small gifts for play school staff

hmontty · November 2012

So I asked my husband tonight what he thought I should get for DD's play school teachers, and he goes on a rampage about how it's immoral to give them anything and it's currying favor blah blah blah. He is actually still going on about it in the kitchen.

I was thinking of just baking them some cookies or something like that.

Is that inappropriate? DH is fairly clueless about niceties like writing thank-you notes and bringing hostess gifts to dinner parties, etc. (I blame it on his own mom, who has no class whatsoever).

I thought a small token of appreciation would be more than appropriate around the holidays for the ladies who care for and teach my daughter 15 hours a week.

Thoughts?

CLL1001 · November 2012

I think it's a great idea to bake them some cookies...not innapropriate at all IMO.

mbgreenwalt · November 2012

It is completely appropriate to give a small gift. I'd do a $5-10 giftcard to coffee place.

catycate · November 2012

From a former teacher, don't bake them anything. Most of us toss any homemade goodies. If you afford $5 gift cards, that is good, if not, a picture from your. Child is great, too.

MrsI · November 2012

catycate:
From a former teacher, don't bake them anything. Most of us toss any homemade goodies. If you afford 5 gift cards, that is good, if not, a picture from your. Child is great, too.

This, as a preschool teacher I do toss most baked goods unless I really know the parent. A 5 gift card is always appreciated, I have gotten them for subway and jimmy johns which was nice to be able to buy lunch. Unless you know they drink coffee please don't do that either, I can't tell you how many Starbucks gift cards have gone to waste on me... A nice heartfelt thank you card is always appreciated. While it is "our job" to take care of your children and "we get paid for it" we get paid pennies for it and its always nice to be appreciated. To put it in perspective, I work at one of the top paid preschools in my area and get paid about 5/ kid a day.

CPBP · November 2012

MrsI:
catycate:
From a former teacher, don't bake them anything. Most of us toss any homemade goodies. If you afford 5 gift cards, that is good, if not, a picture from your. Child is great, too.

This, as a preschool teacher I do toss most baked goods unless I really know the parent. A 5 gift card is always appreciated, I have gotten them for subway and jimmy johns which was nice to be able to buy lunch. Unless you know they drink coffee please don't do that either, I can't tell you how many Starbucks gift cards have gone to waste on me... A nice heartfelt thank you card is always appreciated. While it is "our job" to take care of your children and "we get paid for it" we get paid pennies for it and its always nice to be appreciated. To put it in perspective, I work at one of the top paid preschools in my area and get paid about 5/ kid a day.

I third this! I toss most of the food/baked good I receive from my middle school kids. It is because I don't know what their kitchens are like and also because I don't really need to be eating extra cookies, fudge, etc.

For our daycare teachers I give straight cashand I gave 75 each last year to the two main teachers. It is a tough, relatively thankless job and I felt it was important to give them something nice at Christmas. With that said, a nice note and a small gift card to a store like Target would be best. I always get Starbucks cards and I don't drink it. Do cash or a universal store! It is nice, though, that you are thinking about them.

hmontty · November 2012

Thanks, ladies.

What about buying a box of bakery cookies from our local Italian bakery? Would those get tossed?

ladylisalt · November 2012

Wow! I am not going to judge your DH but he seems like he has had a bad

experience to feel so harsh about it. As a teacher, I don't expect gifts from my students and generally get them from less than half of my class. I am happy with simple things like pp said, a heartfelt card, a small gc,etc. I even love a Staples or Office Max card since it will be spent on things for the classroom. I know we get paid, but you should share with your husband that in most schools teachers buy papertowels, hand soap, sanitizer, and various other supplies with their own money. A small gift shouldnt upset him that much unless you are struggling to afford it. Good luck!

MrsI · November 2012

hmontty:
Thanks, ladies.What about buying a box of bakery cookies from our local Italian bakery? Would those get tossed?nbsp;

Store bought goods would probably not get tossed but might be put in the staff lounge as its the time of year everyone is giving cookies and baked goods. Not that that is a bad thing just wanted you to be aware,

smiling76 · November 2012

I think whatever you can afford is appropriate--- baked goods, small gift card, etc. I gave small gift cards to each teacher last year (we have a ton so I truly had to keep it at the $5-$10 range) and they all loved it. I went with Target since everyone seems to shop there. But you could do coffee places, amazon, etc.

hmontty · November 2012

ladylisalt:
Wow! I am not going to judge your DH but he seems like he has had a bad
experience to feel so harsh about it. As a teacher, I don't expect gifts from my students and generally get them from less than half of my class. I am happy with simple things like pp said, a heartfelt card, a small gc,etc. I even love a Staples or Office Max card since it will be spent on things for the classroom. I know we get paid, but you should share with your husband that in most schools teachers buy papertowels, hand soap, sanitizer, and various other supplies with their own money. A small gift shouldnt upset him that much unless you are struggling to afford it. Good luck!
We are not in any way struggling financially. DH works in health care, where tips are considered improper. He considers tipping teachers to be in the same category. It's a moral thing for him, not a financial thing -- that is, he considers it currying favor.
I like the idea of everyone sharing a tray of bakery cookies. I think I will do that. Thanks, ladies.

virginiagirl11 · November 2012

As pp's said, it's completely appropriate.

This is our first year with a child in daycare, so I went with inexpensive, pretty mugs from Anthropologie for DS's two teachers: https://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-glassware/073732.jsp, each with the girl's initial on it. I'm thinking of putting a couple of packets of good quality hot chocolate in it along with some chocolate-dipped candy canes and wrapping them nicely. Or I'll put a small gift card in them.

small gifts for play school staff

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