Christmas Gift Ideas for After School Teachers/staff

We always liked to give something little to all my girl's teachers and secretaries etc. (Usually about 25 people). I started giving PennState Sticky buns or Lindt Lindor chocolates (the small bag). Both treats are about $3 each. (Walmart always has the best price on the chocolates)

You could also give a large chocolate bar. Hershey's symphony bars around $2.

When my girls were in elementary school, I gave $25 cash to the main teacher and $20 to the bus drivers since their job was absolutely the most important job to me.

When you say you "can't afford to buy gift cards" - how much gift card money are you thinking about? Could you give each a $10 Starbucks card? Enough for two fancy coffee drinks?

We give all the teachers two bars of chocolate tied together with ribbon and a phot card. Ghiardelli, Godiva or Lindt.

Best
F. B.

I suggest a card made by your children and a warm a heart felt note from you and each child to their teachers would be much appreciated an have more meaning than money.

One of the changes in the way we relate to people that causes me angst is how our society has become so commercial.

When my granddaughter was in after school care, one time, I took a bouquet of flowers to the after school caretakers. I bought the flowers at Fred Meyer. Relatively inexpensive, more personAL than a gift card and something most everyone enjoys. These days, many have allergies so be sure teacher isn't allergic.

The PTA provided lunch for all staff. Parents were involved by bringing food or volunteer to set it up.

I didn't think of specialty teachers because I didn't know them. I, too, think they should be remembered. They were included in the luncheon.

Another idea is to give each a small bag of homemade cookies. Bar cookies are easy to make with a mix. Have kids help make them and include a note saying how much you appreciate what they do.
I've seen teachers getting a small bag of candy. The candy was truffles from a large box or Christmas hard candy would work too. Make gifts personal.

Many people, including teachers, do not like candles, lotions, other small things or even gift cards. I suggest that those things would be appreciated if you know the person well enough to know what they might like.

i hit up the dollar store and get things they can use in the classroom, trinkets for the prize box, stickers for rewards charts, fun pencils for the class to use. (things they like to have and use, but ususally ahve to spend their own money on.. the school also requested that you do a classroom gift not a teacher gift.)

a tin of homemade cookies (if they don't like them they can share them there at the after school care or at one of their own social events) or a single big bar of really good chocolate.
of course you never know if someone likes sweets, but if you don't want to do the gift card (i don't like them) and can't afford much, this is perfect. i promise you that if they themselves don't care for it, they'll still appreciate the thought and re-gift it to someone they care about who will love it.
khairete
S.

Candles, mug and cocoa or coffee, blank or Thank You cards.

I am giving $15 gift cards for their favorite coffee place and a small jar of homemade jam.

When our kids were in after school care, my kids gave out small boxes of Christmas chocolates (nice ones).

Personalized cards from the kids.

I've started just giving $25 Target gift cards for each teacher. Yes, it isn't personal, but I kept hearing the teachers at our school talk about getting a lot of stuff that they can't use...how many teacher coffee mugs can they possibly use over the years? This way, they have lots of options as to how to use the money. Teachers aren't making big money, so a little extra around the holidays seems to be appreciated. In your case for the after school group, I would go to Publix and get muffins/donuts/cookies for the group.

This is why parents band together, through room parents in the classroom or even the after school crowd, to buy one nice thing for everyone instead of all these individual gifts. When I was teaching, I saw parents trying to do gifts for classroom teachers, then the specialists like me (Spanish & music) and the gym, art and after school club advisors. Teachers get dozens and dozens of $5 gifts (which they just cannot display for fear of hurting the feelings of the other kids), or they get $5-$10 gift cards that they have to top off with their own money. Even $25 dinner cards, while very generous, meant that a teacher had to cough up money to take wife/husband/friend just to use it up.

Honestly, if you can't do something as a group, I'd give baked goods or coffee.

Candles
Bright small flash lights
Everyone has a use for them and if they don't like them - they are easy to re-gift.

We don't buy the teachers gifts. I wish we were wealthy enough to be able to afford that but there's just no way.

How about $10 for a local ice cream shop?

Pick up doughnuts or bagels for them. Bake cookies or sweet breads (like banana or pumpkin). Do a small fruit tray or fruit basket.

In the district where I teach, there is a state law about how big a gift value we can accept. I think it is $20 or $25. I buy my kids' classroom teachers a $20 gift card for Barnes and Noble that they can use for themselves or for books for the classroom. We also include some homemade cookies. In the past we have also done a basket of fruit or a veggie tray for the teachers' lounge. This year our PTSA is collecting money that will be used to buy some kind of treat for the entire staff so that no one feels obligated to buy for the classroom teacher, PE teacher, music teacher, media specialists, art teacher, paras, principal, etc. I love that idea!!

I'd find out what their favorite cookies are and make them. Put them in a decorated tin or plastic container.

I would go with chocolate as well -- I usually get See's Candies.

My kids went to Catholic school. Each year at thanksgiving a box went up in the office. It was for teacher\staff gifts. Each family gave whatever they were comfortable giving. No names. No accounting of who gave what. The day before Christmas break it was counted and divided by the number of school employees. That included teachers, specials teachers, custodians and secretaries. It usually totaled close to $300 each. Although it makes a cute gift teachers don't need anymore candles, mugs etc. And most likely won't eat homemade gifts unless they know you personally. A $5 Starbucks or dunkin donuts card will be appreciated more.

For our son's kindergarten teacher, I think we'll probably give her a gift card . And our son is 'writing' a book for her. Really, anything I can give her is only a token... She's taught our child to love reading, and there's nothing that I can buy for her that will adequately show her how much that means to us.

For the specialty staff and the before/after school staff, I'm going to send a basket of fruit and baked goods... But I'm going to do it AFTER the holidays. I know that they're getting a lot of stuff now, and I figure it might be more useful in January than now.