Moms, What Do You Give Teachers at Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got enough **** on my plate. Thanks to teachers who work really hard, but in between doing 99% of everything for xmas at home, my job, my ailing parent, and my raging perimenopause, I have nothing left.

Then opt out. Literally no teacher is counting who gives/doesn't give gifts unless they are awkwardly extravagant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

100% disagree. Professional employees are given cash bonuses, not gift cards. Gift cards are some pink collar thing to denigrate the work that professionals do.

NP. A gift from a little kid isn’t a “cash bonus” for an employee. A kid giving their teacher a gift card from Target does not denigrate the teacher’s profession. Jfc

Would you tip your lawn guy a gift card?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and a parent, we don't expect or want gifts. We want your child to be on time, prepared to learn, present every day possible, and supported at home.

If you really feel called to give a gift, write a kind note about how I've impacted your child. If you absolutely must put in a gift card, $5 or $10 is plenty.

More than that often comes off as a bribe--seriously.

My understanding is that $20-30 is a totally normal amount for an elementary teacher holiday gift card in our district. I can't imagine it being viewed as a bribe.

I also don't write a note to the teacher because, frankly, I don't know them that well. My kid writes a note.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

Don't risk their career. If others hear about it they could get in trouble. Just follow the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

You are putting the teacher in an extremely awkward situation. When they go to use it and find out how much is on it, they are supposed to report it and hand it over to admin to handle giving back. Will they? Probably not...but then it's a really uncomfortable set up. If someone else finds out they didn't, they could get in trouble. Please don't do this.

If you are feeling extremely generous, $20 is appropriate. It's supposed to be a token gift, not an annual bonus.

--teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

Don't risk their career. If others hear about it they could get in trouble. Just follow the rules.

No need to worry, they have all privately thanked me and said how much appreciated it was, including one who used it to make sure her kids had gifts from Santa that year. The teachers genuinely going above and beyond really deserve it. One teacher used it to get a piece of pricey art equipment for her classroom. The kind if teacher that does that is not the kind if teacher bragging to her colleagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

You are putting the teacher in an extremely awkward situation. When they go to use it and find out how much is on it, they are supposed to report it and hand it over to admin to handle giving back. Will they? Probably not...but then it's a really uncomfortable set up. If someone else finds out they didn't, they could get in trouble. Please don't do this.

If you are feeling extremely generous, $20 is appropriate. It's supposed to be a token gift, not an annual bonus.

--teacher

You may feel awkward. The teachers who I have gifted have not. One teacher selected different, perfect, books for mu advanced reader for the entire year and made tons of time to talk to her about them. The year before the teacher yelled at her for reading her own books when she finished the way below level class books. Preserving a child’s love of reading?? Deserves a serious recognition, not a token. A token is for the lazy teacher yelling at the advanced kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash. Not gift cards, cash. Plus a nice note from my child

+1
We are giving cash. It feels a bit weird but way less fussy than a gift card. And kids write a nice note.
Guys, is it ok to give $20? For cash, the extra $5s and $10s are a lot, and we give to a lot of teachers and admin, and inflation is crazy. We both got salary decreases just from inflation this year.
Who wouldn't like a nice $20? I wouldn't say no!

This is a gift for a teacher who likely has a master's degree in their field, not a tip for the Doordash delivery person. Stick to a nice note from the student. Or a gift card. Not cash.

100% disagree. Professional employees are given cash bonuses, not gift cards. Gift cards are some pink collar thing to denigrate the work that professionals do.

NP. A gift from a little kid isn’t a “cash bonus” for an employee. A kid giving their teacher a gift card from Target does not denigrate the teacher’s profession. Jfc

Would you tip your lawn guy a gift card?

It’s not a tip, it’s a gift.

Like, would my 9-year-old write a nice Christmas card to the lawn guy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and a parent, we don't expect or want gifts. We want your child to be on time, prepared to learn, present every day possible, and supported at home.

If you really feel called to give a gift, write a kind note about how I've impacted your child. If you absolutely must put in a gift card, $5 or $10 is plenty.

More than that often comes off as a bribe--seriously.

My understanding is that $20-30 is a totally normal amount for an elementary teacher holiday gift card in our district. I can't imagine it being viewed as a bribe.

I also don't write a note to the teacher because, frankly, I don't know them that well. My kid writes a note.

NP:

This forum is so odd.

Teacher: "This" is what we want. Please don't do "that".
Parent: No, you're wrong, I'm going to do "that".

Every year teachers ask for notes, not money. Just write the damn note and forgo the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and a parent, we don't expect or want gifts. We want your child to be on time, prepared to learn, present every day possible, and supported at home.

If you really feel called to give a gift, write a kind note about how I've impacted your child. If you absolutely must put in a gift card, $5 or $10 is plenty.

More than that often comes off as a bribe--seriously.

My understanding is that $20-30 is a totally normal amount for an elementary teacher holiday gift card in our district. I can't imagine it being viewed as a bribe.

I also don't write a note to the teacher because, frankly, I don't know them that well. My kid writes a note.

NP:

This forum is so odd.

Teacher: "This" is what we want. Please don't do "that".
Parent: No, you're wrong, I'm going to do "that".

Every year teachers ask for notes, not money. Just write the damn note and forgo the money.

People don’t get all of their information from this forum. When we’re told by teachers IRL what they appreciate we often do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can dads weigh in here too?

+1
So annoying what women do to each other

[Anonymous]

Target gift card up to the school's maximum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi moms,
With Christmas coming up, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🎄✨

When it comes to teachers we really appreciate—the ones who go above and beyond for our kids—what kind of gifts do you like to give them at Christmas?

I’m curious what has felt meaningful both to you and to the teachers. Any favorite ideas or traditions you’d recommend?

Why do you address this to moms. It's f'ing 2025 and the sexism never ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift card between $200-$300 (not labeled so they don’t get in trouble) a card my kid helps write and a small meaningful physical gift if that’s something that makes sense — one year we got a book she and I had been discussing signed by the author, for example. I email the principal.

Generic teachers $20 card to Target and a card my kid helps with.

At our public school teachers are not allowed to accept such a large gift. They'd have to turn it over to the school. Families are capped at giving no more than $100 per teacher per school year.

That’s why I don’t write the amount on it.

You are putting the teacher in an extremely awkward situation. When they go to use it and find out how much is on it, they are supposed to report it and hand it over to admin to handle giving back. Will they? Probably not...but then it's a really uncomfortable set up. If someone else finds out they didn't, they could get in trouble. Please don't do this.

If you are feeling extremely generous, $20 is appropriate. It's supposed to be a token gift, not an annual bonus.

--teacher

You may feel awkward. The teachers who I have gifted have not. One teacher selected different, perfect, books for mu advanced reader for the entire year and made tons of time to talk to her about them. The year before the teacher yelled at her for reading her own books when she finished the way below level class books. Preserving a child’s love of reading?? Deserves a serious recognition, not a token. A token is for the lazy teacher yelling at the advanced kids.

I thought you said the gift card was anonymous? If so, how would you know that they don't feel uncomfortable that you broke the policy and risked getting them in trouble?

You're bribing teachers for individual attention? Ick.