Need advice about daycare gifts

[krisim]

Visiting from Style and Beauty...I'm starting to plan Christmas gifts for my DDs' daycare teachers. Last year both of my girls were in the same classroom and I only had to buy for 6 teachers (and the cook, who's really nice and we see her everyday). I found an amazing deal for personalized Land's End totes and the teacher's all really seemed to like them.

This year my girls are in different classrooms and I'll have 10 teachers (plus the cook). I was thinking a nice travel mug like the ones below with a packet of hot cocoa. I know a gift card is always an option as well, but it seems so impersonal and $10 is much to spend! Any other suggestions? I just don't think I can spend more than $10 per person because that already adds up to $100!

Would you like this gift or do you have other suggestions?

[krisim]

Oh, and the reason that I came up with mugs is that our daycare has a new policy of "no beverage containers, like soda cans, in the class room". They have to use mugs or other cups.

[Deleted]

I give giftcards, because, honestly, if I was a teacher, thats what I would want.

"stuff" like this would clutter my house, and if I had a need for one, I'd already have it.

I don't get why gifts to teachers have to be "personal."

[aspentosh]

Well crap. Add this to the list of "people I didn't realize I needed to buy for". But ditto cosmos.

[gt7301b]

Say it with me, "Gift cards!!"

[takeonyou]

As a former preschool teacher -- GIFTCARDS or CASH. Even a token $5 giftcard is better than junk I don't want.

Want personal? Give me the giftcard/cash with a thank you note or a drawing done by your child. Those are the most special gifts to me. A mug is not personal, it's a mug. Especially mugs bought by the dozen -- they are definitely not more personal than a giftcard.

[otowngirl]

I still don't see what's so personal about buying a teacher a mug. That's like the default present for teachers (according to my mom, who is a teacher).

GCs all the way.

[Deleted]

1) The only travel mug worth $10 and giving as a gift is a Contigo (Costco sells them 2 for $20).

2) A gift card is fine. Make a cute card with your kid's handprint or artwork and a heartfelt thanks to go with it.

[cookies]

We're giving cash, but I don't see anything wrong with giving a gift card in any amount. I'm not a teacher and I'd rather have a $5 gift card than a mug.

[formerlyak]

Do you know any other parents in your classes? The past few years we have pooled our money with the rest of the parents in the class ($5 - $20 each whatever you could afford) and bought one big gift card. For my ds' kinder teacher last year it totaled almost $300 and we got the teacher a Best Buy gift card because she wanted a digital camera for the classroom.

[speckledfrog]

No mugs. NO MUGS. No candles, no frames, no scented body anything.

I would much, much rather have a $5 or $10 GC than something that I am going to give or throw away. I know it seems ungrateful and I DO appreciate the thought behind it, but teacher get multiples of these every single year.

[mrssandro]

My mil is a daycare teacher. She loves getting Gift cards. I usually give them backed goods and a gift card.

[Here]

I have done small gcs to places like Starbucks. Even just $5 will buy you a drink. I don't like giving gift cards to places that people don't normally go AND they have to shell out more money.

No to mugs.

[EmilieMadison]

Gift cards or cash. No stuff.
And I'm sorry, TEN TEACHERS? For two children in daycare? How big are these classes that they need 5 teachers per class?

[GailGoldie]

i was a teacher- and trust me - a gift card is ALWAYS the best - with a nice note of appreciation.

It can just be $5 - that is fine (remember they get a lot from a lot of kids... it adds up). I never use mugs- and would be putting it into the garage sale box..... gift cards always = good.

[Here]

Nov 14, 2012 19:54:03 GMT -5 Here said:

I have done small gcs to places like Starbucks. Even just $5 will buy you a drink. I don't like giving gift cards to places that people don't normally go AND they have to shell out more money.

No to mugs.

Reading another thread about Williams Sonoma...don't give low gcs to places like that unless you know that person is a regular shopper there.

[magdala9]

A travel mug with a gift card to the local coffee shop is a nice gift. Our local coffee shop has $5 and 410 gift cards$

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2012 20:25:40 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Gift cards or cash. No stuff.
And I'm sorry, TEN TEACHERS? For two children in daycare? How big are these classes that they need 5 teachers per class?

DD has a ton of teachers. 4 are main teachers. Then they have teachers for math, gym, reading, art, gym, etc. Then a bunch of high school/college part timers. There are 20 in her class.

I'm only giving to the 4 main plus one part timer that DD loves.

[joenali]

OMG!! I am a teacher, while I think receiving a gift is beyond necessary, I do not need another mug.

[jackie011]

You could always bring in a bagel tray or arrange for lunch one day. I'm a preschool teacher (at a school/daycare center) and we have a lot of parents who coordinate with our receptionist to bring in a pan of cinnamon rolls one morning, a bagel tray another morning, pizzas delivered for lunch one day, etc.

[krisim]

Nov 14, 2012 20:25:40 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Gift cards or cash. No stuff.
And I'm sorry, TEN TEACHERS? For two children in daycare? How big are these classes that they need 5 teachers per class?

My youngest DD is in the baby/toddler room and there are 5 full time teachers in the room and a graduate student. (All of those teachers rotate between the baby room and the toddler room, so we know them all really well). My older DD is in the preschool room with 3 full time teachers. Oops, I guess it's nine teachers plus the cook. I can't count today!

[galaxy8227]

We are doing an Amex GC that way they can use it for whatever they need. Our DCP's are a married couple so we only buy one GC ($100)

[steph96]

Nov 14, 2012 21:49:45 GMT -5 jackie011 said:

You could always bring in a bagel tray or arrange for lunch one day. I'm a preschool teacher (at a school/daycare center) and we have a lot of parents who coordinate with our receptionist to bring in a pan of cinnamon rolls one morning, a bagel tray another morning, pizzas delivered for lunch one day, etc.

I think this is a great idea! Who doesn't love having lunch provided to them? Of course you have to consider dietary restrictions....

[livinitup]

We use our Discover cash back to get Discover gift cards with their name on them (order early, it takes a few weeks for the names to be printed on the cards). I like usuing our cash back account and that it doesn't cost any money (no charge) to get the cards. Kinda kills me to spend a few bucks on a Visa card or other GC to just give a GC. If we couldn't do that, I'd place a cash bill in a card.

I figure, that even if I can't give a big cash amount, if all of the parents gave a cash gift, that could add up to a very nice holiday nest egg.

[Deleted]

Delivering bagels for all sounds a lot more efficient and should be super cheap--you could probably get one of those containers off coffee or a gallon of juice.

[krisim]

Thanks all for the advice! I'm leaning towards a giftcard to Starbucks now after your suggestions (there's one right next to our daycare and I know many of the teachers go over there) and making some chocolate covered spoons to give with the giftcards.

I think the bagels/meal idea is nice but the way our daycare is set up there are probably 30 or more staff working throughout the day (it's on a university campus, so there are also students who work in the classrooms in addition to teachers/staff), so I'd have to check around to see what that would cost.