Preschool Teachers : Invite Teacher?

Updated on September 02, 2011
A.S. asks from Houston, TX
12 answers

Hi! this is a repost asking for answers from preschool teachers so that I can hear your perspective on it (I got one pre-k teacher saying that she loved those invites and several mom's saying they would never put out an invite)!

My 4 y.o. DS birthday party is coming up and we are inviting his preschool class. Should we invite his teacher? He absolutely loves her and would think it was really cool if she showed up. But is it weird to get a b-d invite from one of your pre-k students?

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A.P.

answers from Dallas on

I was a pre-k teacher in my early twenties, and was invited to many birthday parties and student functions. I didn't think it was weird, and was always very flattered when students chose to do this. I was not able to make it to very many, but I did go to a few, either way I always felt special that they thought of me. I say go ahead and invite, but don't count of her being able to attend, as someone else mentioned, teachers do have have their own lives and can't possibly make it all the things they get invited to, but it will make her day to get the invite. Also, I would hand deliver it and let the teacher know not to feel obligated, and that you understand if she can't make it.

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

Yes! Let her know she is not under any obligation, but she is very welcome to attend.

If she has children the same age,, you can also invite them..
We did this many times throughout our daughters school years with the teachers she really loved. .

Sometimes they attended and many rimes they did not, but I think it shows how fond your child is of them..

FYI, We still keep in touch with many of her previous teachers, we invited all of her favorites and the Principals Librarians. and their families to her High School Graduation Party.. Many attended. I recognized them publicly and gave them our heartfelt thanks for their dedication to all of the students, but also told them they were totally the reason our daughter had succeeded.

Our daughter is a Senior in college this year and many of her teachers have continued to keep in touch with our daughter encouraging her and even helping her with some of her college work..

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

.... Personally, teachers like to have their weekends off.
Many or some, may attend. Out of obligation or what ever.
But... they have their personal lives.
If they went to every birthday/party/event they were invited too... they would have no time off or weekends off.

I have many friends that are Teachers.
They get invited to things, all the time.
They cannot make it sometimes. If they can't then they have to deal with the 'guilt' of that, or letting down the child that invited them. Because children or the family, may take their non-attendance at the party, personally.
It is a REAL.... pickle, for the Teacher.

One of my friends, a Teacher... says she TRIES to attend whatever she gets invited to... whether it is off hours or weekends or holidays.
BUT, she also has young children of her own... and some weekends she is just not home, because she is at her student's invitation... events she got invited to.
And it is tiring.
And she has to be, home too with her family for weekend time too.
So she has started to wean herself from attending... things.
And says it is she needs time off too... and for her family.
It is a hard, situation for a Teacher.
Sometimes.

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J.K.

answers from Dallas on

Personally, I don't think I would do it. I don't know why. I think I would just feel uncomfortable. Now if the teacher has a child in the class or is already a friend of ours, that would be different. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I just had a b-day party for my 4 year old DD and invited all her preschool classmates as well as her teacher. Teacher couldn't make it, but let me know she appreciated the invite. She also got invited to the b-day party of one of the other girls in the class a few months ago and did show up for a little bit but couldn't stay the whole time. But many of us have known her for 2 years, because a lot of our kids were in her 2 year old Mom and Tot class too, as well as 3 year old preschool, and everyone (kids included) adored her. A bunch of us are also friends with her on Facebook too. So I guess it depends on your relationship with her, but I didn't think twice about it for ourselves. I also requested no gifts, so it's not like by inviting her, if she came, she was expected to bring a gift.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I think it's sweet. Invite her. She can always say no, I don't think it's a big deal and if your son wants to then you should. I might prep him before hand though and say something like I'm sure she'll come if she can but remember grown ups can be really busy...or some such thing so that in case she can't make it he won't be shocked!

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

I am a mom, not a teacher, but.... my daughter has always invited her preschool teacher, kinder teacher, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade teachers. Sometimes they come and sometimes they do not....but she would not dream of not inviting someone she loves. She is now 4th grade, and we still meet her preschool teacher for lunch and invite her to the Bday party and dance recitals. She is like a grandma to us. - Teachers are under no obligation to come...and if they do, they usually only stay 15 minutes or so. Invite away!

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T.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm not a teacher but a Mommy whose child loved her teacher and her teacher adored our child. Yes we invited her to our child's birthday luau this year. In fact several of my daughters classmates invited the teacher to their parties as well.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I used to never consider inviting a teacher to a party or sporting event, but was pleasantly surprised when I found that some will come. I think if you hand her the invitation and say "Jessie would love if you could come by, but we also completely understand if you have other committments." then the teacher won't feel pressured. The teacher's I've seen at parties were mostly Kindergarten, but last year, my daughter's 5th grade teachers came to see a bunch of them play volleyball and they were all so excited about it! I know that some of the teachers TELL the kids to let them know about their parties and/or sporting events and then try to go to some of the games. I think it depends on the teacher, but there is certainly no harm in asking thme to come and explaining you do NOT expect them to stay the whole time and you do NOT expect them to bring a present.

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V.M.

answers from Cleveland on

well, what is the venue, and what personality does the teacher have?? THis time of year can be pretty busy and overwhelming for teachers of any grade and she might just want to relax, would she need to fork out a gift?? I think i'm going to vote with NO for a bday party, yes for a back yard kick off the school year party, or a Winter sledding party (oops you darn texans). If she doesn't want to come, she can just say no, but I don't think i would put her on the spot for a birthday.
OH! and then what precident would it set for all the other bday parties the rest of the kids had all year long! yikes.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

yes, invite her. i've been to a party where the teacher (and principal/director) came to the 4 yr old's party.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I guess it depends. On the teacher.
But I don't think I would.
I wouldn't want the teacher to feel obligated to come.
And I wouldn't want to set up a situation that potentially smacks of favoritism.
Just my opinion.

1 mom found this helpful
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