Kindergarten First Timer (All of us)!I like the Idea of Waiting Until the End Of

I give my daughter's teacher classroom supplies every year. (markers, scissors, pencils, glue sticks, tissues, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer etc.)

As a teacher, I've never had a kid give me anything on the first day. That said, I always got something from at least one child for Christmas and at the end of the year.

A gift is fine,maybe attach a funny note about "being good to herself with this new group of kindergarteners and their untrained parents.". ..

In the future consider a gift card for her to purchase something for herself, or her class.. I like to give teachers a gift card to a restaurant, book stores..
Or local entertainment, like movies theater productions, concerts, sports events. .

You will learn teachers are give a lot of lotions, bath stuff, Photo albums, scrapbooks, picture frames.. candles, "Apple, #1 Teacher and School " decorated things.. Usually these things are never used because of the sheer amount they are given.

BUT, teachers have always told me they love and do keep the notes that their students and families send them.. They read them over the years when they are having a hard time.. and then when they retire, they again enjoy reading them..

And so, always give from the heart at any time you feel it is important, but remember, teachers love the special notes they are given.

A gift is nice but not necessary. Your nice gesture puts the teacher in the position of having to keep track of who gave what, and then writing 22 thank you notes during the first week of school. In all of my years of teaching, I never saw this done. It's a lovely thought but unexpected. It's more meaningful to show appreciation after some time with the teacher! And teachers may have much greater needs, like volunteers. They will let you know, either directly or through the parent group.

Usually elementary school classes have a room parent who coordinates gift giving in December and June, among other tasks. It lets every parent give a small amount of money and pool it to buy a nice gift card or certificate for the teacher.

He doesn't have to take EVERYTHING on the first day, I don't think. Prioritize the list. Change of clothes, yes. Tissues and everything else, not so much. Half the kids will forget anyway so it's not going to be critical.

I wouldn't do that now that your sonis in real school. However, what I like to do is to take a colored bin and fill it with kleenex, clorox wipes, sanitiser, throat lozengers, a box of tea and a little plant. I wouldn't send it in but bring it in and leave it at the office for them.

From what I've read, it seems that teachers would rather have classroom supplies than lotions or candles they may not even like the scent of. I honestly think bringing some things from her classroom supply "wish list" will show more gratitude than another bath & body item, which she probably already has enough of, anyway, you know? Maybe find out when her birthday is, and give her the personal gift then, or on another "special" day. Just my .02.

I am a teacher and I don't think it is a big deal to drop off a little token during the first week. I am for a small houseplant for the classroom, I never have enough--good air purifier!

As a teacher... I say wait. At the end of the week would be fine. Send a little message thanking her for making your child's start of school nice. We ALWAYS have kids show up with no supplies. Extra supplies or a gift card to use for school stuff is nice.

Not appropriate. It will look like a bribe! Lol
Teachers will let you know what they need for the year--and it's usually not a candle, mug or hand lotion!
It will be school supplies or, better yet, your TIME, when she has a project needing an extra set of hands!

I'm a high school teacher, but wanted to say I LOVE it when students bring in hand sanitizer and tissues! I spend a fortune on those items, and welcome them any time of year. I figure as much of those as I go through, kindergarten teachers probably go through even more.

Personal notes really are the best gifts ever, though. :)

I'll be honest with you. The other day we had Meet the Teacher for my oldest, who is also starting Kindergarten. One family (out of the 22 there) brought a gift for the teacher. It just looked really awkward, and all the other parents kinda looked at each other like, "Woah, should we have brought something too?" I love the idea other posters offered of checking in after the first week to see if there is anything needed for the room. Teachers have such limited budgets for their classrooms, so there might be something that doesn't quite fit into the budget that she'd really like.

Do not think it is appropriate. Will look like you are trying to butter her up. This is real school. Things like that are for the end of the year. Oh and please do not get lotion etc. have two friends who teach K and they give it all to me to give to nursing home where my aunt is. They use it for whoever wins bingo etc.

I like the idea of checking in at the end of the week and asking if there are any school supplies she/he needs, and going from there. Many teachers have to pay out of their own pockets for supplies-- I'd rather have a ream of copy paper than a bottle of lotion, if that's what I'm low on.

I personally would not give the gift in the presence of others, either. I've found (as both a preschool teacher and parent of a preschooler) that this tends to bring other parents/kids up short because they didn't bring something and they become anxious or worried that this is 'expected'. I've heard a lot of conversations to this end over the past years. The gift at the beginning of the year/session is not something I've been familiar with in my 20 years of working with kids. (It was great that you did something nice for your son's preschool teachers, by the way. I don't want to take away from that. )

If that first week goes well, do take time to write a short note of thanks for the effort they are making to help this transition be a good one for the kids. Teachers also appreciate concrete feedback/specifics like "I really appreciated how you greeted Johnny right at the door, with a smile on your face. It made both of us feel very welcome." or "Thanks for taking the time to show us around the room" or whatever other consideration you noticed. And if you send a copy of that appreciation to the principal, bonus!

I don't do that and never have.
And I would not do that.

My kids are now in 1st grade and 5th grade.
On the first day of school, a Teacher has TONS of things to do and organize. And they don't have time to do lengthy socializing with the parents, as they are busily overseeing their new students etc. and their supplies.

I would not take something for the teacher that is a personal thing like bath & body things. What if she doesn't even like the scent?
BUT all Teacher's have a "wish list" of things they need for the classroom. And during the "Open House" or meet & greet night with the Teacher, they typically disperse this information to the parents.

Per the 1st day of Kindergarten, at least at my kids' school... the parents, drive and then park, and then walk their child to the classroom AND help carry their supplies to the classroom, and help their child place their supplies where it needs to be put. This is common at my kids' school. On the first day of school, all the parents are there.

No, your son should NOT be lugging a "gift" to the Teacher, on the first day. YOU should do that, IF you decide to take the Teacher a gift.

IF the "meet and greet" night is BEFORE the 1st day of school.. then TYPICALLY, it is on that night, that the parents bring their child's school supplies to school. And so that, their child does not have to lug it to school, themselves. Kids are little, it is hard for them, to tote and lug ALL those supplies themselves. AND per my kids' school... the Teacher writes on the chalk board... where a child is to put their things. So, if a child cannot "read" all that writing on the board, the child will still not know, where to put their things... and then the Teacher will need to tell each child, where their multitude of supplies... needs to go. Thus, the first day of school, is very busy for a Teacher.

You can give a gift to anyone at anytime, but because I've never heard of giving your teacher a gift or apple on the first day, it sounds wierd to me.

I don't know of anyone who brings the teacher a gift on the first day. I'd wait until Meet the Teacher night. Why do you feel the need to give the teacher a gift for showing up to work?

i dont get something for the teacher at the beginning of the year but i get them something at the end of the year. my daughters prek teachers were above and beyond amazing so i made them identical gift baskets.
however her kinder teacher refers to herself as a glorified babysitter. so i will be a little critical of her...
i think something she can use in the classroom would be better. i also got her teachers something for teacher appreciation week.

When I was a single mom, I could barely afford his ONE box of crayons, now they're asking for 3 and 4. So this year, I bought extra everything. Pencils, crayons, manila paper, etc etc etc to kinda help with those in her class that might be where I was at not so long ago.

I guess that wouldn't be a "gift" per se for her....but think it will help later in the year.

I give gift certificates BTW. I don't get personalized stuff for them because I don't want them to have to return that lotion they "can't stand the scent" of...

And I'd go for Christmas, teachers day/week, etc rather than Hi, here's my son, have a lotion kinda thing.

That's just me tho.

And I am a MESS sending my youngest off to school. COMPLETE MESS.

Sending good thoughts your way.