Recommendations for homemade gifts for teachers

[AuntieMaggie]

I was thinking about making some homemade gifts for the teachers at dc school for Christmas instead of buying something and am looking for recommendations... Am thinking maybe nigellas gingerbread or biscotti... It would you do both?

It sounds lovely but homemade might not get eaten.

Sounds delicious but as a teacher, my heart sinks when it's homemade as it makes me a bit squeamish . I am not meaning to be offensive at all, but imagine some of the stomach churning habits we see every day. I love homemade gifts from friends and family I know well, but PP is right- a lot of teachers don't like homemade edibles. Also, the thought of getting ill just as you break up is not worth it!

Please don’t.

I did terracotta flower pots painted by the DC (hand print tulips, finger print flower petals etc) planted by with with spring and summer bulbs with a winter flowering plant (hellebore/cyclamen/pansy) in the top that seemed to go down very well. One TA was always seeking me out to let me know that something else was growing/flowering. The other thing I've done is crocheted or needle felted Christmas tree decorations.

Exactly what crochetmonkey said - it’ll end up in the bin.

Those painted pots sound nice if my classroom had an outdoor area but I wouldn’t want them at home.

Primary teachers are inundated with this sort of stuff. I feel horrible being ungrateful (and I would never, ever show it) but it’s a nuisance to deal with.

Really? Ok I'll ditch that idea then - the nursery teachers enjoyed it when I baked for them that's why I thought it would be a good idea. I'm skint and have a newborn so not much time to be crafty with DC!

Wine or chocolate or gift vouchers are all that is acceptable, no home made, no tat, nothing made by your child or featuring the words 'best teacher' or similar. Sorry.

When I was a TA, I loved home made gifts from the children.

If you're skint don't buy a present! Just a card made or written by your child (my friend is a teacher & she loves these).

I'm skint and have a newborn

Oh, please spend your time and money on your own family. I love getting thoughtful Christmas cards and I hate the pressure parents are under to buy for teachers. I get paid and I (mostly!) love my job.

I agree to save your money and just send a card, I never do Christmas presents and save the money for an end of school year gift

As a teacher in secondary, who very rarely gets gifts, I would be delighted with some homemade biscuits or, indeed, a best teacher mug/card, a flower pot or a homemade tree decoration.

Some people really do seem spectacularly ungrateful.

Remus I’m secondary too, not ungrateful at all, it’s such a nice idea but a card with a nice message is just the ticket and doesn’t require money or time investment

I've always sent cakes in for my kids teachers & have been doing it for 10 years & I know all the teachers love them (have been asked to make cakes for them for personal use outside of school). I make the cakes though & I've always stressed the kids have no involvement so they know they won't have additional snot or worse in their muffins. The kids decorate the boxes & write out nice messages. Don't be put off baking especially if nursery teachers enjoyed them but maybe let them know that the kids kept away.

Buy candles. Like the pillar ones.get your children to draw on white tissue paper.wrap that around the candle. Then wrap that with greaseproof paper leaving the fold for a handle. Blast all around the greaseproof paper with hairdryer on hot. This will melt the tissue paper in to the candle wax and so the design on the tissue paper will be part of the candle. Then write a tag saying "thank you for helping my little light shine"

Get your child to make a small Christmas decoration. I my has to be used once a year and can be hidden at the back if they're not keen.

Although last year DS's reception teacher was thrilled with his and added it to a tree age gas specifically for children's decorations (she sent us a pic).

Do the candle thing :) or a tub of Roses. or a card which has been scrawled in by your child. Please don't do edibles with the children. Or scrabble letters in a huge bloody frame. . I speak from experience!

I’m afraid I would bin homemade edibles. We see where those little hands go! The only exception is a mum who is an amazing baker and makes it clear that the children weren’t involved.
Just a card is fine. Or how about a small poinsettia? They are cheap and cheerful and no obligation to keep beyond Christmas.

I take a box of biscuits for the staffroom, I hope they get left there til January or later and consumed when the sugar and carbs are really needed!!!

Christmas mug, compost, hyancinth bulb. You can buy sprouted ones in threes now, tease the roots apart and replant in the mug with the compost.

Get your child to draw a picture of the teacher or TA on a piece of card ...like A5
Teacher or TA will love to stick that by their desk ...that's all that's needed ..trust me !

No to homemade food for teachers as a general rule.

@Yetanothernamechange1234

Please god not more candles. Every primary teacher gets hundreds of candles.

Just a lovely note in a card.

Or wine.

Or plant an acorn in a pot for free.

Don't make what you think is a precious gift because it comes from your DC. Please.

Teachers really don't want this. It's tat. And no one other than granny is eating anything they think your DC has had it's fingers in. Make a lovely card.