Christmas Ideas for Teachers

jasminelorraine20

DS has two main teachers in his classroom and two women that work in the front office, one of which I particularly like and see way more often than the other. Anyhow, I initially planned to buy each one a $10 gift card to Starbucks, but my Mom said that's a little cheap. Financially,  I do well on my own (I'm not married) and I live comfortably- but a $20 starbucks card each seems a little steep. Am I just being cheap? If so, fine I'll go grab the $20 gift cards, but I wanted some other opinions.

jasminelorraine20

SandAndsSea said:

I think $10 is fine...it's like 2-3 drinks - totally appropriate.

This is what I said. Perfect, thanks ladies for validating what I already thought was more than generous.

eyenigh

The rule of thumb that I've heard, and used, is to spend as much on gifts for the teachers as you would for a week of daycare. My son's daycare is close to $300/week so I split that up between the 5 teachers. Last year I got them all small Coach wallets. For the front office people, if they didn't have any direct contact with your son as a caregiver, I'd say $10 is fine.

kristennd

Yikes. That would mean spending more on each teacher than I spend on my own family members.

(The formula, not the $10.)

dmlk413

kristennd said:

Yikes. That would mean spending more on each teacher than I spend on my own family members.

(The formula, not the $10.)

Same here!  I'm not giving a $150 gift to my DCP.  Last year I gave her a $50 gift card and that seemed plenty fair to me.

eyenigh

Wait, did that imply that I was giving $300 per person? Just to be clear, $300 is the total amount and each teacher gets something worth around $60. They do a great job taking care of my kid all year and most weeks, spend more time with him per day than I do. Honestly, there's no job more important. A $60 gift at Christmas per person seems more than fair to me for people who make close to nothing to provide that kind of service.

eyenigh

lildis said:

I'm definitely not able to do $130/teacher... $-)

How much do you pay per week for day care? Yikes.

kristennd

eyenigh said:

Wait, did that imply that I was giving $300 per person? Just to be clear, $300 is the total amount and each teacher gets something worth around $60. They do a great job taking care of my kid all year and most weeks, spend more time with him per day than I do. Honestly, there's no job more important. A $60 gift at Christmas per person seems more than fair to me for people who make close to nothing to provide that kind of service.

The $300 total was clear, but I only have two teachers to buy for, for example. And I bet many people just have a single DCP. That makes it a lot more money.

In our case, he's only there three hours a day and summers off, so that changes things too.

kristennd

tundrabunny said:

I've been thinking about this and was going to do gift cards for her primary teachers, but her day care also has resource aides (helpers) that come in when the primary teachers are on break or if someone calls in sick. Should I get them gifts?

And the people at the front desk are usually the director or the assistant director. It seems weird to get them gifts, but I don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Do they get gifts?

I know a lot of people in those situations send group gifts, like a treat basket that everyone on staff can share.

eyenigh

kristennd said:

eyenigh said:

Wait, did that imply that I was giving $300 per person? Just to be clear, $300 is the total amount and each teacher gets something worth around $60. They do a great job taking care of my kid all year and most weeks, spend more time with him per day than I do. Honestly, there's no job more important. A $60 gift at Christmas per person seems more than fair to me for people who make close to nothing to provide that kind of service.

The $300 total was clear, but I only have two teachers to buy for, for example. And I bet many people just have a single DCP. That makes it a lot more money.

In our case, he's only there three hours a day and summers off, so that changes things too.

I think it's a different story if you have a single provider that you pay directly every week, too, because all of the money is going to them or to support their business. We go to a center and the teachers are compensated horribly but do a great job. They deserve something nice.

dmlk413

kristennd said:

eyenigh said:

Wait, did that imply that I was giving $300 per person? Just to be clear, $300 is the total amount and each teacher gets something worth around $60. They do a great job taking care of my kid all year and most weeks, spend more time with him per day than I do. Honestly, there's no job more important. A $60 gift at Christmas per person seems more than fair to me for people who make close to nothing to provide that kind of service.

The $300 total was clear, but I only have two teachers to buy for, for example. And I bet many people just have a single DCP. That makes it a lot more money.

In our case, he's only there three hours a day and summers off, so that changes things too.

What she said.  I only have one daycare provider.  I think it would be excessive to give her a $150 gift. 

ETA: I just saw your post.  That makes complete sense.

jasminelorraine20

With your formula @eyenigh, I should be going with the $20 gift card because I pay $115/week at his center. I also had the thought that they take very good care of DS and deserve something nice, but I was also factoring in all of the other parents that would possibly be getting the teachers gifts as well. Now I'm leaning towards going with the $20 GC after all.

eyenigh

jasminelorraine20 said:

With your formula @eyenigh, I should be going with the $20 gift card because I pay $115/week at his center. I also had the thought that they take very good care of DS and deserve something nice, but I was also factoring in all of the other parents that would possibly be getting the teachers gifts as well. Now I'm leaning towards going with the $20 GC after all.

That sounds perfect. It's all relative to what you pay and time spent so it works out just right for you. For the office workers, though, I'd think they'd be thrilled with anything that they got. We don't have anyone that fills that role at our center but I think it would be a really sweet gesture to think of them.

eyenigh

lildis said:

lildis said:

I'm definitely not able to do $130/teacher... $-)

How much do you pay per week for day care? Yikes.

2 teachers, $260/week.

Oh, I forget everyone doesn't have like 5 people like our center does!

Helenahhandbasket

Hmmm.

Maybe this is different, because DD goes to an in home day care (as opposed to a center, which is what I think you are describing?  Or is it actually school?)

Anyway, we give her DCP (just one person) an extra check for the amout that the week costs (DD goes 3x per week, which costs us 180.00-- so I give her an addional 180.00)  So similar to @eyenigh ? 

She does have a part timer that we give a 50.00 visa gift card to.  This seems to be the norm among the other parents and my other friends that have their LOs in similar situations.

 

skategirl128

I'm a teacher and honestly anything- even a card- is appreciated. I think $10 is fine and will be greatly appreciated. I say give what you are comfortable with- it truly is the thought that counts!