Christmas Gift Questions for Afterschool Program Staff

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. I’m looking for Christmas gift ideas for the after-school program staff that my kids go to. When I asked the school director to email me the names of the staff who take care of my kids, she sent me a list of 21 people and said that they all look after the children and take turns. Do I need to get a gift for each of them? Would it be appropriate to bring sweets or chocolates for the whole staff instead of individual gifts? Is it cheap to do that?

[Anonymous]

Just take in a big bucket of something after the holidays. They're overloaded with gifts right now.

[Anonymous]

WTH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just take in a big bucket of something after the holidays. They're overloaded with gifts right now.

I work at my school’s after care program and we don’t get any gifts or treats. I rarely get them as a gen ed teacher either.

[Anonymous]

I used to gift something small to each providers like 10 people at aftercare. Over the years, I find out that the quality of aftercare is not as good as used to be, staff turnover rate is high, and they have not helped me to solve my kids' social friendship issue at aftercare when I have addressed to them and raised concerns over time. They only take care of those kids that are more violent or trouble maker. My little one that is quiet, well behaved and shy does not get much attention. I decide not to gift them individual gifts or group gifts anymore. They have 100 plus kids to take care. Economy is npt good this year with many unemployed. I dont feel like gifting them anymore. We have been in the same aftercare for 5 plus years due to I havd multiple kids. I need to work, so I do need aftercare even though the quality is not that good.

[Anonymous]

When my DD was in before-care years ago, I would bring breakfast one day (donuts and box o joe from Dunkin or similar). It seemed to go over well.

When I was in college, I worked before/aftercare. I never remembered gifts but would’ve loved if food randomly showed up!

[Anonymous]

Is there not a group collection for this? We have one at ours, it might be organized by the PTA because our aftercare is on site. Wr contribute to that in the hopes that it is distributed across staff. We don't give individual gifts because yes it's too many people and I don't have a sense of who all my kid interacts with, though there are a few people I've gotten to know pretty well. We have a collection at the holidays and EOY. We have one separately for school staff as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there not a group collection for this? We have one at ours, it might be organized by the PTA because our aftercare is on site. Wr contribute to that in the hopes that it is distributed across staff. We don't give individual gifts because yes it's too many people and I don't have a sense of who all my kid interacts with, though there are a few people I've gotten to know pretty well. We have a collection at the holidays and EOY. We have one separately for school staff as well.

Also I disagree with a PP saying they are "overloaded with gifts." Especially if it's $ I think people really appreciate it as they are frankly not paid that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTH

+1. Stop with the gifts. It's soooo wasteful. Americans - the environment is being destroyed! We must protect it! Also Americans - I'm going to buy this yoga mat for someone who mentioned once that they like yoga even though it is full of chemicals and terrible for the environment. If they dont like it, they can throw it out (when it actually just gets shipped to south east Asia and pollutes the water).

[Anonymous]

Surprised there is not an organized collection. Our after care has a board and part of what they do is gifts at holidays and year end. We each give $50 (suggested) and it fund gift cards and a nice catered lunch twice a year. I cannot fathom getting gifts for 20+ people like you are considering.