Anonymous wrote:

I prefer to give it individually, because we give $50 cash and a nice card, which is, I suspect more than the other parents in our class, and I'd rather have "credit."

Why? Do you think the teachers at your school treat the kids better if the parents give a larger Christmas gift? If so, that's really sad. If I had any sense that that went on at my kids' school, I would tell the director and then move them somewhere else.

I have headed up the group gift before, and most people gave between $10-$25. I am sure it is different at different schools. It is a small preschool, not a daycare, and our kids attend 26 hours a week. Not sure if that makes a difference.

As for wanting "credit," I feel confident that the teacher (who is amazing, as have been all our teachers) is equally caring and concerned about all of their students, but we tend to be pretty involved parents--emailing with questions or concerns about things a few times a month, and asking for an occasional phone conference. I think that going out of our way to show appreciation for their willingness to communicate helps them to view us as caring and involved parents, rather than being annoyed with our need to discuss everything. Both our kids' teachers go above and beyond for us, so I want to show appreciation for that.

This is my first year with a child in daycare, but so far I think I prefer individual gifts. In the tentative discussions with other parents regarding whether to do individual or room, those parents in favor of room gifts suggested they would give less per teacher if there was a collective gift than if there were individual gifts (e.g. collective gifts they would give $10 a teacher, but if we decided on individual gifts, they would give $25 a teacher).

I would rather see the teachers end up getting more total (it also sounded like most parents were contemplating cash/gift cards, and that would have been what we got if we did a collective gift) -- our teachers are truly wonderful.

Anonymous wrote:

And the director would get right on that for you and your little student. No one tells you anything?

I wouldn't care because I -- and my tuition money -- would be long gone. and she might if enrollment started dropping because the school's teachers got a reputation for discriminating against certain types of students.

Bye bye. yes, enrollment will drop because your snowflake has left the building. Tuiton money does not matter to preschools. Not at all. And best of luck proving that she dicriminated because she likes the parent who gave a non documented cash gift.

And the director would get right on that for you and your little student. No one tells you anything?

I wouldn't care because I -- and my tuition money -- would be long gone. and she might if enrollment started dropping because the school's teachers got a reputation for discriminating against certain types of students.

Anonymous wrote:

I prefer to give it individually, because we give $50 cash and a nice card, which is, I suspect more than the other parents in our class, and I'd rather have "credit."

Why? Do you think the teachers at your school treat the kids better if the parents give a larger Christmas gift? If so, that's really sad. If I had any sense that that went on at my kids' school, I would tell the director and then move them somewhere else.

And the director would get right on that for you and your little student. No one tells you anything?

Really? $50 x 20 = $1000. I think I would rather have the credit for my $50 donation. The teachers don't act like they just got a $1000 when they open the card.

My child's preschool room has three teachers and a director. I give each $10 Target gift cards and a nice card.

I prefer to give it individually, because we give $50 cash and a nice card, which is, I suspect more than the other parents in our class, and I'd rather have "credit."

Why? Do you think the teachers at your school treat the kids better if the parents give a larger Christmas gift? If so, that's really sad. If I had any sense that that went on at my kids' school, I would tell the director and then move them somewhere else.

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to give it individually, because we give $50 cash and a nice card, which is, I suspect more than the other parents in our class, and I'd rather have "credit."

$50 seems fairly standard so not sure why you think you're giving more.

Individual

I prefer to give it individually, because we give $50 cash and a nice card, which is, I suspect more than the other parents in our class, and I'd rather have "credit."

Room gift definitely

I'd rather chip in on a room gift.

I prefer individual gifts.

We always give the teacher a gift card and an ornament made by the kid in their class. I think it's nice to give them together, and it feels weird to give the ornament after the group gift, but my kids also really like making ornaments for their teachers.

...would you rather donate to the room parent and the teacher(s) get a larger gift?