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What are some good ideas to give to teachers and daycare workers for gifts for Christmas? How much should we spend?  
 
Edited by XOXOXO, 2016-12-13 14:07:07

I did bath and body soaps with a gift tag that said "Hands down you're the best teacher around" I did 10 for $40 when there was a sale. (daycare workers)

I am not a teacher some of my friends are:  
Happy with @ ten dollar gift card from Tims Starbucks Sobeys  
Hope this helps

give gifts to teachers? Just curious...

and always love gift certificates to Timmies, star bucks, garden centers. Also have gotten bath and body, scarves, wine, book marks. Great gifts too! Stickers pens and pencils are always welcome! Best ever though for me is cookies /dainty tray that the kids have helped make!

This year I bought tiny stockings and filled them with good chocolates and a gift card for tims. I have 10+ teachers to buy for

I understand all parents can't afford to give a gift, so at the very least a card saying thank you is also appreciated, even a home-made one.

I'm giving a bottle of wine

Thank you everybody. Those are good ideas.

We will be giving homemade apple jelly to our daycare workers, with a little note of thanks.

Liquor mart cards  
Movie Gift cards  
Forbidden Flavours cards  
Homemade goodies  
Heartfelt notes  
 
 
Move

I'm probably out of the norm. Will likely get blasted and called a Scrooge. Ours might get a hand drawn card from the child in their class. I get that teachers work hard but so does everyone else. Showing thanks and kindness year round doesn't mean we need to buy everyone "something". Teachers get something (if anything) made by the kids. Trying to teach them from home it's not always about the "stuff".

ABCSS said "I'm probably out of the norm. Will likely get blasted and called a Scrooge. Ours might get a hand drawn card from the child in their class. I get that teachers work hard but so does everyone else. Showing thanks and kindness year round doesn't mean we need to buy everyone "something". Teachers get something (if anything) made by the kids. Trying to teach them from home it's not always about the "stuff". "

I if I were to give something, that would be either a card or something to the classroom, but not for teachers to keep themselves.

Are the children of parents that don't gift (and really - it's the parents doing the gifting, not the students) subsequently treated the same as the children whose parents do gift?  
 
Teachers are just as human as the rest of us. Might some consciously (more probably subconsciously)consider the value or quality of the gifting when they relate to their students?  
 
Aren't teachers well paid by us the taxpayers for the admittedly important and hard work that they do? Do they really need gratuities? Certainly not needed to get by financially, but do some teachers need gratuities in order to feel wanted and appreciated? To teach better? That wouldn't be very professional, but hey, teachers are human too.  
 
Doesn't this chase to find the best Christmas present for teacher come across a bit like parental bribery? Or a lot like parents doing their best to impress their child's teacher?  
 
Just wondering, because the urge to impress teacher with a better Christmas gift as expressed in this thread seems, well, unseemly.  
 
For those who will counter-argue that giving teacher a gift card for a movie and popcorn is a lesson about giving and charity - well ...

plane watcher said "Are the children of parents that don't gift (and really - it's the parents doing the gifting, not the students) subsequently treated the same as the children whose parents do gift?     Teachers are just as human as the rest of us. Might some consciously (more probably subconsciously)consider the value or quality of the gifting when they relate to their students?     Aren't teachers well paid by us the taxpayers for the admittedly important and hard work that they do? Do they really need gratuities? Certainly not needed to get by financially, but do some teachers need gratuities in order to feel wanted and appreciated? To teach better? That wouldn't be very professional, but hey, teachers are human too.     Doesn't this chase to find the best Christmas present for teacher come across a bit like parental bribery? Or a lot like parents doing their best to impress their child's teacher?     Just wondering, because the urge to impress teacher with a better Christmas gift as expressed in this thread seems, well, unseemly.     For those who will counter-argue that giving teacher a gift card for a movie and popcorn is a lesson about giving and charity - well ... "

I am an ECE at a daycare and would never treat a child differently based on if their parent did or did not give a gift.  
 
I view giving gifts to teachers as a show of appreciation, don't care about the cost or if it is a handmade card. I'm sure many parents feel it but we rarely get told thank you or you are appreciated. I think giving a gift is those parents saying we appreciate you looking after our child.  
 
Even though I work in the daycare I still buy all the staff presents from my kids. I don't spend lots, especially as there are a few of them and always attach a note of thanks!  
 
I believe people give gifts because they care about or appreciate those people, what is wrong with that.  
 
I hear stories though about some schools in Brandon where the more affluent parents buy their kids teachers some pricey gifts and other parents try to keep up. I wonder if they think they are "buying" more attention for their kid or they are just very generous people.

Appreciation is one of life’s greatest motivators, so when we take the time to let people know that we value them, it inspires them.  
 
And when you express your gratitude for something they have done, you will not only enhance their lives, but you will enrich yours as well. You will feel more fulfilled because you have done something to make someone else’s life better.

ABCSS said "I'm probably out of the norm. Will likely get blasted and called a Scrooge. Ours might get a hand drawn card from the child in their class. I get that teachers work hard but so does everyone else. Showing thanks and kindness year round doesn't mean we need to buy everyone "something". Teachers get something (if anything) made by the kids. Trying to teach them from home it's not always about the "stuff". "

We give something small but totally agree with you. The teacher gifts seem to be out of hand. And then there are end of the year gifts.....new thing? I think you should give something if you want to but having teachers or teachers friends listing favorite gifts is pretty ridiculous!

No need to attack teachers about this. I was just offering suggestions on what I have given my kids' teachers. I know that my kids' teachers spend a lot of their own money on things for their classrooms and so I like to give something back.

I'm not "attacking teachers" by saying we gift nothing of value to them. Just as I gift nothing of value to the police, firefighters, military, doctors or nurses that give to me every day. This "gift" "tip" to everyone over the Christmas season is ridiculous. I still think if you send/express special thanks to anyone at anytime throughout the year that is worth more than a gift at Christmas (or apparently end of year?!?!?!). In answer to your original question get them something to use in the classroom if you feel it necessary to gift...as previously mentioned many teachers spend their own money on extras for the classroom so I would think something to contribute to the learning environment would be best.

A tpt gift card.., best present for a teacher. A website to find lessons/activities to use in the class.

I am planning to give gifts to my kids teachers and daycare workers. Mainly 'cause they spend tons of there time with them. I give a gift to friends or people I work with to, 'cause I spend tons of time with them and its that time of year. We become close with the people we spend tons of time with so it makes sense to me to give them gifts just like we give family gifts.Also 'cause I want to show teachers and daycare workers thanks. Taking care of my kids and teaching them is really important and they deserve thanks for what they do.

As a spouse of a teacher, my thoughts:  
1. You don't need to give a gift  
2. A handmade card is very cute/cool  
3. Many teachers wary of homemade baked goods especially delivered by kids as they see how they are (lol). Read that as a fear that nose gets blown while getting the cookie out of backpack. Fwiw, spouse usually eats it regardless  
4. Most teachers would be touched by a charity donation, and one does home room, gym teacher, secretary etc  
5. Don't stress about it!

Some bitter sounding people on here.  
 
I always get my daughter's teacher/bus driver a gift. They are responsible for the most important thing in my life. I know their jobs are hard and demanding. How could I not want to show some sort of gratitude to them. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. I honestly wish I could afford more!  
 
As a daycare provider it is nice to feel acknowledged by families. Same thing - it doesn't have to be a lot.  
 
Even when I worked outside of the home in an office people dropped off baking, chocolates, fruit trays before Christmas. I always bought my boss something and he always got me something. When a person gets acknowledged it makes them feel appreciated. Why not make someone's day?

plane watcher said "Are the children of parents that don't gift (and really - it's the parents doing the gifting, not the students) subsequently treated the same as the children whose parents do gift?     Teachers are just as human as the rest of us. Might some consciously (more probably subconsciously)consider the value or quality of the gifting when they relate to their students?     Aren't teachers well paid by us the taxpayers for the admittedly important and hard work that they do? Do they really need gratuities? Certainly not needed to get by financially, but do some teachers need gratuities in order to feel wanted and appreciated? To teach better? That wouldn't be very professional, but hey, teachers are human too.     Doesn't this chase to find the best Christmas present for teacher come across a bit like parental bribery? Or a lot like parents doing their best to impress their child's teacher?     Just wondering, because the urge to impress teacher with a better Christmas gift as expressed in this thread seems, well, unseemly.     For those who will counter-argue that giving teacher a gift card for a movie and popcorn is a lesson about giving and charity - well ... "

Even if teachers deny it, it's bound to happen. School division should make rule that teachers cannot accept gifts. They are already being paid good salary. In many work places this may be considered as bribe/conflict of interest.

Gifts as bribes? Here's a box of chocolates, now give my child all 4's on their report card. Laughable at best! Yes I give gifts to my kids teachers, secretary, custodian, and bus drivers - it is as a simple thank you for all their work and nothing more. If you choose not to I wouldn't expect negative feelings towards your child and it is offensive to teachers out there that you would think that

happytee said "Gifts as bribes? Here's a box of chocolates, now give my child all 4's on their report card. Laughable at best! Yes I give gifts to my kids teachers, secretary, custodian, and bus drivers - it is as a simple thank you for all their work and nothing more. If you choose not to I wouldn't expect negative feelings towards your child and it is offensive to teachers out there that you would think that "

Just like to add to this posters comments. I am glad that you mentioned more than just the teachers. Please don't forget that when your child goes to school there are also many others like the custodian, secretary, EA's, who all help and interact with your children on a daily basis. Do if you are in giving mood this Xmas please don't forget to show them some appreciation, as I think to often they are forgotten about.

We just finished getting all of our gifts for school ready. I bought the teacher and bus driver something specific. Then for all the others I spent $30 at bulk barn and filled 10 little bags with misc wrapped Christmas candy. Easy and simple