Holiday gifts for teacher, daycare workers, and aftercare workers
I have a child in daycare and one in K in elementary school. What do people do for school teacher gifts? I'm very bad at coming up with gifts so was planning on doing a gift card. Is that appropriate for a teacher? If so, to what places and what amount (I'm aiming for average amount as I would prefer not to stand out as giving too much or too little)? My child only has one teacher (that I know of). Also, what do people get for aftercare workers? There are a lot as they rotate between the classes and have different shifts and I only know the two key people in charge as I often do curb side drop off and pick up. I can do small gift cards for each person but I don't know how many people work with my son, or I can just get gift cards for the two persons in charge though that does not seem right. Do people not do holiday gifts for aftercare people or if you do how do you manage it in a very large school aftercare program? My younger child is in daycare that I love with two caregivers and I usually give $200 to each as a gift plus a small gift so I'll do that same this year. In the past I never gave anything to the music and art teachers that visit daycare since my kid was too young to participate but now that he does, do I also bring something to those activity teachers that come to daycare (I never met them but I know they come once a week since I pay for the additional lessons)? If so, how much do people give to those extra activity teachers? What about karate instructors? I'm tempted to do gift cards for everyone (except daycare providers get cash as before) but I don't know where to and in what amounts? There are a lot of people on the list so I don't want the amount spent to get out of hand but at the same time I feel embarrassed to give a $10 gift card and thinking at some point it is better to skip some people only helping my kids in passing then to do a too small amount. I'll appreciate advice and info on who in their kids' lives other people give holiday gifts to and in what amounts? Thanks.
Parent Replies
Hi, i have the same qestions as you. We are quite new here. The problem is how to behavor "properly" during thanksgiving.
When my daughter was younger, I would make a nice gift basket of goodies for the afterschook staff or groups of teachers. I'm a preschool director as well and can tell you that the staff really enjoys this kind of gift and gift cards (books, Amazon, coffee, etc.) are always appreciated.
I think $200 for a gift is incredibly extravagant and way beyond the means of most people I know. Giving someone a card with a heartfelt thank you and a $10 gift card would be appreciated by most people caring for a child in passing or even one of many teachers. $25 would be an appropriate gift amount for anyone else. That's just my opinion. If you are very wealthy and can afford more, then just know what you are spending is extremely extravagant and beyond what most people are giving.
A few idea, from my former life a a teacher and daycare provider: a $10 gift card to Starbucks or Peet's is likely to be appropriate by teachers and after school care providers who play small roles in your children's education and care. A small box of see's candy or a cookies or card made by you and your children would also be appreciated. For teacher a larger gift is appropriate. Perhaps you could get together with other parents a put together a class gift. This would allow parents of different means share in a gift and the teacher to receive one useful gift instead of many small token gifts. If you know something about the teacher's life and preferences outside of school you can match the gift card to that, REI? Clairmont spa? Macy's? If you don't really know cash or a Visa gift card are always good options.
That's really nice of you to consider your child's teachers and caregivers. Your idea to get them gift cards is really nice.
I'm a big fan of practical gifts. So a gift card to a grocery store like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's could be a welcome surprise.
Gift cards along with a nice note are good. The amount depends on your means -- give an amount you feel comfortable with. I've appreciated cards for Peets and for local bookstores (Diesel, Pegasus, Books Inc.)