How much to give preschool teacher for end of year gift?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to give our DD's preschool teacher some baked goods and a gift card. This is our first year in preschool and am looking for guidelines on how much is appropriate. Can folks give me an idea of a range?

[Anonymous]

Anywhere from $10 to one week's tuition.

I gave $30 each teacher this year. I also give at Christmas. If not, I'd do a little more at the end of the year.

I think, more than anything, a heartfelt note is the best thing (especially if your child can contribute by writing or drawing).

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response. I want to give them something but I don't want to be cheap or ostentatious.

[Anonymous]

I just collected from the parents in my son's preschool class. The majority gave $25-40, to be divided among 3 teachers. Three gave $60, one gave $75. I was able to buy each of the teachers a $175 VISA gift card.

[Anonymous]

We gave $20 gift cards to the 2 classroom teachers in our child's preschool program (he went 2 mornings/week). We also gave similar gifts at Christmas.

FWIW, we give more to our older child's elementary school teacher ($50 at Christmas, $50 at the end of the year, and $10 during teacher appreciation week). We do gift cards to places like Target, Macy's or an area restaurant (Panera, Dunkin Donuts).

[Anonymous]

While my husband and I are frugal about a lot of things, teacher gifts are the one thing we tend to "splurge" on. I think it has to due with the fact our first daycare was horrible, so ever since then, we have so much more appreciation for good caregivers, teachers. It seems like such a low paid profession, that the extra money seems so much more appreciated (versus buying a co-worker or friend a gift).

What i do struggle with is the group gift (collecting from all the parents) versus individual. At Christmas, I thought the group gift idea was wonderful, and we gave generously for the group gift, and when they announced the grand total to each teacher, it was clear that most people gave very little (or a few gave a lot and most gave none). It bothers me, because it makes us look cheap or like we don't appreciate the teacher. And while I know the more important thing is that the teacher gets the money and not who it is from - it bothers me that we don't get "credit" for our amount. Because part of me fears that it impact the care of our child (I know it shouldn't, but come on, favoritism has to exist). So for teacher appreciation day at our school, I'm doing both. I gave to the group gift and doing gifts ourselves (which in hindsight, maybe all the other parents do this also - and that is why the group gift is so low). So that is my "shallow" confession of the day.

[Anonymous]

Do you distinguish between primary teachers and assistant teachers? I have a hard time with this because one of the assistants is there the entire day and as much a leader in the class and loved by DC as the primary teacher. However, if I do the same for her then I feel compelled to do the same for all assistants. This would be "3-4" teachers X 2 rooms for both kids.

My kids' preschool also has a bunch of teachers that do special subjects like spanish, art, drama, outdoor, sports. My kids like all of them and have a few favorites but if I do one I feel like I need to do all of them. With two kids in different classes, the primary teachers, the assistant teachers, and the enrichment teachers I am up to 15 people. Any good ideas on how to split out the gifts?

[Anonymous]

We contributed $20 to each teacher which the homeroom parent collected and going to get a group gift certificate.

[Anonymous]

I gave director/main teacher $50..other 4 $25. It was our last year after 3 wonderful years. Also personal thank u notes to each.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm...think I probably gave too much (but my son tends to be a handful...

We gave $100 gift cards to each teacher. But they get paid so little, I thought we should give more...and of course, a nice Thank You card to each.

We gave a little less at Christmas time.

[Anonymous]

We gave $100/ea to the 2 main teachers, $75/ea to 3 assistants. At x-mas I think we did $75 to main teachers/$50 to assistants. No gift to the special teachers who come in once a week for music or such. We usually give the owner of the school flowers/chocolates or similar, but the employees we give cash.