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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Gifts for Teachers

8 replies

MistsandMellowMilady · 31/08/2010 20:26

I used to be one so I am aiming to start the definitive thread. Other ideas welcome, please.

(i) If in doubt - wine.

(ii) Teachers will never know if you don't give a gift.

Honestly. I've had fab presents over the years, not necessarily expensive either. The best IMO being a beautiful bottle full of oil and herbs but I have no recollection of who gave it to me. The end of term is like that. The teacher will hardly be ticking off on a class list who gave what. Chances are they will be sick of doing it given that end-of-term assessments will have just taken place.

I feel bad about it but it happens. It's chaos and our priorities really are preparing the children for the next stage and getting ready for the next one so we can seem ungrateful sometimes. We don't mean to be but we do usually write each child a card and give a little present back. No need for endless to and fro wrt thank you letters.

(iii) Teachers appreciate friendly, understanding and approachable parents more than anything. That really is the gift that keeps on giving especially when we see you again with siblings. We love that.

So there is it. Don't worry if you have too much on. Rest assured that if you're the thoughtful gift-giving sort then your child's teacher will adore you anyway and will probably attribute that bottle of Chablis to you in any case Smile

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janpa · 31/08/2010 21:24

Home-made gifts are the best. I still have a Christmas tin (not hand-made) but it was filled with hand-made truffles. I always like smellies, which last me from Christmas til end of summer term & then back to Christmas. The whole class clubbing together to give vouchers is appreciated, but not as personal. M&S gifts are always great as they can be taken back! (although not when they are several years out of date - I still remember who gave that one!)

snoozathon · 31/08/2010 21:26

I must say I always appreciate a Tiffany box, or perhaps champagne. Helps with the A*s in the coursework Grin

MistsandMellowMilady · 31/08/2010 23:21
Grin

I was once crestfallen at getting no alcohol gifts because the parents had clubbed together to pay for a framed photo of the class who were the last straw and had driven me temporarily out of the profession, although it wasn't their fault, several factors at play etc

But it made a good anecdote at the time and I still smile fondly at the gallery of mini- rogues when I see it. Half of them are Facebook friends now and most seem to be doing okay Smile

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kreecherlivesupstairs · 13/09/2010 14:54

My DH is a teacher and doesn't get gifts any moreSad. when he taught at an independant school in UK we were snowed under by port, wine, fortnums gift baskets etc. Now it's zero. My DD's have always (seemed) to appreciate alcohol. Not sure if it is her that drives them to it. IME, they don't care for perfume or chocolate, possibly it is just that she has been taught by a load of lushesGrin

mogs0 · 13/09/2010 18:47

Ds has a male teacher this year. I'll get ds to suss out what he might like!!

londonmackem · 15/09/2010 21:32

Please no chocolate. One year I had over 20 boxes and was doing slimming world. Just a card with a thoughtful message would be great but if you insist wine would be fab. Even if you don't drink it comes in handy to recycle.

SE13Mummy · 17/09/2010 20:41

As a parent I don't usually give gifts to teachers at Christmas and as a teacher I don't expect them. Child-made cards with a personal message (ideally with time taken to ensure it's legible) would be at the top of my list followed closely by whiteboard pens that actually wipe off, 1000 boxes of tissues and some new books for the book corner.

All of those mean far more to me than any amount of chocolate (even though I love it) or wine (that too!) because someone's thought about what will make a difference to my life day in, day out.

MistsandMellowMilady · 18/09/2010 00:24

Can I just say that I take back my OP because it seems like I was being really ungrateful and I'm not.

I was just trying to say that some presents are great but teachers appreciate people more.

I gave my son's pre-school teacher a £20 M&S voucher because she was bloody marvellous above and beyond the call of duty.

She is amazing.

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