I send my 7-year old boy into an international school. There are lots of students from other countries in the school. Some of the students’ parents from China always ask their children to present gifts to the teachers in holidays while my son just wishes them a happy holiday. Now, under the influence of those foreign students, most of the students begin giving gifts to the teachers. Actually, the teachers have said to the class: don’t send the gifts to them again, but some students’ parents still do so in order to impress the teachers. I don’t know what I should do.
Do not send a gift as the request has been made not to send them. A nice card made by Johnny would do just fine.
Teachers get too much stuff that they cannot use and it clutters up the classroom or home. So take pity on all those years worth of "gifts" at home with no place to go but the trash.
The other S.
I believe giving gifts to the teacher is a cultural expectation with the Chinese students. It seems to be an accepted practice in most oriental cultures.
However, that doesn't mean you have to follow their customs. It is nice, if you and your son wish to give a gift of appreciation to the teacher. However some of the most appreciated gifts are not those we go out and spend a bunch of money on, but rather those little gifts that show we put our hearts into the giving. At age seven, your son may like to make a card and a small gift for his teacher. Think about something he likes to do in the way of a craft that might make an appropriate gift. Or make a batch of cookies together and let him wrap a few of them nicely for his teacher. Most teachers love to get a small gift that's presented by the child with the words "my mommy helped me make this for you". Or perhaps the words would be "I made this myself!" (even if mom did most of the making, the child still has the pride of having made it "myself")
If the teachers have asked that no gifts be sent, then I would respect that request. Is your child the ONLY child not bringing a gift? If that is the case, then perhaps your son can bring a snack for the teacher AND the class to enjoy. That way, he's bringing something, but not a gift for the teacher. I personally think people get too carried away with giving gifts - they think they have to give a gift to everyone in their lives. A heartfelt wish for a happy holiday and good fortune in the New Year are really quite enough.
If the teachers have specifically said don't send gifts, then the answer is simple ... NO.
They've asked that you don't, and those that have are creating an obvious problem for those that followed the rule. If you felt inclined to send a "thank you for teaching my child" card, that would be about all I would send if even that.
I wouldn't send a gift but a card thanking them for their diligentness and hard work. Of course wish them a happy holidays too!
If your son would like to give something to his teacher, have him make his own Chrismas card for her. That way you're respecting the teacher's wishes while also fostering a giving (and grateful) attitude in your child.
A gift that is given for the express purpose of impressing someone is not a gift.
We can give as a kind gesture. We can give in order to share what we have. We can give in a sense of tradition.
But impressing someone? No.
Just my opinion.
