What do you give to your DC teachers at Christmas?

[LadyInPink]

There has been a big debate in the playground today about what will be given to the teacher for a Xmas present!

I was going to make some gingerbread with my DD and get her to decorate it and put it in a nice celophane bag as think that is quite a personal thoughtful present but some mums are saying they are going to buy Molten Brown stuff etc and i can't compete with that!

I do think it's lovely for the children to give their teacher something at xmas so definitely want to.

What do you give if anything?

Ragwort - I am now working as a Y1 TA but have been a teacher for several years in the past also. I have never expected a present and have always appreciated any gift given to me. I always write personal thank yous to the children ready for the new term for thosewho do bring in a gift.

I also ensure I send every child in the class a card, and I buy either a small individual gift or a class gift. Today I have just bought a class gift for the class - 4 animal character glvoe puppets which I thought they;d love to play with using the puppet theatre we have.

this year were giving a lottery ticket for the christmas draw in a really nice card.

I make Nigella's christmas cup cake thingumies.

Dead easy to make, taste very nice and I am always thanked for them when the dds go back in January so i'm assuming they are memorable (for their fabulousness).

The dd's have each chosen some cheap but pretty jewellery for their teachers. At least I feel that they have chosen it.

Bugger all

Not getting anything for my doctor or the accountant either.

If I had the time I might bake something. Though I am not sure it's entirely appropriate to give them anything other than a card. Added to which I really think this year's teacher is a miserable boot, so I am doubly disinclined.

I buy a handmade christmas decoration (cant be arsed making them myself, and it would probably cost more) I look for ones with space to write on. I write Happy Christmas 2010 love VNs DC.

The idea is that when they put the tree up each year they may spare a thorght for my DCs.

Quite a few of the staff comment just that. Some of them have 3 decorations now.

Thankyou to everyone who posted - some more great ideas. Love the flannel animal idea and the make your own crackers too. Will save all these ideas up for the years that follow.

Nice to know we are on a similar train of thought with the home made pressies and cards

LadyinPink - Last year myself and DD made home made Baileys white choc fudge for teacher, wrapped in it cellophane , tied with a pretty ribbon, box etc and I know she really appreciated it - great thread, gets me thinking now about this year!

Tis very competitive at my DD's school. Rumour has it that one year one set of parents gave swarovski jewellery ffs. I refuse to compete so usually get something from Oxfam - books and pencils for a school in Africa or similar - they send a card to DDs school saying thank you for the gift on behalf of Coatgate and family.

Hi all, pressies definately not expected but it is always nice to be thoughht about by members of the class. love the gingerbread man idea an the home made cards and crackers,
just please, please, no more mugs

My dd will make a card and some dcorated cookies for her nursery team

Serendipity - I also thought of maybe making some fudge and popping it in a mug and wrapping it up in cellophane (your Bailey's idea sounds fab) BTW my DH and i love the word Serendipity so your mn name is fab!

Harri1 - i wouldn't normally wrap a mug but DD teacher is a NQT and so thought that just this year we may get away with it. Advise me if that is still not so!

Coatgate - lovely idea of yours and so nice that your DC get a personalised thankyou letter - we buy those kind of gifts for my family each year!

I took my y1 class to the Nene Valley Railway on a school trip. Later that year at Christmas one of little girls gave me a small train christmas tree decoration.That was 18 years ago. Every year I put it on my tree and think of her. She was a lovely child. She could by now be a MNer herself.

A homemade card and a nice cheery happy christmas is much nicer however, than loads of Quality Street and Roses any day imho.

Any chocolate that's on special offer at Co-op the day before the end of term - I aim to spend no more than a pound. I give one box to each child's class to share round the teacher and various TAs. And the only reason I bother is so my DCs aren't the only ones not giving a present.

Any teacher who gives more attention to those children whose parents buy more expensive presents does not deserve anything.

FWIW, I am getting a better present for a teacher who has done masses of out of school stuff with my DC.

Christmas decorations.

I have bought DD's teacher a Mug, note block and shopping bag from Cath Kidston. DS's Teacher is getting Molton Brown set. TA's are getting a box of chocs or biscuits each. Wine for Head Teacher.

DD's teacher is getting a molton brown gift set too, they are cheap on ebay and she is a bloody fab teacher.

DS's nursery staff, wine probably, they have had a hard year!!!

Am about to put up the Xmas tree and am seriously thinking maybe a tree decoration is the way to go!

I just give a card at Christmas and give a present at the end of the school year (chocolate or home made stuff usually)

always buy them a good bottle of red or fizz

not getting ds teachers as such but have brough a game for each dc in class note theres only 7 of them in unti and its all about breath control which there working on as is speech unit and have brough few more tha teacher can add to box of stuff keep in class .

Not mega bucks either £2.95 each would not be doing if there was 30 in the class

know the teacher and lsa purchase stuff for unit out their own money

I love the lotto ticket idea for the xmas draw, think I will pinch that idea for next year, gone for candles this time.