Xmas present to help my Dd be one of the teachers favourites

[Justlookatthatrain]

😂Joking-sort of

But seriously, what do you buy your child’s teacher at Christmas?
I worked in a school and there were 100% the mums/kids who bought the flashiest presents-good perfume, champagne, huge bouquets and it did have an effect and everyone knew who those mums were
I’m sure teachers will deny this 😅
A good, thoughtful present does make a difference

Aibu?

Nice chocolates to the teacher and TA so they can keep them or regift them or chuck them into the staffroom. We give John Lewis vouchers at the end of year.

My DC are all past primary school now but, with a limited budget, I was buying things like flowers, chocolate or wine for DS1 & DS2 to give without actually knowing the teachers’ likes, dislikes, allergies etc.

At some point before DD started school (much younger third child), I had a rethink & she always gave a nice notebook & cute pens or pencils. Yes, teachers already have these things but I figured they would always need more 🤷‍♀️.

I work in schools. I’ll be honest , one year a tricky year group clubbed together and got me such a generous voucher at the end of the year that I cried ( because I was so touched). So anyone saying they don’t appreciate gifts is probably fibbing. However , it genuinely doesn’t affect my opinion of the child as sometimes parents of less pleasant kids who receive more money than time or love see expensive presents as a bribe , whereas some of the sweetest children can come from challenging backgrounds where they simply couldn’t afford a gift. The most touching, lovely gift I ever received was from a child who literally never had anything but was given a multipack of sweets for his birthday and insisted I took one ! Hand drawn cards , thank you messages of bottles of wine ( check first!) are always welcome. Mugs and tat for the sake of it are not. I still have a collection of cards from children who wrote personal messages of thanks! However, and again being honest and I am sure people will flame me for this and / or deny it- If I have spent a lot of extra time , effort and own resources specifically helping a child with difficulties but I know that they always have the latest pencil case, coats worth £100s and exotic holidays - if that parent doesn’t bother with even a thank you , whilst it still won’t change my opinion of the child or my desire to help them , I will feel somewhat peeved!!!

I once taught a girl whose parents owned a vineyard and she would give me very nice bottles of wine. It didn’t affect my opinion of her at all (lovely girl, as it happens) but I was disappointed when she moved out of my tutor group!

We never bought them anything.

I strongly agree with the sentiments on here that teachers should not be bribed by ostentatious gifts.

I’ve worked in private schools where teachers weren’t allowed to accept gifts from individuals worth more than £30.

And there was a culture of parents attempting to buy/bribe teachers, definitely. But this was from a minority of international parents who didn’t understand how the system worked. For example, they thought they could pay for their child to be moved up to top set and that would equate to better grades, when in fact of course they were already in the set that was best for them and their progress.

I assume that's a joke ?

A gift card for a decent coffee shop rather than a mug goes down far better. Told to me by the wife of a teacher.

A voucher of done sort is the best as a teacher. And a personal message . I’ve had parents buy Tiffany items and doesn’t make me like them any better . I find it all too pretentious

Is this the same as some homemade jams or chutney? Lol. Everyone loves a good gift not some card that’s packed away after.

Book token. £10 max.

The best things I have ever had have been cards where I have been told how much the child is enjoying being my class. A card with a lovely message in means far more than anything else and that’s what I’ll keep and cherish.

And parents who are supportive - that’s the best present!

Why would anyone buy a mug for a teacher. How could they possibly need that many mugs? Crazy.
I’ve never given a teacher a present. When my DC have left nursery after 2 years I’ve given a present to their teachers (there are 2 or 3). Nothing crazy a bottle of something I know they like or a small voucher.

thats at the end of 2 years as a thank you, I’d assume they have family and friends who buy them Xmas presents.

your child may be liked or disliked or just taught by their teacher surely they aren’t showing favoritism for the presents they get.

My mum used to bake a cake when we left primary, 4 kids, 1 set of twins, 3 cakes that was it.

A teacher used to always get me to draw or. Trace on the projector thing to the point I was embrassed and wish she’d let others have a turn. What favoritism from teachers is actually going to help your child?

This thread is nuts. Just crazy consumerism at its worse.

I’m not interested in gifts. But if a kid writes in a card that I’ve made a difference to them, that means the world to me.
I’ve been out of teaching now for a while, but I still think of the kids who told me I made an impact on them

It was a thing in the 80s at my primary school. At least half of the kids gave the teacher Xmas and end of year gifts.

In over 30 years working in a school I knew only obey teacher who was impressed by a child’s expensive gift! Most teaching staff were delighted with a card or bar of chocolate or a simple Thankyou . You can’t buy respect.

Yes you are

No vouchers for places I’d never shop at, please. And I can neither eat nor drink flowers. Cash is acceptable.

A kitten? At least she will never forget you....

(yes, before being blasted, just joking.....)

If you want to be liked by the teacher just be respectful, understanding and relaxed. At this point if you just treat the teacher with basic respect you will be liked. But the best gift I ever got was a handmade card of my favourite animal which the mum has written a lovely note in. I have it somewhere safe over ten years on.
However, when buying a gift for my childs teacher, I go for a voucher for somewhere like JL or M&S.

Teachers didnt get gifts when I was at school (1960s) so I was surprised to be given gifts when I started teaching in the mid 80s.

Something home made and thoughtful. That's what I would like (not a teacher) but also what comes up on here

As a teacher, I’d suggest a Costa or Starbucks voucher. A latte and a bit of me time is so luxurious!

That sounds like a reasonably priced token present.

We collect £5 from each family in the class towards a voucher for the teacher and the TA. Most families are happy to put money towards the voucher. The gift is always received with appreciation from the teachers. Some families also give individual gifts on top.
and to the all the bah humbug posts on here saying teachers don’t need gifts, just a card, I say no, they would love a gift like everyone else. They spend so much of their own money buying things for the classroom because of lack of school budgets on basics like glue sticks believe it or not!! The very least we could do is give something back to them at Xmas to say thank you.