Hellobee Boards

Mini volcano candles (on Black Friday at Anthro) and Amazon gift cards. We have a group gift but I like to do something little to show appreciation.

DD goes to preschool two days a week and has three teachers (one is also the director). We are going to do a target gift card and homemade treats for each.

Teacher here. My kids teachers are all getting handwritten specific thank you cards with a $20 bill inside.

Teacher here, as well as a mom shopping for teacher gifts for the first time. I am going with Target gift cards for the 3 classroom teachers. I don't know her teachers very well at all, so I am playing it safe rather than trying to buy something more specific.

One thing the PA at the school where I work did this year was to send out a survey at the beginning of the year where we (the staff) could indicate our favorite stores and restaurants, dietary restrictions and preferences, as well as whether or not we like candles, lotions, bath salts, etc. All of the forms are in a binder at the front desk so that parents can consult them as needed. I thought it was a really good idea, and would love to have access to that information for LO's teachers!

I always would like to do something personal and creative but keep coming back to $25 Target gift cards. The teachers chiming in make me think this is still a good idea. Would love to do a craft card if I get organized!

The question I still have is how many gifts to give! This year I want to do something for the school director and assistant director because I have just been so impressed with them since we’ve started (1.5 years ago) and I’ve never bought them gifts at holiday, Teacher’s Appreciation or end of year. DS has two teachers so that gets pricey if I add the directors in. (And I end up gifting the uncreative-but-welcomed $25 Target gift cards at all of the teacher gift-giving events of the year!)

For my in-home day care provider, I got her a beautiful and soft throw blanket as well as some Scentsy bars (she always has one running where the kiddos are).

spouse of a teacher here: GIFT CARDS all the way! And please not to movie theaters or local restaurants. It's a wonderful sentiment, but we don't live near the school and have a stockpile of cards that we can't use. And he doesn't get a lunch break, so it's not like he can use then on a work day.
A note from the kiddo (written by the kiddo) is always appreciated. Personally, I"m contributing to the class gift for DS's teachers, but they fill out a preferences form.

Our favorites: Target and Amazon so that we can buy things we need or things we want.

A surprising dud gift: a number of parents chipped in to get each teacher in the department a pie. But they gave it the day before vacation. When we left town for 2 weeks. It wasn't conducive to freezing so we had to throw it out.

Teacher here. I have taught upper elementary, SPED, and now, I instruct adults in English.

My favorite gifts have been as follows:
• Gift cards (coffee shops, Target for school supplies, Kohl's, grocery store cards to restock class snacks or for projects)
• Personalized stationary - I have received some lovely notepads, notebooks, planners, and personalized pencils
• Ornaments that show thought- student generated or ones that are beautiful and are personalized
• Letters of appreciation- inexpensive but full of sentiment and MUCH appreciated
• The bottles of wine I have received with personalized labels- I have gotten 2. One was a "Because I am certain ____, makes you want to drink" bottle, and the other was from a family who had labels made with their child's name and likeness on it. It was adorable.
• Nail care - The parents of one of my former special needs students owned a nail salon. I had the luxury gift of a mani, pedi, and calf massage ... IT WAS GLORIOUS when I was pregnant with my DD!

I am always grateful to receive any recognition or gift; however, ones that I am a bit less enthused over are as follows:
• Teacher mugs - I have a million. I could open a "Teacher Mug Store." Seriously... 🤣
• Creepy gifts - One student gave me a Victoria's Secret Gift card. 🤯
• Candy - Some people like getting it, some do not. I'm not a "sweets" person and my family just ends up eating it.

Giftcards, giftcards, giftcards.

Every year I've tried to remember specific things my child has said about them, or specific ways I am thankful for them in a card along with Target giftcard because c'mon, everyone loves Target!

Personally, I gave a little more (more to me) when I just had one LO, but now with two I had to tone it down a little it. I think I do $20-$25 and my rule is for whoever that makes it onto the class picture. For pre-school is more defined as I know there's 1 main teacher and two TA's. For the younger daycare classes I was always confused lol.

I'm always murky on the floaters/assistants so I usually bring in treats one day for everyone to share.

@psw27: 10%off gift cards is this Sunday, Dec. 2nd.

Going the Target gift card route as well.