Christmas Gifts for Daycarers/Teachers

[Seekrit]

Do you buy presents for your child's daycarers or teachers?
What do you buy them? :)

[RedPanda]

I was thinking about this the other day too Seek. There are three carers in the baby room at my son's occasional care centre, so I was thinking of putting together a basket with some nice tea, shortbreads, chocolates etc. Then a card saying "To all my grown-up friends at ******. Thanks for looking after me during the year."

I don't want to put specific names because there are other staff who fill in and I'd be annoyed if I left somone out, so they can just divvy up the basket contents as they see fit.

[Seekrit]

Oh that's a GREAT Idea, Hazel!!!
You're clever! :p

[Susan Mac]

The one end of year that my husband and I were both teaching we came home with so many chocolates it wasn't funny. We were giving away chocolate!!! One student gave me a selection of tea bags, that was nice.

Tea, coffee, homemade things. None of those awful Super Teacher ornaments. Stationery? Potted herbs?

Today he came home with a bottle of wine from one of his students. And a razor.

[Roxy]

Previously, I have made little beaded Christmas decorations and popped them in a little basket with a few little toblerone chokkies....

I also bought gerberas (and got them done up in lots of 2)...

When DD was in the nursery, we gave the carers some gerberas and a Christmas Scratchie each....

For DD's preschool teachers last year, I got 3 of the "decorate your own mug" kits, and made them a personalised mug with with their name on it (cause they were having trouble with other staff nicking off with their mugs) and filled them with Ferrero Rocher chokkies...

Not 100% sure what I am doing this year, but thinking about the Chrissy decs again (different centre) and some Lush stuff for DD's teacher...

[babylover111]

I get the best christmas presents! Last year I got a pedicure and manicure vouchure, a christmas candle & pudding, clinque make up pack, homemade christmas decorations and A frangipani scented thing!

[Susan Mac]

have been pondering this while finding places in the fridge for this year's chocolate....

when jack gets to school i think i will maqke jams, spice rubs, sauces and chutneys

i did teach one student once whose parents grew roses, so all her teachers got fresh roses

[Jenko]

I was thinking about this the other day too Seek. There are three carers in the baby room at my son's occasional care centre, so I was thinking of putting together a basket with some nice tea, shortbreads, chocolates etc. Then a card saying "To all my grown-up friends at ******. Thanks for looking after me during the year."

I don't want to put specific names because there are other staff who fill in and I'd be annoyed if I left somone out, so they can just divvy up the basket contents as they see fit.

That's a great idea! My DD has 2 main kindy teachers. But the pre-school room teachers also interact with her when they all play together, so I'd like to include them too. But then it would end up being 6 teachers to buy for. A gift basket sounds great, then they can pick out what they like from it. Oooh I'm excited now...can't wait to get started.

[blackdog]

My kids are at primary school, so they usually have an idea what they want to give their teachers. I encourage thoughtful homemade gifts. Last year my grade oner decorated an empty coffee jar and put lollies in it for her teacher, because she knew her teacher kept lollies in her desk.

One of our favourite gifts is a work of art or poem or prose by the child on A4 paper, including a photo of the child just printed on plain paper (if you have one that also features the recipient, even better) We include the teacher's name, child's name, class and year, laminate it, and call it a place mat!

Let's face it, these teachers get twenty something prezzies from students each year. It really is the thought that counts.

My sister used to be a primary school teacher, and she kept a big box of her gifts from children which she used for re-gifting.

[FishFace]

We gave last years teachers a pot plant with a little note saying we hope you enjoy watching this plant grow over the years. Just like you have watched us grow.

xoxxo

[rynosmum]

This year we are giving Ry's teachers an anti-stress pack (one each) with body butter etc in it, plus some Lindt chockies.

I figure they need all of the anti-stress they can get :hissy:

[honeylily]

i think flower is a better gift.

[Cheekychops]

The pre-prep teacher and assistant at DS2's break up today had tonnes of pressies.... allsorts of shapes and sizes.

We get the TEAR Australia gift cards (you pay $15 or whatever and they send a rabbit to a family in Africa or similar) and you get a card saying that's what you've done on their behalf....

OR

A pamper pack: Massage lotion, soap, face mask, foot soak, bath milk, etc

OR

Mug, coaster & tealight candle holder.

OR

Calender

OR

A Nice Parker Pen.....

OR

A vase.....

Possibilities are endless... however I never did buy the childcare workers pressies (the boys only ever went one or two days a week) but have always bought the preschool/kindy/school teachers and assistants pressies!

[Kiana's Mum]

As a teacher (in my previous life.. before my bubbies) can I just say that the best present I ever got was a letter from a parent telling me what a wonderful job I did with her child in terms of boosting their self esteem and helping them to enjoy school again. It made me cry.
The simpliest "Thank you for a job well done" means a lot to us teachers.
Gifts are nice too but the ones that mean the most are the ones that really let you know how appreciated you are.
So many parents think "oh they get lots of choccies blah blah" but believe me it really touches your heart when a parent goes out of their way to say thanks. It doesn't really happen too often either unfortunately.

[Nomsie]

This year we are giving Ry's teachers an anti-stress pack (one each) with body butter etc in it, plus some Lindt chockies.

I figure they need all of the anti-stress they can get :hissy:

Ooh I want your kids in my grade! I need your kids in my grade! :)


As a teacher (in my previous life.. before my bubbies) can I just say that the best present I ever got was a letter from a parent telling me what a wonderful job I did with her child in terms of boosting their self esteem and helping them to enjoy school again. It made me cry.
The simpliest "Thank you for a job well done" means a lot to us teachers.
Gifts are nice too but the ones that mean the most are the ones that really let you know how appreciated you are.
So many parents think "oh they get lots of choccies blah blah" but believe me it really touches your heart when a parent goes out of their way to say thanks. It doesn't really happen too often either unfortunately.

:iagree:... Although I could murder a box of favourites right now! :sunshine:

[Kiana's Mum]

:iagree:... Although I could murder a box of favourites right now! :sunshine:

I know that feeling too well. Am so glad I am not doing the whole report card, end of year break up stuff! I would always hang for the glass of wine!!!

[Seekrit]

i think flower is a better gift.
I hate getting flowers, they end up just sitting in my car and dying... or sitting on my ktichen table and wilting away :/

I bought his the girls in his room (including the float) a funky santa ornament, I remember getting one myself from a student and thinking it was a cool, funky, different gift :D I also got a box of choccies for the staffroom table with a card thanking all for the cuddles and teaching they've done for Cobes. :)

[subaruforestermum]

At the jewellers yesterday, a lady was buying her sons teacher something, and the boy pointed out something, and the grandmother said "Oh NO she doesnt wear silver darling"...

So some lucky teacher is getting a nice gold pair of earrings! (they werent cheap either)....

I dont have to think about that yet, not sure what we'll do when the time comes, I suppose it depends on how close DS is to his teachers etc!

[Roxy]

I have bought DD's teacher some bath stuff from Lush - we gave her some at mid-year break, and she loved it, so have repeated it for Christmas. Will also write her a card...

For DS's daycarers, I have gotten the ladies a Lush christmas angel each and will prob add a baby box of Favourites.

Still scratching my head about what to get the one daycarer of his that is male - pretty sure he's not into Lush stuff!