This is DS first year in pre-school and I really really want to get his teacher and TA something they actually want. I'm thinking something along the lines of a $20 target gift card or to a restaurant? What do you think? Too much? Too little?
What are you getting your LO's teacher?
pear / 1728 posts
We did a small tin of homemade cookies and a $10 Starbucks gift card last year (for 4 teachers). We'll probably do something similar this year!
honeydew / 7504 posts
When the kids have multiple teachers, I do mugs and packets of hot cocoa for each teacher in the class (I get the mugs at the dollar store). Once D started having just 1 teacher, I upped my spending limit. Last year I got his teacher a Teach mug from The Blue Envelope. This year I'm getting his teacher a necklace from Conflicted Pixie. A is still in the toddler room with 3 teachers, so they'll probably get mugs and hot cocoa or something similar.
persimmon / 1339 posts
Definitely gift cards are a great idea - I'm a high school teacher so not exactly the same thing but the stuff that goes straight in the regift pile are:
-lotions, soaps, bath bombs, etc
-mugs
-stationery
-alcohol (because i only drink a certain type and usually get white wine or champagne for some reason)
-chocolates
-plaques, paperweights, "keepsakes"
Gift cards and vouchers are always your best bet. I always have crazy nail colours so I've gotten some vouchers for manicures which I love - a few very well chosen books over the years...
And to the exclusion of any gift that costs money - the BEST thing a parent or student can give is a heartfelt, handwritten note. I save all of those!
pear / 1881 posts
@ScarletBegonia: I made homemade vanilla last year and still have a ton left. Would that be a good gift, along with a giftcard? I still have 10+ bottles of it and vanilla never goes bad, so figured that I could give DD's Kindergarten teacher some too!
persimmon / 1339 posts
@NorthStar: like vanilla essence? That sounds really nice! And homemade is always great. If its not to the particular teacher's taste, they can always pass it on to a colleague or friend.
pear / 1881 posts
@ScarletBegonia: No, like vanilla for cooking! I guess I don't know what essense is. lol
persimmon / 1339 posts
@NorthStar: Ha ha I gotcha - either way it sounds like a really nice idea!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
Our room mom collected money and got a bunch of gift cards for the two teachers last year. I felt like the teachers went above and beyond for my “high spirited” child so I also gave them each a small tin of homemade cookies and a $10 gift certificate to the coffee shop across the street from the school. And wrote a note saying how much I appreciated the work they did with my kid. I hope they liked it!
@NorthStar: vanilla extract sounds really nice and it’s nice that it won’t go bad like most baked goods. But I’m not someone who receives tons of gifts the way teachers do so couldn’t say for sure.
coconut / 8079 posts
LO has two teachers. I have noticed that one has coffee often so I plan to get her a gift card for her favorite place. I’m not sure on the other teacher, but I would do a GC for the same amount to somewhere else.
persimmon / 1339 posts
@jhd: Target or Amazon are always good choices when you aren't sure what they are in to - if she has her nails done regularly a GC to a local nail place could be good (even if she normally does them herself its always nice to have a treat!)
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
DS1 has 3 teachers (one was out on maternity leave so there was a sub-teacher for a few months) and DS2 has 2 teachers. Plus we have a director...who was also on maternity leave so we had an interim director. Soooo lots of people to gift.
Our teachers do not get paid very much (I'm on the board so I know), and I know in the case of our infant room teachers, they commute a long ways, live in a rural area, and have young children themselves. So for them, I am probably leaning more cash or a gift card to McDonald's because I don't know what stores they have near them, but for some reason, I DO know that at least 1 teacher loves McDonald's. 
For DS1's teachers, 2 of them are young single ladies who live locally and I always see them with Sbux cups so I will get them a gift card. His other teacher who just got back from mat leave, I'll get a GC for Target or Walmart, since I'm sure her baby has all sorts of needs.
coconut / 8079 posts
@ScarletBegonia: I will probably do Target since I don’t know what she’s into. 
honeydew / 7622 posts
T has 5 teachers. This year I’m doing $50 gift cards to Target and a chocolate bar. I did something similar and got thank you from everyone most saying they used it for Christmas for their kids or stocking stuffers.
persimmon / 1339 posts
@youboots: $50 is super generous! I want more parents like you
honeydew / 7622 posts
@ScarletBegonia: she’s at a childcare at a private K-8 school with preschool and the teachers float around in some cases. I’m extremely grateful for her to have a safe loving environment. I feel like the program is very flexible and the way they schedule saves me a lot of $ - we only pay for days we need which is amazing- I give them the days and times a month in advance.
honeydew / 7622 posts
@ScarletBegonia: I also do thoughtful personalized notes to each teacher.
persimmon / 1339 posts
@youboots: wow thats great! What an amazing set up. I have to admit I work at an exclusive private school where parents are already paying upwards of $30000/yr ($60000/yr for boarding students), so I'm amazed that I get any gifts at all!! The director of students got a Channel handbag from a parent last year 
persimmon / 1339 posts
@youboots: That's definitely the most valuable thing to a teacher 
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
There are three helpers so I’m getting them each a personalized yeti-style (knockoff from Sam’s Club 
) tumbler with Starbucks gift card. I’m getting her main teacher a gift certificate for a spa pedicure (I ran into her last time I was at the nail salon so I know where she goes lol).
pear / 1521 posts
Since LO is in daycare I spend more bc I know they don't get paid super well. So about $40 for each teacher, usually a target giftcArd and a thank you note. Not sure what I will do this year though bc my daughter is starting a new preschool at the end of this month so she will only have been there a couple weeks (and we'll be giving her old teachers gifts when we leave). Prob $10-15 each teacher to Dunkin' Donuts or something like that.
When she goes to public school we will spend less or contribute to group gifts, whatever is the norm.
As a teacher myself, definitely agree with @ScarletBegonia:'s suggestions for gift ideas. Gift cards (in any amount) and cards are my favorite. Homemade food can sometimes make me nervous to consume, but candy is good too.
pear / 1717 posts
All great suggestions and super helpful!! I’m too lazy too get fancy so a gift card and sweet card it is! Lol
persimmon / 1339 posts
Oh and one major piece of advice - if you are in an MLM please don't use your teacher gift as a recruitment exercise! The year I came back from mat leave I had some moms "gift" me essential oils or beauty product samples as a way to keep bringing up how great they were, and since I was a mom now wouldn't I be interested in joining their team? Um, no.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
For private preschool, I gave either cash or a gift card that is a cash equivalent.
Interestingly, in public school in my state, it's prohibited to give cash or cash equivalent gift cards to public servants because it is considered a bribe. So we do a gift card to a place like Lakeshore Learning.
nectarine / 2636 posts
LO goes to a mother's day out/ preschool 2 days a week and her teachers are fabulous. I was thinking of getting plush blankets with a cute saying like, "sleep in heavenly peace" or something. Or getting a gift card to a local boutique that carries clothes, candles, accessories, etc. I haven't decided yet.
clementine / 920 posts
Good reminder that I need to get gifts for DS's teachers.! He just moved up a few months ago and his previous teachers were so great I'd like to give them a little something too. Our daycare provides a list of teachers favorites upon request so you can be sure you are getting them something they will use. I usually go the gift card route and include their favorite candy or something small.
persimmon / 1071 posts
@bubblegum: Always gift cards for coffee or alcohol, depending on the person.
persimmon / 1458 posts
@snowjewelz: I usually do this too. I think in the beginning of December or maybe Black Friday I can’t remember they have a sale on Gift Cards and I stock up.
persimmon / 1458 posts
@FaithFertility: yes seriously isn’t it awesome!!!! I’ve done it for the past 2 years. It’s either Black Friday, Cyber Monday or some other random day. Sorry Mom brain, that is so unhelpful. I think it’s like 10% off or something. I seriously buy a couple hundred dollars worth because I have 3 kids and there’s a whole lot of teachers to buy for so it saves a little.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@FaithFertility: I can’t remenber when either but it should be soon! It’s 10% off
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