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?

In any job one of the most useful forms of “thank you” is a note to the line manager to say:

“Mary has been really happy since joining Ms Xs class and has come on leaps and bounds in advanced rafia twiddling. Previously this was an area of struggle and I really valued Ms X’s ability to explain the twiddle in different ways and communicate her progress to reassure us"

This made me smile. I know the teachers at my kids' school really well and the last thing I bought for them that they raved about? An absolutely massive multipack of tissue boxes.

Just make sure that the gift is from the whole class, even if some parents forget/aren't able to contribute.

Wine or chocolates may not go to landfill, but they will most probably be regifted.

Honestly, I’ve just seen a post below mine from a teacher saying exactly what I said - don’t send her home with 30 boxes of chocolates; club together and get a voucher.

But if they are RC they probably have a dozen gifted Rosaries already from Baptism, Communion and Confirmation and loads of Catholics don’t want the traditional “Catholic Tat” unless its so bad its funny.

A nativity set which could be used in class is both generic Christian and useful for the classroom.

I don't buy anything.

Terrible gift anecdote- a partner teacher was once bought a giant garish blanket with five of the children's names printed all over it, what in God's name were they thinking.

@3456G this made me laugh!
I had similar one year- a notebook made for me with a picture of one of my pupils and his two siblings on the front. But the worst/weirdest was a photo keyring of one of my pupils. As if I’m going to actually put that on my keys and carry it around!!!

Some people give teacher's gifts because they want to show their appreciation for that teacher's hard work, rather than as some strange test of their commitment to the school ethos.

I always gave an education related charity gift. Usually Oxfam school equipment. Saves the teachers having to schlep all the tat to the charity shop in the new year.

Oh my god 😂I think parents sometimes forget to actually think about the reality of these gifts.

Is this a reverse. Are you a teacher on a campaign to increase gift quality?

I used to have two relatives at home who worked in different busy early-years schools. Bin bags came home hastily stuffed with presents, some of them for the wrong teacher. 20% was kept, 70% sent to the charity shop and 10% binned. On a couple of occasions I found money and gift cards in discarded envelopes that had been missed. Different teachers either loved or hated wine, home baking or cards with essays. I don't know how you'd predict which. And some of those shopping vouchers are a headache to spend, with expiry dates, usage restrictions (such as not allowing part-payment online) and all the other problems noted elsewhere. I think it's a case of hit-and-miss.

Just what I was going to say. Nativity sets for the classroom are popular at my Gdcs’ school (C of E primary) - I have knitted a few now.

I was a teacher for over 30 years. Best gifts: nice cards with a message of thanks/from child, edibles (e.g. biscuits or chocolate)
Worst gifts: mugs, nicknacks, twee clutter. Hope that helps.😁

YUP! In my second year of teaching a mother gave me chocolates on the SECOND DAY of the school year. I was a bit confused but quickly realised it was because her child was really annoying and I think it was an upfront apology 😂 to be clear, a lovely child, very sweet and did make good progress … but very whiney!

Edit; best gifts are handmade cards or if the parents organise something that has all the children on it. It’s more end of year though.

I buy a big bag of tete-a-tete bulbs, some pots, and compost in September, and when my dc were school age I used to get them to help me plant them. If you keep them somewhere cool and dark (I put them in our garage) and occasionally water them to keep them damp, by Christmas the shoots are just coming up. We’d give any teachers and TAs in their classes a pot to pop on a windowsill or leave outside. They seemed to like them. It’s so easy, I have carried on doing it every year so I have pots of daffs for relatives and friends every year. It’s too late for you to plant your own this year, but you can buy pots in the supermarkets and garden centres.

That’s more than I’ll spend on DH!

😬🤯😳 the photo keyring. What were they thinking?! I know some parents think the world revolves around their kid, and that we all should admire them as much as they do, but that's another level of bonkers!

I think that the most likeable kids are the most liked by teachers, so work on making them respectful and well mannered - eg, setting boundaries and avoiding the ‘gentle parenting’ that is effectively lazy parenting.

They get so many, too many, they’re usually not good ones, and no one wants to eat a classroom’s worth of chocolate especially at Christmas. Don’t suggest sharing with colleagues as they get them, too, and don’t want them, either.

A lot of people don’t like sweet things and no one wants to be invited to put on weight.

A handmade card means much more than a box of sweets.

For a Christmas gift I just do chocolate or biscuits and a card (hand drawn if possible) with a nice message. I happen to know my childen are ‘favourites’ because they do as they’re told and are polite and well mannered

Anything is welcome. I agree with things made by the children. But also chocs or wine are good.

If you're hoping it'll make your child favourite however, you're wasting your time. THAT is down to the relationship the teacher & student have.

I agree with the best mannered bit. That and respect for school staff.

You can't get enough please/thank-you/sorry. Good manners are such an important part of life.

When I was a teacher my favourite gift was homemade biscuits made by the child’s mum. I knew her really well as he was my 1-1 and she knew my absolute favourite type of biscuits and made me a package with home made biscuits, tea bags and a little teapot and cup set that I adored.
I don’t know how to show my appreciation for my oldests school this year, they have been incredible, so I might just have to throw a bunch of biscuit tubs at them and hope for the best!

To any parents approaching their first ‘School Christmas’ and struggling to see how you will manage to find £50 for your kids’ Christmas presents, let alone a present for the teacher, and the rest of Christmas expense, please do not panic or worry

It is not the norm to give teachers £50 vouchers, or any monetary gift vouchers, or presents.

A cheery appreciative card is fine. It really is.

NO ONE in our Outstanding rated S London primary gave gifts to teachers. Maybe a box of biscuits for the staff room. But we did turn out to volunteer where we could, support the school’s ethos and rules, support the teachers to do their job.