Christmas gifts for reception year kids

[Ellie2015]

Hi all,

It’s been an stressful time for kids and I want to gift something to kids in my LO’s reception class. (30 in each section). Are we allowed to gift something to the whole class? Would it be odd to do that? Any suggestions what could I choose other than books?

If select group of kids (Upto 10), what would be a good gift? Any recommendations?

Budget is not an issue but don’t want others to ‘feel’ the money side of things. Thanks so much

Am I right in thinking you are the parent of a reception aged child rather than the teacher?

It's weird. No-one buys a random selection of kids a token Christmas gift. Or even the whole class.

The most that happens in our school is buying the whole class a candy cane or chocolate coins given out with Christmas cards. Definitely not a present though.

If you want to buy anything I think it would make more sense to buy something for the classroom that the kids can use in school.

I don't think this is a good idea. I think it would set a trend that some would find uncomfortable. Could you LO just give a small present like a blind bag or book to a few close friends?

Not a good idea. I second the suggestion of buying a classroom gift if you must buy something.

Buy a big pack of glue sticks and the teacher will love you forever.

Yes I agree that it’s not the best idea, may make less well off parents feel they have to return the favour.

Yes, this is a ridiculous thing to do. Not normal at all and not safe this year. It is show-offy to the teachers, kids and parents.

Buy some blu tac. My kids and their friends go mental for it 😂. No honestly I wouldn't bother, as another poster said sometimes.its a chocolate coin in a card but no presents. If my dc came home with a present I'd feel obliged to buy something back.

It's unusual, but quite sweet.

I'd suggest something small like Santa Bubbles or a Santa pencil & reindeer eraser. Something 'not too much' then you won't embarrass anyone.

I'm very Covid Risk Averse, but if you have a child in reception, it's pointless to worry about them bringing a small present home from a school friend. They'll have been sharing crayons & hugging each other, no matter how hard the teacher has been trying to keep them apart, and lots of schools aren't even bothering!

Craft supplies and new reading books for the classroom = not weird

Individual gifts for each child = weird

It would be odd. You also risk undermining the teacher who may well buy a small gift fro each child.

How will you distribute them to every child? Are you planning on sending a gift just to 10 children? To all 30? A joint gift to stay in the classroom?
Your OP is unclear.

I don't think a school will be willing to share gifts sent from home with CV19.

I know in our school it would be a no as not allowed things from home a d things have to be quarantined for 72 hours.
As pp have said a gift to the kids is a bit weird, but a gift for the class as a whole would be ok - I'd speak to the teacher and check if you can send in craft supplies, box of sweets or something like that. One of our parents once sent in wee wooden Christmas decorations for the kids to paint in class and that was fine but I'd check first.

It would be odd in my opinion and I have a reception class child. Not sure I would be comfortable if they came home with a random gift from another parent, as well meaning as the gesture is. If you feel you have to do something cannot you not fund something the whole class would benefit from, supplies? Books? Volunteer your time when Covid relents? Many schools struggling with budgets which is only going to worsen in the future and would perhaps appreciate the donation or help. (I know ours would).

Great suggestions! Thanks so much. Thinking retrospectively it does appear odd to me as well now, although I know I meant it in a nice way.

I agree blue tac makes even my LO crazy so that or glu sticks or art supplies would be something I would be looking for but I will check with the school first.

we have been donating on a regular basis since joining but wanted to do something special for the kids. Thank you ladies x

Actually just checking, it should still be okay to give some Christmas gifts to some of her close friends?....Or not??As it may discriminate others and she has just started?

What would you advise? Thanks

@Ellie2015

Actually just checking, it should still be okay to give some Christmas gifts to some of her close friends?....Or not??As it may discriminate others and she has just started?

What would you advise? Thanks

Not through school. Most schools will only give out gifts, birthday sweets, party invitations if they are for every child. In the times of Cv19 they won't give out anything. Don't count on having Christmas cards in schools this year

You can pass them on to their parents directly but it certainly isn't usual.

Yes sorry I did mean personally through parents not through school but that you think is unusual too?

Maybe a Christmas chocolate lolly in a card, a small bracelet, finger puppet- something that fits in or on a card but giving gifts to classmates is unusual (25 years as a teacher and Headteacher) . My DD used to put a gold money chocolate coin in each Christmas card for her classmates and a snowman lolly in her best friends when about that age.

If they are family friends then I suppose gifts may be exchanged away from school.

Op I'd give something that the whole class can use. Maybe ask the teacher if you could buy a DVD for the class to watch on the last day and send in a multi bag of harbio or something for them to eat while watching the film. Or give the teacher some new books for her to read to the class.

One parent at DSs school give out candy canes one year made me feel awkward and it's a dangerous precedent to set. Give it a few years and every kid will be coming home with £30 worth of pound shop tat. Don't start it.

Re kids giving out Christmas cards. Our new Head put and end to it on environmental grounds 450 kids in the school each giving out 30 cards, is about 14,000 cards!!!

Where I work we couldn't even play a DVD. And we probably would give Reception children a load of Harobo to eat while watching a film.

Some parents do send in gifts for their child to give out to the whole class (ie a pencil each) I've seen so many odd things being offered by parents a selection box or book for each child wouldn't surprise me. (This is what our PTA give out at Christmas) But if you're going to do gifts to just a few children please don't sent them in to school for distribution.

If you live in a deprived area you could do a pack of stationary (glue, scissors, felt tip pens, drawing paper etc) for each child and ask for them to be handed out anonymously.

That should say we probably wouldn't give out a load of Haribo

Also issue with Haribo and such sweets is that is excludes lots of Muslim children who won’t eat it.

What about a class present? Something for the class to use at school like a marble run or something that is fun for them. Ask the teacher for ideas perhaps.

My daughter (8) has named 8 or 9 friends to whom we'll give small presents (mainly little baking kits as a fun girly Xmas thing to do ).

There are lots of nice Xmas events that would normally be happening but now can't, so creating as much joy as possible in the circumstances would be great.

She is sending a Xmas message to her friends via Google classroom (she coded a design). I think via email or Facebook, possibly to the mums if they are little, might be the way to go.

School have said that Xmas presents and cards can't go through them this year, because of the infection risk.

My daughter (8) has named 8 or 9 friends to whom we'll give small presents (mainly little baking kits as a fun girly Xmas thing to do ).

8 or 9 is a lot of friends to be giving gifts to. That could equate to all the girls in the class except one or two. I'd narrow that down to 3 maybe 4 of her closest friends.
I wouldn't get into the situation of buying all the girls because of the precedent it sets.