtful bits you have all mentioned! X

A gift certificate to an office or school supply store with a nice card is an excellent present. Teachers often spend their own money on their classroom, and they can pick what they need more this way.

A card with a real message. What I've done well, what they appreciate, little jokes etc. I've kept them all and I still look at them now and again and it's the nicest (if bittersweet as some of my kids are long gone) moment.

Other than that, gifts where I can tell the kids had input and they're related to me/my preferences. I work with older kids though , so that's a lot easier to do .

Best actual present ever was a metal water bottle with my name on the side. One year from a Sixth Former I also got a replacement of something that I had on my classroom windowsill which had got broken by a younger child. That Sixth Former had remembered, as it had got broken a few years previously!
But the best things are honestly the cards. I have kept them all and look at them when I'm feeling upset or fed up. And an email to the head would also be brilliant!

@YoungGiftedPlump actually yes I'd put them on my tree (but we don't have colour scheme or anything for Christmas).

I am a chilled out parent and I do tell the teachers they're a gesture and I don't mind what happens to them. As I said on the post as I ask their colleagues what they actually like.

A homemade card from the child with a handwritten message and picture inside. This is ALWAYS the best present.

If you absolutely want to buy something (and I wish you wouldn't) nice coffee, or a Costa voucher is my favourite.

Honestly? A card with a nice message means so much. Most teachers/TAs don't actually expect presents.

Laughing at gifts involving photos of the children!! I may use that in future if I meet a teacher I don’t like. Just kidding obviously!

So my thought it, a homemade card, Costa coffee gift card (it’s the only one local to the school!) and maybe a bath bomb from lush that I can get dd to pick out? Then maybe a box of chocolates/Krispy Kremes for them to all share?!

I'm a nursery teacher and I LOVE my presents. Cards with nice words are great too. I got a lovely snoe globe and Christmas dec from a child last year. I've also had extremely expensive shampoo from a hairdresser mum which was amazing and I'd never usually afford it. Lovely mug which is massive and my new fav mug. A personalized own, get useful so no one can nick it. A Costa gift card. I don't particularly like gifty things like candles which smell like cocktails (apparently...I've not used them!), or a 'little hug' printed on a wooden heart (it has no use at all except to go in a drawer). But anything is lovely, to be honest and a card with kind words is a lovely addition.

Personalized pen

At our school, the parents all club together to get a voucher for the teachers/TAs. It means we can get something we really want or need.
The odd family also gets something small on top if they want to - chocolates, notebooks, other stationery are my favourites.

I have had a couple of Christmas decorations in the past and they go up on my tree every year.

My sister is a teacher and usually always gets a John Lewis/Waitrose voucher from her class each year.

She loves it as she can use it for treats from Waitrose or for make up/clothes/home stuff at John Lewis.

I usually suggest that for teachers based on her recommendation!

Another gift she got which she loved was a personalised chilly’s water bottle - she uses it every day at work

A lovely card with a thoughtful message. Avoid ‘landfill’ items: mugs, anything that says ‘best teacher’, personalised plastic stars which say ‘ Mrs So and So is a star’ etc.

For me as a non drinking, diabetic who has minimal stuff in their house, genuinely just a card but if someone really insisted, I would be happy with a festive candle!

For Christmas I always got mine to make a tree decoration. I even bought baubles and got him to write a message and the year in a special metallic pen or pencil that I went over in glitter glue. We used to start at this time of year to get them all made!!😂

I've also bought the oxfam gift of school dinners for kids in Africa and the teachers got a card and a fridge magnet I think. But essentially the money went to charity. They liked that.

Gift card.
No one wants tat.

Flowers are always nice. A child gave me an orchid about 7 years ago, it’s still on my kitchen windowsill.

@Ironmanrocks

I've also bought the oxfam gift of school dinners for kids in Africa and the teachers got a card and a fridge magnet I think. But essentially the money went to charity. They liked that.

Did they?

I hate that sort of moral giving on my behalf- makes the giver feel good but the receiver is never really part of the gift.