How do you handle gifts for everyone in your children's lives that you are thankful for. I'm sure they get enough A+ teacher ornaments. I usually do giftcards.
We don't give gifts to these people. I do appreciate them but cannot spend money to do these things.
I responded last week to a post about getting gifts just for the sake o gift-giving period. i don't do that. I have a few important people in my life that i try to go all out. I don't gift-give to anyone other than people i love, care about, and are grateful to. my list is pretty short, my twins, my hubby, my children's pediatrician (his care for my children is out of this world, the day he retires i will be crushed), our school's bus driver (a sweet, caring woman. so loving and so nice), my kids' teachers (underpaid and awesome), and a lady at our pediatrician's office (she is an angel in disguise).
i never know what to get for our pediatrician (suggestions would be awesome)
the lady at pediatrician's office this year will get white gold earrings and a hand-written thank you letter from our children.
our bus driver loves home goods, so she is getting a $50 gift card to that store.
the teachers are getting a piece of jewelry and a flip video each because they are young and love collecting memories (especially from early years of teaching).
we are far from being rich, but i save money year round specifically for these people. come the holiday's time i can't wait to show them how much we love them and appreciate them.
as for baked goodies, if any of the people are germaphobe like i am i would not eat baked goods from someone else. i think trinkets and ornaments come to them in trucks and they may not need them. some people have their trees color coordinated, for example just silver, or just gold, so i would be afraid to get something 'off.' the gifts i give (unless it is a gift card) i slip the gift receipt in there so if they don't like the gift, or already have it, they may exchange for something else.
I definitely do gift cards for teachers' gifts! It's an easy gift to buy and I know teachers appreciate that more than getting another candle or ornament. I've done Starbucks before but I may do Jimmy Johns or something like that this year. Or a nice local restaurant in town. I only do a maximum of $10 because it adds up fast but $10 can get them a meal for themselves or a few drinks at Starbucks. If I were still teaching, I think that's what I would prefer also.
I plan to make baked goods for my daughter's teachers (preschool). I bought some cute plastic containers (2 for $1) at the dollar store. I will fill them with whatever I make this season. My daughter is happy that she gets to participate with the baking.
I taught elementary. My favorite gifts were the handmade items and gift cards. My absolute favorite gifts were the handwritten cards from the kids (esp. from my 5th grade boys) and/or parents. They are super personal and I can keep them forever and they don't take up much space or get broken. :)
I got very few apple or teacher related presents. I'm rather glad about that.
I do gift cards as well. Mostly to places I know they will need. The grocery store, Michaels, Target.... Teachers spend so much of their own money on our kids classes, it's nice to give back to them as well!
Almost every teacher I have ever talked to, or seen reply to this question on a message board, prefers gift cards. If you want to add a personal touch, bake them something to go with it, or have your child make a nice card. Most other teacher gifts seem to end up recycled in white elephant gift exchanges and stuff like that.
My son is in preschool and has two teachers. I think we will bake them pumpkin bread and give them $25 each to Barnes & Noble.
Giftcards for teachers are great!! I know my teacher loves Starbucks and could always use money for the classroom so I usually do Starbucks and Target and I keep in mind that my school is free and what I would be paying if my child was in a private school (in other words - I don't go cheap!!) Our teachers work so hard!!
If you can't purchase a gift for your childs teacher or anyone in their life that is making a difference - Please write them a personal note and let them know how much you appreicate them! This can mean more than a gift!
What about sanitantion works and mail carriers? how can you give them a present without it getting stolen? (we live in the inner city and we both work), or being mistaken for trash. And there are a lot of guys on that sanitation truck. how to give to them all?
Ideas?
We are paying so much for school, and the teachers are great and usually earn less than public school teachers. I would love to give them something, but I dont' know how. Baking is good, though some people are squeamish about food not prepared in their own home. and I miss baking with nuts.
Buy a pack of 6 clear glass ornaments for Christmas (@ Wal-Mart) & fill
w/a personalized decoration for each: sand, red & green foil confetti etc.
A tiny, clear plastic jar filled w/jelly bellies and m&ms?
A small bag of fortune cookies (who doesn't like getting their fortunes
(@ groc store for 99cents) along w/a small heartfelt thank you card of
all the reasons you are grateful for them?
Clip out their horoscope from the newspaper (or print out from online) &
enclose in a heartfelt, handwritten card!
Write a cutsomized short poem for each teacher or aid.
