I had a request to write a post on holiday gift ideas for teachers or childcare providers, and I have to admit my first thought was: oh shit dear. As in, oh dear, I have to get a gift for Riley’s daycare teachers? Honestly, I hadn’t even considered doing so.
We have in the past (in the form of a card with a cash tip inside) when Riley had one main teacher who we really liked, but now he’s got several people wrangling his classroom, and I don’t even know most of their names. They all seem like they sincerely care for him, though, and after a few recent hiccups with staffing problems everyone seems competent and overall we’re really happy with his center. So, to gift or not to gift? Maybe a largish present (lots of delicious cookies?) the whole staff can enjoy?
As I ponder this, and hope that you can give me some advice on the subject, here are some gift ideas I have run across, should you be looking to do something special for your kid’s favorite teacher or caregiver this holiday season.
Gift cards. One of my favorite bloggers posted the question about what gifts might be most appropriate for teachers, and many people suggested gift cards—to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, a local restaurant, maybe even a spa for a pedicure. Seems like a good, no-brainer way to say “I care (about your toenails)”.
Letter of appreciation. Okay, so it might not be as cool as a box of imported chocolates, but a heartfelt note of thanks probably has better long-term effects anyway. If the person works at a childcare center, you could send a copy to their boss, too. With a suggestion that this person deserves a damn raise, because you know those teachers aren’t seeing much of the enormous checks a typical center takes in each month. (Also, a hand-written note from your kid, assuming they’re old enough to do so.)
A pretty ornament. I’m not sure if this is potentially a bad move considering not everyone celebrates the holidays in the same way and maybe some people don’t like ornaments, I DON’T KNOW, but I could see this being a nice gift. Something they might even keep and bring out each holiday season for years to come.
Gifts for the classroom. Art supplies, books, games, toys, puzzles, etc. I imagine most classrooms could use this sort of thing, and even if it’s not specifically for your kid’s teacher, they’ll probably appreciate it.
Some handy links on this subject: Berkeley Parents Network, Working Moms Refuge, FlyLady.net.
Out of the above ideas, I’d go for a gift card (with a note of thanks) if I were buying for one or two teachers. For a larger pool of providers, like in the case of Riley’s daycare, I’m just not sure. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the reminder Linda! I had forgotten about Eric’s teacher! Great ideas too!
Eric's Mommy | November 30th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
For these types of gifts I always do lunch for all - I’ll give them a date and a take out menu for a local restaurant and arrange with the restaurant to charge it to my card when their order comes in. Everyone likes a free lunch - especially around the holidays. I do this at the small hair salon I go to and the staff at my ob/gyn as I’m seeing them so frequently in the next year.
Cass | November 30th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I love the lunch idea! I might do that for my son’s preschool this year.
When my boys were in daycare I used to send in baked goods in periodically during the year to thank them, they seemed to like that as they would request their favorites. At the holidays I would sometimes send in some nice lotions for them as their hands always seemed chapped from the gloves they wore changing diapers and all the hand washing.
Chris | November 30th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
We have done the gift cards, the notes, and the lunches (sandwich trays or even pizza are great since they often can’t all eat at the same time).
I’ve also had a lot of my daughter’s daycare teachers ask for pictures of her. Some of them are very attached to and proud of their “kids” and they like to show the pictures to their families. Also, when your child moves up to a different room, etc. they have a reminder of your child. This is a personal comfort thing, obviously (some people might feel weird, but I am not one of those people).
Tessie | November 30th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I was thinking of getting a class gift. Last year E was in a much smaller day care and only had two teachers so I got them both a visa GC. This year she changed schools and there are 26 kids in her class and with the shift changes, I think she has 6 or 8 teachers throughout the day. I was going to get a couple of E’s favorite CDs and books and maybe a GC to the craft store where they sell a lot of classroom supplies.
I really like the lunch idea but half of E’s teachers come in at 3.30.
Melanie | November 30th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I like the hand lotion idea since teachers work with paper all day, and paper is so drying. Bath and Body Works has nice shea butter hand lotions if you don’t know the teacher’s favorite fragrance.
Elizabeth | November 30th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
My daughter has 4 teachers at her day care. I bought them each a gift of lotion and bath soap from Bath and Body works.
Megan | November 30th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
My mom is a teacher, and you would not believe the amount of graft she gets every year. Yes, the ornaments and coffee mugs are nice, but when you get 30 of them every year for 30 years, that’s a lot of holiday crapola.
The gift cards are a great idea, as is the idea for stuff for the classroom. Teachers typically spend quite a bit out of their own pocket for classroom stuff, so a GC for the nearest art supply store would definitely get used.
And homemade treats are always appreciated!
Dina | November 30th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I hope this isn’t horribly tacky, but I am including a link to a post I wrote about this very subject last May as the school year was winding down. I was a teacher for 4 years and know LOTS of teachers, so I felt qualified to address the subject:
http://mdwestmom.blogspot.com/2007/05/teacher-gifts.html
Kelsey | November 30th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I agree with most of Kelsey’s post - my mom is a teacher, and the amount of crap she gets every year is insane.
Given that my mom, and a lot of other people I know, are very picky about ANYTHING with a fragrance and/or allergic, I’d say don’t buy stuff from Bath & Body. My mom loves the gift cards from Starbucks or bookstores or Target, doesn’t mind the homemade goodies, likes chocolate, and doesn’t like anything non-edible because she doesn’t need it. Notes from the kids are also good.
GoingLoopy | November 30th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I’m getting our daycare provider a well-loaded gift card from Target. She loves Target and so this gives her tons of options.
hello insomnia | November 30th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Speaking as a teacher and (former) child-care provider, gift cards are a big winner, as is anything made by the child or family. Lotion, soap, etc.–not a big winner. Last year I worked at two child-care sites and saw about 90 children on a typical day. I would say 1/5 gave me something in the soap/lotion family. That’s way more lotion than anyone could use, and that was just for one holiday! The local women’s shelter did benefit, though.
Emily | November 30th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Speaking as a former daycare worker and a current teacher, I can say that I would LOVE to get a nice thank you note, a gift card, or some children’s books/CDs. Actually, a children’s book with a note inside it would be perfect.
Lindsay | November 30th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
My son’s daycare teachers are getting Target gift cards and photos of my kid, but there are just 2 of them. If there were a bunch of teachers instead of just 2, I would write a note to each and enclose a $5 Starbucks card (or Dunkin Donuts as we live in New England).
susie | November 30th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
So my roommate was a teacher and we both were choir teachers at our church. We would get so much holiday junk every year, it was insane. Things we ALWAYS appreciated: nice cocoas/teas, gift cards to generic stores (Target, B&N, even the dreaded WalMart), and the occasional gift card to a spa (they didn’t come very often).
Sarah | December 1st, 2007 at 10:35 am
As a teacher, I think the best gfit would be for the classroom. There is always something to get, such as books, supplies, or even just kleenex! When you give the teacher something that she/he and the class can use, that’s the best kind of gift. Another option is a gift card for certain stores, like bookstores or office supply stores. Lastly, a gift card to a store where teachers can buy things for themselves, like department stores, coffee shops, or “everyday” stores (Target, Walmart). These are my top 3, which I think are much better than lotions, Xmas-related trinkets, sweets, and clothes.
Jane | December 2nd, 2007 at 3:52 am
I’m a teacher and a former day care provider, and the above suggestions are good. Lotion is handy, but I usually get too much and end up sharing. If you get a gift card, make sure the teacher will use it. Gifts for the classroom are good in an elementary school, but day care teachers make next to nothing, so they really could use a gift of value.
Daisy | December 3rd, 2007 at 12:55 am
I’m a fifth-grade teacher to about 100 students, and I feel like most of the gifts I get each year end up being unappreciated. One of the teachers at my school usually volunteers to collect all of the unwanted gifts and take them to a nursing home, because there’s just no way to absorb all of the stuff that we get. I don’t drink coffee, and usually get about 5 coffee mugs. Also, I am not a fan of apple-themed things; I would never wear the jewelry or carry the tote bags I have been given. I have cabinets full of Bath and Body Works lotion, and more candles than I could ever burn in a lifetime.
What I do appreciate are the homemade baked goods, gift cards, and ornaments for my Christmas tree. I’ve never been given supplies for my classroom, but that would also be a really nice gesture. Lunch is another wonderful idea; we only get 30 minutes for lunch, and it’s not enough time to go anywhere, so it’s always a treat to have a meal delivered by a local restaurant.
alanaransley | December 3rd, 2007 at 3:01 pm
As an on-and-off-again child care provider who can’t seem to resist the pull of the industry despite the fact that I really can’t afford to stay in this line of work, I can attest to the fact that the most widely appreciated holiday gift amongst my colleagues is a starbucks GC, especially in the Seattle area. (Although if there is another coffee place near the center that the staff tends to frequent, that might be a better choice). Because honestly? While we love caring for your children, we are also tired.
Target, amazon, or possibly itunes would also be nice choices.
Also, things like lotions, baked goods, and other food items are hit or miss due to things like allergies, personal preferences, and a general deluge of such things at this time of year. While I personally love getting a lovely scented lotion, most of my co-workers do not. I think lunch is agreat idea but perhaps hold off due to possible food allergies and also as someone mentioned many staff members don’t come on shift until 3:30.
If you happen to know that a certain teacher/staff member is crafty (whether he or she is into scrapbooking, photography, knitting, whatever) a GC to somewhere like Ben Franklin is a great idea. Otherwise it might seem like a gift that is really just a reason to think about work even more. And at this time of year we need rest and relaxation just as much as everyone else does.
Stacy | December 3rd, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Yay for comments from the teachers! Thanks for sharing your side of things, this is all really helpful. : )
milkandcookies | December 3rd, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Linda, I totally did an oh shit when I saw your post.
Love the suggestions. As the daughter of a former teacher I can attest to the volume of cologne, lotion, etc that she acquired. Bleh. I the past I have gone in with other parents for a spa certificate, but now that were in public school I am really liking the GC ideas coupled with a note/letter of appreciation.
Thanks for the timely reminder!
mentalspa | December 3rd, 2007 at 7:28 pm
My mom is a teacher, too.
Ummmm Did y’all know that Bath & Body will take back their stuff and give you credit. So you can buy what you want (or they sell very nicely on ebay!)
Also- when writing the thank you letter, make sure to cc the principal and make an extra copy for the teacher’s file.
Deanna | December 3rd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
“I care (about your toenails)”
I just CAN’T stop laughing at that.
Danell | December 4th, 2007 at 4:03 am
I’m here to champion the fruit tray as a gift idea - my grocery store will make them to order - I bring one to the teacher’s workroom and put it right by all those trays of cookies and candy for everyone to share because the VitaminC, it is good when you’re working with sneezy, sniffly children, and it’s a refreshing change.
For my children’s individual teachers I give them a gift certificate to our local winery. I figure if they don’t want to use it for themselves (this place also serves Sunday brunch) they can use it to whittle away at gifts they need to buy others, or even just re-gift the certificate.
Mom Nancy | December 4th, 2007 at 5:47 am
This year for the 3 teachers, I did a page of 20 photostamps w/ silly pictures of my daughter, attached to some baked goodies… hope they like it!
Anonymous | December 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Last year I gave the daughter’s teacher a pretty expensive gift certificate to a local massage therapist. According to the massage therapist, she still hasn’t used it. So… beware of being too personal.
Ang | December 6th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
It makes me all tense and squirmy to read teachers complaining about all the “crap” they get. I’ve gotten so self-conscious in my attempt not to make the teacher DISDAINFUL of my attempt to express some holiday affection, I’m beginning to think gift cards are the only option. Except then I read another teacher saying something like, “Even if it’s only for $15 or $20.” ONLY?
Swistle | December 7th, 2007 at 3:12 am
I totally like the idea with gift cards, but how much is reasonable? We have 1 head teacher and 2 others who take really good care of my son. We started Dec 1 so of course it has been a short stint, but I love that they are so good with my son, so I want t ogive them something- but what is a good $$ amount?
Thanks from a new mom!
Christine | December 12th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Swistle, my husband is a teacher and we are also parents, so I see both sides of this. First of all, we LOVE the baked stuff. He has some parents that make the best cookies. I realize teachers aren’t going to eat sugar cookies or things they can get every day, so I try to make a variety of different things that they won’t see every day. I also agree that with so many teachers, and especially when you have multiple children, $15 or $20 may not be a possibility. We love it when we get the $20 gift card to a restaurant because that means we get to go out to eat, which we rarely do without a gift card. But I don’t think you can go wrong with a plate of baked stuff, especially when it looks like you put some thought into what you baked.
Lisa | December 13th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I am also the daughter of an underpaid teacher. The best gift my mom ever received was from her entire class one year that pulled together and collected the money they would have spent on gifts. She ended up with 200$ cash. Teachers are so underpaid its unbelieveable, especially since they are educating our future. My mom is the BEST! I LOVE YOU MOM! And to all the teachers… A sincere Thank You to all that you do. From an individual that has no intentions of even being a mom.
jo | December 15th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Hi boys!b26929d119c7769a27fe778c2192aed0
Hello people | January 31st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Thanks for the article! It came up when I googled “going away gift daycare” not sure why, but I loved all the holidays suggestions!
This year I did GC to a chain bookstore for DD’s teachers, plus two CDs for the classroom. I know they like the music, because I hear it on when I came in! Also, they are always buying the kids books (for birthdays) so they can decide to spend the GC on themselves or the class.
Relaxnsmile | March 17th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Great article! I’m a librarian at an elementary school, and I get lots of holiday gifts from the children. One of the nicest gifts I have received is a gift certificate good at any store in the local mall. This is great because I can choose what store to spend it in, and since there is a dollar store in the mall, even gift certificates in small amounts can go pretty far.
Also, sometimes the chamber of commerce in a local town will sell gift certificates, good for shops/restaurants in that town. Then the teacher can decide where to spend it, and it supports local businesses.
Teacher/Librarian | August 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I will say what most teachers are thinking. We do not want more things to carry home the last day in December. Gift cards are the best gifts during the holidays. Actually, gift cards that can be spent anywhere are perfect. Our school’s parents buy all of our teachers Simon Gift Cards. Honestly, baked goods are usually thrown out with the knick knacks. Ornaments are tossed as well. Teacher gifts for the classroom are a little offensive to me. Its basically giving your child’s teacher a gift that will be used by your child. If you want to donate to the classroom, do it at Back to School night. Finally, the one thing that teachers save are the letters parents write to them.
charlotteteach | December 8th, 2008 at 1:44 am