Annual (Periennial?) end-of-year gift Q..

MirandaHobbes · May 2013

Here we are again at the end of the school year and I'm debating what to give to teachers and therapists. I always want to ask on Parenting and Working Moms but I feel like our situation is unique because us SN moms usually have quite an army to provide for. Please critique my ideas, or feel free to share yours:

(1) Our public school teachers. Each year I give gift cards to these teachers and each year I get thank you notes saying, literally, thanks but you really didn't need to. I can't tell if they are saying "no one really gives us gifts, a nice thank you card is enough" or "wow, no one gives us gift cards, thanks!!!". DS' school is predominately low-income so I have a hunch gifts are rare. I don't know the other parents so I can't compare what they do. If I did a GC it would be $25 for his teacher, $20 for two aides. Just a thank you note for ST and OT this year because he only is with them 30 min a week. I will probably take a picture of DS holding a "thank you sign" and make that into a type of handmade thank you card (DS hates art projects!!!) So the question is: do I continue with the gift card, or is there something else I can do? I hate doing the food route, honestly, because I feel like its so subjective. His teachers here are all in their 40's-50's.

(2) Private school. Gifts are encouraged per the Director. This year, for something different, I was thinking instead of $10-$20 GC's I saw nice high quality beach towels at Costco for $10, paired with a magazine- thinking a "summer" theme with a nice bow? DS has about 8 different teachers/therapists at this school so the $$ adds up. At Christmas I only gave cards to his 5 main teachers and skipped his early morning and late afternoon (extended day) teachers- well they must have talked because DS came home asking why so-and-so didn't get a coffee card, she likes coffee too! Ugh. So I'm planning on giving to everyone. The question is- gift card or beach bundle? (Teachers here are all 20's-30's)

smiling76 · May 2013

Wow, I sure hope the teachers didn't say something to your son! That would be so rude.

We have sooooooo many teachers, aides and therapists as well--and honestly, your post was a reminder that I do need to do something. Argh.

I'm almost thinking this week would have been the better week to give since it's also teacher appreciation week. Darn it.

As for your gift----I think either would be nice. I think beach towels are always fun and always needed--and magazines are great. So I would personally love that, but I'd also love something as simple as a $5 starbucks card too for something cool to drink (or hot). So truthfully--either one sounds awesome!

bumpuser511563 · May 2013

We did this for 7 teachers total (preschool and daycare).

https://www.livinglocurto.com/2013/04/teacher-appreciation-free/

Well it was the acrylic straw cups and 3 lemonade mixes. I put tissue paper on the bottom. I also put in a snack bag of ritz crackers, gum, and a granola bar.

The little tags, I wrote out and had DS use crayons to write a message on the back (it was a bunch of lines).

I still have to get 4 more cups for our private therapy team.

MirandaHobbes · May 2013

-auntie-:
I'm a little conflicted around gifting teachers and therapists. I get Christmas at the preschool and elementary level, but I think it's sort of weird to be gifting professionals. Public school teachers tend to be reasonably well compensated, it's not like they're day care "teachers", baby sitters, hair stylists or bartenders who are generally dependent on tips for a living wage. I think you have to be careful not to make someone feel awkward or as if you respect them less as a professional by gifting. Teachers can be all over the place with this. One of my friends is an ELL teacher; she sometimes has grateful families buy her crazy gifts she can't accept. One family gave her a $500 Coach GC at Christmas.
I know that parents, especially of younger kids, become quite fond of their child's team, but it just seems odd to buy them presents. And I guess because there is most often no exchange of a fee for service associated with EI or the school district it doesn't feel as much like seeing other professionals like you ob/gyn or accountant.
I'm grossed out by the notion of the private school encouraging gifts. They should pay their staff appropriately and not ask parents to make up the difference. Our local district started an education fund that parents can fund in honor of a great teacher. DS's private school allowed families to donate to the library in honor of teachers.

Thank you for commenting. My.sentiments.exactly. I love his public school teachers but I do believe they are paid well. I worry that giving them $20 for starbucks is more insulting than anything. I was taken aback when his private school sent out the letter encouraging gifts, although I know they all appreciate a nice "tip"- they are all in their 20's and making somewhere around $10 an hour, I'm guessing. At any rate, I do think I'm going to seriously reconsider giving anything to his public school teachers. I wish they had a book donation program or something like at your school.

KYmama9286 · May 2013

Money is a little tight and DS has only been in preschool since he aged out of EI at the beginning of March. I really like his team though and it will be the same teachers/aides/therapists for the next 2 years so I want to do something. I think I am going to do $10 starbucks gift cards for his 2 teachers, 1 aide and 2 SLP's. I am going to put the gift cards on one of these b/c with a new baby and a 17 month old I don't have the time to do much more lol Plus, I thought these were kind of funny.

https://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/04/11/free-printable-teacher-appreciation-cards-by-chickabug/

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