Preschool Teacher Christmas Gift Question

I always gave some sort of gift card. They are paid such a small salary.

FYI, I have given from Heifer International to others,I love it, but the
Pre school teachers need a treat in my opinion.

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No, it's not a lame idea. But, how much do you think your preschool teacher is paid? Does she make an hourly wage? Some of these ladies make 8 bucks an hour and have to pay taxes and transportation to get to work, and they don't clear a whole lot. It would be nice of you to contribute to her personally. The impoverished aren't taking care of your daughter.

You could do this for the school as a whole - that's a fine gesture. But give your teacher a gift. She is the one working so hard for your daughter.

D.

5 moms found this helpful

I think it is a nice idea, however many preschool teachers make so little in wages I think a gift card is more appreciated. I dont mean that in an offensive way to anyone who is a preschool teacher, but the few I know truly love their job and that's why they put up with the low wages (atleast that I know of). GL

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I agree with what most of the other Mom's have said...save the Heifer International project gift for someone who falls in the " has everything and I don't know what buy them"category. My guess is that a preschool teacher is grossly underpaid and I bet that most of the parents never even think of giving them a Christmas gift. Give her a gift card for a movie or dinner out, or something else that she can really enjoy.

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Preschool teachers are some of the lowest earners in our society. Our school teachers are underpaid but the pre-school teacher is really underpaid. Your impulse is good. Save the gift for a friend or relative who has everything. Give the preschool teacher a gift card to a major shop or if she has an iPod a gift card for getting Apple Apps.

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Preschool teachers make just barely above minimum wage. I would give the gift you mentioned to someone who makes buku bucks and has everything. I would give the preschool teacher a gift card to go out to dinner, a card to a local grocery store or gas station. She will appreciate that a whole lot more than you giving a cow to someone when she may not have enough money for meat in her own house. kudo's to you for realizing a gift would be appropriate for the teacher. so many people just ignore them at this age.

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I would give a gift card....while Heifer International is a great organization and may be something you are passionate about it may not be something the teacher is passionate about. If she wants to give to a charity this Christmas she will do so herself. A gift card would be very helpful and appreciated.

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As a preschool/kindergarten teacher in my 27th year of teaching, no, we don't need anymore trinkets, coffee mugs or bath salts. Those are nice and thoughtful, but after this many years, when I do receive those items, I re-gift, which isn't a bad thing...But, yes, absolutely to gift cards! Before you give the teacher a gift card for coffee, though, I would find out if the teacher drinks coffee. Most people assume everyone drinks coffee, but some of us don't. I've never minded a Starbucks gift card, however, because they're nice stocking stuffers for my own children (they're 17-23) but again, I'm re-gifting.
Gift cards to a nice restaurant (it's rarely in our budget to treat ourselves) or Target, Fred Meyer, etc. is always nice as well. A gift card to the local school supply store is always helpful-even with a certain amount per year to spend on supplies, it's NEVER enough and we always end up spending from our own pockets.
Hope this helps.

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Often times for this age group, as the parents often have the e-mails of all the other parents, they will pool some money and buy one substantial gift.

I have always been intrigued by the Heifer International idea myself. Maybe you could get the kids to build a classroom version of the cow or pig that it sponsors to remind them all.

But do keep in mind that preschool teachers do not earn much money. Often times a gift certificate with the pooled money is deeply appreciated.

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I'd get something for the class. I teach from home and I know that I am ALWAYS in need of supplies (crayons, markers, glue sticks, glue and contruction paper, and copy paper) are my biggest needs. For a center though, these are probably supplied for her. I'd go with something like a gift card. I know that I am never buying anything for myself. I need clothes, a pedi, a haircut and some makeup, lol. I also love me some redbulls so a shell card or something would be nice.

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The teachers at my daughter's schools love gift cards or a homemade gift basket of classroom supplies w/a giftcard. I also think that what the other posts suggest as far as going in with other class parents would be a good idea. Best of luck to you on your decision.

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I think it's a great idea

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Sounds like you have a great idea already but if you wanted to do something fun for the school we always pick a day and have pizza and drinks delivered for all the teachers in to have for lunch. Last year I also brought in hot chocolate from starbucks in a box as well as cookies for after pizza. We have done this 3 years in a row and always get big thank yous. Then there is no one purchase for one teacher and it is more about the whole staff.

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My son was 1 of 18 kids last year and only one other parent thought of the teachers. I felt so bad for them because they work their BUTTS off.

I always bake things and take them in thru the year and make a big tray of cookies at Christmas because I KNOW they don't have the energy to go home and bake for their kids.

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As a former K-1 teacher I think the cow is a great idea. You could accompany it with a map of the area and a age appropriate book about the area or kids. Great idea.

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When we do gifts for school it is usually a gift like school supplies for the class.
If she has kids you could get her a gift card or pass to a children's center so she can have some time with her own kids.
If you want to do something just for her I would do a gift card to a local restaurant.

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Last year we made a good-sized donation to Heifer International instead of buying gifts for the adults in our family. They loved it, but we know our family and know that's something they would have appreciated.

As much as I support organizations like Heifer, I think an underpaid preschool teacher would probably appreciate something like a Target or Freddie's gift card more.

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I agree that while it's a great idea, she may appreciate a group gift or gift card more. One gift that I did last year (I had 10 teachers to give to among 4 kids) was a small homemade pampering basket. I found really cute metal containers shaped like presents at the Christmas Tree Shoppe for $1, bought some bulk OPI nail polish in trendy colors, added in travel size Bath and Body Works lotions, some gourmet tea bags, a cocoa cone, and a few cookies and candies. I gave them out at the beginning of December with a note that I hoped they'd take some time during the holiday hustle and bustle to treat themselves to some much-deserved relaxation. Of all the gifts I've put together over the years, this is the one I heard the most about. Each basket probably cost me about $10-$12 but looked like a lot more than that.

If you have only one teacher you can give a decent gift card or individual gift that is generous but that won't break the bank but for many teachers, try to do something creative or go in on a group gift.

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Its not lame but I wouldn't give a gift like that to a prescool teacher. That kind of gift would be for someone you know really very extremely well and they are part of your life on a regular basis.

Go with a gift card. It may not be creative but it will be useful. If your intentions are for your gift card to stand out, then put the gift card in creative packaging, like in a candy bar basket or something.

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I support Heifer too, but here you need to do something for the teacher, or the class. A girf card (Starbucks or Target)--I am sure she is buying items for the class from her own pocket. Or, a few books for the class library. Thanks for thinking of her!

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I wouldn't be fond of that idea, although it is a nice thought. I would say to email the other moms in the class and collect $ for gift cards or collect gift cards and do one big gift card or a gift card tree. Buy her something little but something she can use like a mug and a Starbucks gift card or a local restaraunt gift card. You can even go even better and make her a mini loaf of bread like cranberry, etc and then tie it in a cute bag with a nice tag. Maybe a cute bag of hot chocolate with marshmallows and a gift card to a local store. Or even better, a book store gift card. It doesn't take much, $10 would be nice. or even $5 to a coffee place with a mug.

I think it's a great idea. I've been a fan of Heifer International (I still refer to it as the Heifer Project) for years. If I received that from a parent and child I would be very pleased. And make sure your daughter understands what you gave to her teacher. She'll be proud. If it's really for the teacher though, give the gift in her name rather than the school's name.

I think that is a WONDERFUL gift, esp since Heifer Intl is a cause I support.

we donate to heifer international often - I think that it is the perfect gift...how many notecards and candles does a teacher need!

I think that'd be pretty cool. As a former elementary teacher, I'd be just fine and pleased with getting a card like that. Much better than some trinket (made in china?) that I would eventually throw away. Also, I have seen those heifer commercials before but have always thought "I bet it's more expensive than I want to spend." So it's likely that she would be THRILLED even to know you did such a gesture in her/the school's name. I say do it. :)

Added: Just read a few answers below. Hmm. Maybe I'm not in the norm b/c I don't have a child in preschool and so don't know the relationship dynamics. Maybe u can ask other moms what they're doing for teacher for xmas and go from there.

I think that is a fabulous idea - I actually did the same thing (Heifer International) for my daughter's 3 year old preschool teacher last year and she really appreciated it. Heifer is one of my favorites, but you could also find out if there is a particular charity that she already supports, like Habitat for Humanity. Or maybe one that focuses more on children, like UNICEF or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. You could talk with the other parents and see if you can all agree to donate a set small amount. Gift cards are always nice too, like to Starbucks or Panera or a book store. A lot of teachers I know get so inundated with candles, lotion, scented soap, and coffee mugs that they could open their own gift shop, so I try to stay away from that sort of stuff. Like others have said, their salary is not that big, so even something like a gift certificate to a movie theater that they could go to with their family would be nice. Or maybe you could do both - just a small donation to HI (I think for each $10 donation you can get 1 gift card) plus a little something else.

I think it's a very thoughtful gift and may even consider doing that (or a donation to her favorite charity) instead of a physical gift. Great idea!

I would ask the other parents if they want to go in on a decent sized gift card & let the teacher purchase something she'll actually use or want. We did Bath & Body Works for DD's Pre-K teacher last year. For her b-day we did a multi-restaurant gift card so she could pick where she wanted to eat. You could do a movie gift card, or a gift card for spa services.

I think your idea is great, but I'd save it for a different time/person, personally.