How Much Do You Spend on Teacher Gifts for the Holidays?

IMO, teacher gifts should be a TOKEN and a small remembrance.
I have actually watched parents carry 3' diameter cookie platters and 2" poinsettias into the school!
Ridiculous to me.
I've sent teachers $5-10 gas cards, Panera cards, small box of candy/nuts.
ALWAYS with a card signed by my son, not me.
Teacher appreciation? When my son was small, a handwritten note of appreciation and a small list of the real and important difference the teacher has made in my student's life.

I leave it up to my kids. If they would like to give a teacher a gift, I usually help them do so. That includes picking it out. We don't give obligatory gifts just because the other parents usually do. $10-15.

This is my annual answer. :)

If you are grateful to the teacher, a gift is a lovely idea. The amount you spend is totally indiviudal to you. It should not ever, ever, put a dent in your budget. I received and appreciated $5 certificates to a local coffee shop and $50 gift certificates to dinner (now illegal to accept in MA).

What is important to me is that the teacher's assistant be acknowledged as well as the teacher. They work as a team and it is embarassing for each when parents make a huge distinction in their gifts.

I also gave gifts to the art, music, physical education, library staff and our catechism teachers (all volunteers, bless them). I admit these were not expensive gifts, but I tried to keep them thoughtful .

Just do what you can. It is not an expectation or a comparison contest. Please trust me on that. If you give something you can afford and that you think the teacher would enjoy, good for you! All my best.

$5 gift card from somewhere like starbucks or subway is always appreciated. You could do all those teachers / busdrivers etc for less than $30 We always bought for all of them. I feel sorry for those teachers who are specials. They don't have solid classrooms but deal with 10x the kids that the regular teachers do. And some of them will be teaching your kid the thing that will spark his passion for school. they get overlooked on holidays. So if you can do it do it. Even just a thanks for all you do for my children note in a card with a candycane or cookie.

For me I it depends on how much I like the teacher. Her Kindergarten teacher I got her a $25 gift card to The Cheesecake Factory. I loved that teacher. 1st grade was pretty good I got her a gift set of different teas with a mug. She loves tea. This year I'm not too fond of the teacher so I don't plan to spend that much. I think she is lazy. Maybe some caffeine to get her off her lazy butt and do something. I will read the comments to get suggestions.

I also give a $5 Starbucks gift card to the bus driver.

I'm a teacher and in our district, we cannot accept a gift valued over $25. We are public employees and big gifts could be seen as "bribes" I guess. And personally, I've always felt uncomfortable with any gift more than that.

You don't need to buy for all of the special area teachers (art, music, etc.). I'm a reading specialist and I rarely get gifts from kids. Doesn't bother me at all. What some families at our school do is bring in treats for the teachers' lounge that everyone can enjoy. We really appreciate something that isn't sweet. Breads, fruit, veggie trays, or meat and cheese trays. But if that is more than you can afford, no one will think any less of you.

My kids have always had a para or teacher's aide in the classroom. I've never given anything to them because they have usually been 1-1 staff for a specific student (not my child). The one year my daughter rode the bus, I didn't give the driver anything.

I'm planning to give each of my kids' teachers a $20-25 gift card to Barnes and Noble. And maybe a loaf of bread if I get it made. For gymnastics coaches we spent about $5 a piece on fun socks. (They both wear fun socks around the gym.) For Sunday School teachers we will probably give $5 gift cards to our local bakery and maybe an ornament.

I would limit the gift for the teacher to $20-25 at the most. If you do want to give to the teacher's aide, I would give half that amount. Personally a gift card for cosmetics would go unused by me. I don't wear much makeup and don't buy expensive makeup ever. I would stick to book stores, craft stores, teacher supply stores, coffee shops, Target, etc. Definitely don't give the teacher coffee mugs, apple decorations, etc. We get tons of it and mine usually ends up in the garage sale box.

Teachers never expect gifts from any of their students. The thought is nice, but I've never felt any less for a child who didn't bring me a gift or any more for a student who brought a huge gift.

The best Christmas gift I've ever heard of a teacher getting was a first grade teacher I taught with. One of her little girls brought her a very pretty gift bag. Inside was a pair of beaten up, stinky white flats. She told her teacher that her mom never wore them anymore and she just knew that her teacher would love them! I think about that anytime a kid hands me a gift bag. Just hearing that story is the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten as a teacher!

My kids teachers always get $10-15. This year it's $10.

The 6th grader got to pick her favorite teacher, she wanted to make her a gift so she got a water bottle ($10) and a pack of pencils...she said the teacher was asking for those items. She is also getting her PE teacher a $5 Target gift card, mainly because I've known her longer than my husband.

The 4th grader got his teacher a $10 Starbucks gift card. She is a coffee fanatic and it will be a nice treat for her.

The 2nd grader opted for a $10 Target gift card for his teacher as well.

When they reach middle school they get to pick one teacher each, I can't afford to gift all of their teachers. I talked to a good friend of mine who is a high school teacher and she said that's what students normally do.

I spend about $6 each and get a bag of Lindt or Godiva chocolates or a few bars at the drug store. I add a photo and a bow and call it done. He's got so many teachers in his life and While I appreciate them, I don't want to spend a fortune. Also, chocolate can easily be eaten, shared, or re gifted. Not so if you buy a best teacher mug.

Best
F. B.

Ugh. I love the class collection idea - room parents handle that. We did that as public school parents, and as a teacher in private schools, I always got something from the parent association even as a Spanish and music teacher. Individual gifts are a huge expense for parents, and frankly are a nightmare for the teacher. Do not give anything that you expect her to display on her desk - she just can't do that for 20 kids! It also embarrasses the kids whose parents couldn't afford or didn't think of gifts.

And you've identified the problem which is that special subject teachers (art, gym) get nothing. But no, you can't do $10 for the teacher, $10 for the assistant, and add in all other others. Imagine the families with 2 or 3 kids.

If you have a few friends willing to collaborate, then do something together even if the whole class doesn't participate.

Otherwise, you're going to have to give a small item like chocolate or coffee that the teacher can either use or (frankly) re-gift. You can also go with $10 to an office supply store or other place where teachers are always spending their own money to buy classroom supplies not covered by the school budget. Or of course she can use it for her home. Cosmetics gift cards can be nice but you have to be sure the recipient wears those types of cosmetics, and also that she will want to add her own money on top of it to buy what she wants. The same problem occurs with restaurant gift certificates - $20 is lovely but it costs you more out of your pocket to go with your husband and get a full meal.

Our town also has an educational foundation to which parents can make donations in honor of the teachers - the teacher gets a note that the family of Jimmy Smith made a donation in her name, and then teachers can apply for small min-grants for projects or equipment they would like to add. Every teacher can apply (gym, library, music, etc.) and they get the benefit of pooled resources.

I know that doesn't help you for the short run but it's something to look at going forward.

We never gave bus driver gifts unless a special service had been provided. If there are other kids on your street or at the bus stop, I'd see about pooling some resources. Same for catechism teachers - they are important but they are not spending the number of hours per week with your child that the classroom teachers are.

My boys and I make "white trash." We melt white chocolate, pour it into a big bowl, and mix in whatever we want, usually a variety of Chex Cereal, Cheerios, and a bunch of Dark Chocolate M&Ms (plain and peanut). Add the M&Ms at the very end or they'll melt. Then spread it all onto wax paper to harden. Break it into smallish pieces and put it into baggies. Tie with pretty ribbons, have the kids write notes to teachers, and you have personal, cheap gifts.

I'm a teacher, and I love it when I get gifts that students have a hand in making. I especially love the cards. Actually, since I teach 11th and 12th grade, I love it when they even say, "Merry Christmas," or, "Happy Holidays," etc. ;)

*Really I teach incredibly thoughtful kids. Almost all of them wish me well during the holiday season, and a surprising number of them bring me cards or gifts. I give them notes at the end of each semester telling them what I appreciate about each of them. I love them!

*ETA - I also leave it up to each of my boys as to which of their teachers they would like to give gifts to. In elementary school it was usually all of them, but now it varies.

As a former FT teacher, I can tell you that I loved a homemade card that said, "Miss Kristen, I really enjoy that you let us skip to lunch on Fridays!
I like it that you tell jokes. I know that you like dogs and I will donate 2 clean blankets to our local dog shelter. You are a great teacher !"
These types of cards are keepsakes and very appreciated ! Even if the parent has to write it out.

The other great gift I received, but, this was at the end of the yr, was a mini picture book with photos taken throughout the yr.

Keep in mind that the teacher will probably be getting gifts from all the kids. So, I think Ulta gift cards would be nice for the teacher and teacher's aide. I always gave to the bus driver. I would usually put 15.00 or 20.00 in a homemade card.

When I was working in the school....The gym, art, library teachers did not get that many gifts. That is not unusual.

I always gave the religion teachers angel necklaces or a gift card. They do not get paid where I live. And a homemade card.

If you would like to give to all the teachers: Make a big batch of brownies and cookies. Put them in on a firm paper plate or holiday Tupperware type container. I would always use thin ribbon and tie it around the gift....

I spend my money on my kids. I simply cannot afford to donate to any teacher gift or special thing.

I find it insulting and it makes me angry when I get those messages saying I'm expected to contribute to a fund or provide something. We are on SSDI and simply cannot afford to give money away.

There will be parents/grandparents/guardians that will feel the same way. I suggest you say it's completely voluntary and to let you know ONLY if they will be able to contribute.

I'd go with around $10-15 and stick with general places like Target, where they can buy anything. I have friends who are teachers and know they prefer gift cards or personalized gifts from kids. They have their fill of scented candles, lotions, mugs and candy.

I usually buy a nice Holiday Card and add a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble or Target. That way, the teacher can use however they see fit. Honestly, I usually just acknowledge the main classroom teachers. I understand that PE, Music, Art teachers do teach as well, but frankly, they see my child once or twice a week for 30 minutes each time. Unless the teacher does something exceptional, it wouldn't occur to me to send anything in... I have heard that homemade goodies often get thrown in the trash as some teachers are picky about food... I stick with the gift cards for the main classroom teachers and call it good.

I wouldn't want a gift card to a make up/beauty supply store. If you want to do gift cards, I would go more generic, meaning a store they could use for a variety of things (not just hair/make-up), like Target or something. They could buy necessities if need be, or toys, books, clothes, accessories, music, whatever...

Depending on the amount you plan to spend and what is around you, you could also go "treat-y" and give gift cards for Restaurants, Starbucks or DunkinDonuts or something. Even Dairy Queen, unless you know the person to be allergic to dairy.

My kids are much older, so we don't really do gifts for teachers anymore... they have far too many, and we have very little contact outside of open house (if even then, some weren't present for it!) or a few emails throughout the year. When the kids were in elementary, I tried to stick to around $15 for their classroom teacher.

We don;t usually buy anything except maybe small thing of chocolates or one year I was making pumpkin bread and send a small loaf. She loved it. Usually I have my child make a card. When my older kids were in kinder, we got the teacher and aid a pretty bracelet and they made cards.

When my husband was a bus driver, he got little gifts. A travel mug or coffee mug, with hot cocoa packets, little chocolates and candy canes.

I give a $25 gift card (usually either Amazon or Barnes & Noble unless the teacher specified something else) to each main classroom teacher. Last year, I gave a $10 Starbucks card to the crossing guard. I generally don't give gifts to the music, library and computer lab teachers (or any other specialists).

I have to say that teachers are my favorite kind of people and deserve more that I can ever afford to gift them. That said, a gift should never be an obligation.

Give whatever you can afford to give. There was a time when my family gifted $100 gc to a teacher's store. This teacher didn't expect gifts but insisted that if we must, then it should be towards the classroom for things the kids can use. This teacher deserved more. There was also a time when we simply bought and delivered lunch to feed 3 para pros and the same teacher. That lunch cost me under $21 and still it was appreciated.

I personally like the little things they kind of make my day so I treat the teachers the same way. For example, I help with the quilt club at our elementary school and the kids use the media center teachers clorox wipes regulary (she doesn't mind). I bought her 4 canisters and gave her a heads up on current sale. I wasn't even thinking much about it. They were only $1.29 but she was so happy and appreciative she made me feel like I gave her the moon.

My son wants to give gifts to all of his teachers. He has an IEP so he has a Speech teacher, special Ed. , OT, and then his home room , music, science, math, etc. it adds up. What I do is make them all holiday jewelry. It costs me $25 for the supplies. He then makes homemade cards. They all love it , and by the time he leaves 5th grade they all have had variety of earrings made by us to remember him by!