Christmas Gift for My Son's Teachers

I work in a pre-school. YES! You should give ALL three of his teachers the same thing. You do not know what the other two teachers do for yor child when the one special teacher is not there (absent, on vacation, at lunch, etc). GIFT CARDS are good gifts. The gift cards DO NOT have to be for huge amounts of money. In addition - you should write letters of appreciation for all three teachers. Make a copy for each teacher and enclose it with the gift card. Also and equally important - give a copy of each letter to the center director. We teachers value these letters so much - the letters make us feel appreciated for what we do and show us that parents really do see what we do. Not only that but these types of letters usually go into a teacher's employee file and often go a along way towards a raise in pay when it is time for the teacher's annual appraisal.

Yes, feel free to do something different for each of them and something a little more for one who has helped him. I would write her a special note and have your son draw something on it for her.

For the love of all that is holy, please nothing with an apple on it ;-).

I am a big fan of consumable gifts for teachers, since they get a lot of knick knacks from students. www.familyfun.com has great ideas for homemade gifts. Recipes in a jar are fun (here is an example: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/gingerbread-cookie-mix-in-a...)
Gift cards are also great.

I was a school teacher for 15 years before I had my daughter. Don't worry about giving different gifts. My favorite gifts were starbucks, movie passes, and candy. One year I got a gift card to have my car detailed which was something I never did so it was a real treat! Some times parents would bring me lunch or a coke and candy bar which was great since I couldn't leave campus during the day. I think the teacher would also cherish a thank you note expressing how she made a difference in your child's life. Maybe you could write the note on the back of a picture of your child.

Our son, also in preschool, has 3 teachers. One main teacher and 2 aides. We have always given a small gift for the holidays to each, and then something at the end of the schoolyear. A heartfelt card (maybe with a little doodle from your child on it) is appreciated. Last year we gave personalized canvas bags to each with their name on it (you can shop online and find for about $10 each). But lots of people gave giftcards to places like bookstores, grocery stores, a general giftcard to a mall to use in any store, etc. At the end of the year, i made each a batch of muffins and gave a giftcard for $10 to a local ice cream shop, so they could take their own kids out for a treat. Good luck!

I don't agree that you need to give all the teachers the same thing. But you should give them all something. Gift cards are nice. They don't have to be big. a $10 starbucks card lets them have coffee several times. A mcDonalds card lets them have lunch out. a card to a salon to get pampered is great also. Just put their names on the cards and hand them out. Chances are they won't open them till later anyway. and even if they do you don't have to have the amount written on them. I know as a daycare provider I was always grateful for anything I was given. I would stay away from candles/mugs and "teacher" items. teachers end up with a million mugs that say worlds greatest teacher and you can only use so many of those lol. I would say a big yes on writing a special note saying what a difference the teacher has made in your sons life.

Yes, getting something additional for the teacher who helped the most is totally appropriate in my opinion. I have a lot of teacher friends and they all love gift cards the most. I think anything between $10 and $25 is appropriate. I also think the words you write in a card can sometimes mean more than any gift you buy.

How about, you get one basket of things... for the Classroom... thus, it being for all the Teachers.
THEN, on the side, you can give them a nice handwritten card/Christmas card.... thanking that one Teacher who has helped your son.

That is what I would do. And it is fair.
That is what many... parents do.
Or, you need to get all 3 Teachers, the SAME things, perhaps in a cute little basket. THEN on the side, give that one helpful Teacher... a handwritten thank you card... expressing your appreciation and her going beyond the call of duty....

all the best,
Susan

something homemade is always nice. teachers get inundated with coffee mugs and tchotchkes, but edible treats, flowers, and gift cards are excellent. and it's fine to give something different for a teacher who's been specially wonderful.
it's also fine to just give cards. i know a lot of parents feel obliged to buy presents, but it's really not an imperative and most teachers won't be hurt or disappointed. a heartfelt expression of appreciation is mostly what they want.
khairete
S.

Giving this teacher a different gift is fine.
We actually gave one of our teachers, Geometry, a math clock. The others got homemade cookies and candy.
THe teachers understand.

She'll appreciate anything that you give- just give from your heart.