I have 2 children in daycare/montessori school. They each have about 3 teachers. I'd like to get them all a Christmas gift... and was thinking about gift cards. How much do you think is appropriate or do you have any other ideas for gifts.
Thanks!
Gift cards in ANY amount would be fine - even $5.00!!
Here's a post that gives ideas - from a teacher herself: http://bit.ly/IdeasForTeacher (or here: http://www.mycouponteacher.com/2010/12/teacher-gift-ideas/)
I like the idea of hand made ornaments! Or the personalized labels! Or the $5 Starbucks gift card!
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How about a $20/$25 movie card with a basket full of popcorn, candy, etc.
I used to teach preschool and I can say all of it is really a nice gesture. I got note cards, thank you notes, gift cards to Starbucks and Sonic, and a watch. I think you can get note cards and thank you notes in the dollar section at Target sometimes, they even have the ones that are monogrammed sometimes for not too much. I also liked the Starbucks & Sonic cards. You can do $5.00 and know that the person is going to be able to get something there. And, the cute thank you notes were always good b/c I had a ton of thank you cards to write after all the presents! Oh, another favorite, fresh baked stuff...cookies, banana bread, etc. Not too pricy, but very thoughtful. You could even bake a cake or 1 batch of cookies if there is a teacher's lounge and say it's for all of them depending on how many teachers total there are.
$10 cards to Target, Subway, Papa Johns, or Barnes and Noble is usually what I do.
I am a Montessori teacher and I appreciated any bookstore gift cards. I would buy books for my children's classroom.
Updated
As a Montessori teacher, I appreciated any bookstore gift cards. I usually used them for the classroom books.
You could give sort of gift basket for their classrooms, or for the group as whole. Make a basket with items like music CDs (kid favorites like "My Brother Eats Bugs" or something), arts and craft books, or activities for a rainy day books, with some cheap crafty items for a filler like googly eyes, construction paper, pipe cleaners, etc.
Another option is a big basket full of consumables...You know other moms will be bringing in tons of cakes, cookies, and candies for them. Make a big basket or some small baskets with coffee, cocoa, and flavored teas to go with. It will last a long time, and go well with all the holiday snacking.
I use to run a daycare. And before I was a Asst Dir I was a teacher.
I will tell you OUR favorite thing was gift cards!!! Every place i worked at. We would kind of "brag" about who got them. Who got chilis, bath and body works (walmart was a fav), starbucks etc....
We as teachers prefer cards.
