Gifting teachers has definitely become more common, but it’s really up to each family. Years ago, like you said, it was more about handmade cards or small tokens, but now some parents go all out with gifts, especially around Christmas. For most teachers, a heartfelt card is just as appreciated as any gift. If you’re feeling the pressure but don’t want to spend a lot, you could always opt for something small like a thoughtful note or a small treat, especially if you have multiple kids. And yes, childcare workers sometimes get included, but again, it’s totally optional!

I think only do it if you want. My sil does it and personalises everything I think that’s OTT

I can’t comment non childcare because I don’t know but I always get my k7ds teachers a little present at the end of the year. Generally something personalised like a Best teacher Christmas bauble with their name or something like that. It doesn’t need to be expensive but it’s nice to show you appreciate their efforts even if it’s a nice message in a card

My brother and sister in law are both primary school teachers. They don’t expect a thing and would be over the moon with a thank you card. Definitely know baked goods don’t get eaten.

My kids’ classes (in primary school) would always do a joint gift amongst the students and my kids would always make the teacher a card and maybe get a tiny ornament for them. But I just saw today that some parents give teachers gifts at the start of the year!! To me that’s insane. I like the end of the year as a thank you.

There is no SHOULD about it……you do it if you wish to do so.

I think that teachers would most likely prefer a hand written card or something made by the child. Everything else seems quite over the top.

One of my son’s classes is doing a joint gift this year, where we all contribute money and are buying a voucher for the teacher. We can contribute as much as we want and it’s a nice way to ensure the teacher will get something they’ll enjoy. The card is an electronic one and we can add in photos of the kids, etc.

It really isn’t a must, but when you feel grateful for how the teacher helped your kid grow and blossom it’s an act of thankfulness. Personally I don’t think it can be a small thoughtful gift, in the end teachers get payed for what they do.

Thankfully, it became a thing long after my school days and my kids school days. I wouldve got my kids to make a card and gift, highly inappropriate nowadays tho, just not good enough ay

I’m also super confused by this. My two are both still in childcare so multiple workers so thinking of just doing a few platters for Arvo tea for them

It’s just something that someone started and has been going on for a long time. It used to be a piece of fruit and just got bigger from there. I just let my boys tell me what they wanted to get for their teacher and bought it. It was never over $15 though

It has always been like that I just intend to give them something less then $20 thats my limit

I usually do something small for daycare educators, maybe a chocolate or cookie or a box of something for the staff room. Kinder and School teachers are a bit easier as they usually only have 1 or 2 so I either buy something personalised (stickers, earrings, lanyard etc) or ask if anyone else wants to contribute and we buy something larger. I’d usually spend no more than about $10 – $15 per teacher, if I thought they’d had a good year.

I think its always been a thing, but never an expected thing! It could be as simple as getting your child to make a bookmark it’d the thought that counts.

I can’t ever remember giving teachers gifts at the end of the year, I’m also 30. I would hate to gift a chachke just for the sake of it. Maybe a box of choccies, who doesn’t love that.

We did a gift for the teachers from when I was at school over 40 years ago. For childcare educators I bake cookies and wrap them in cellophane. My other kids throughout primary school their home room teacher was the only one I bought for and that was either a candle or novelty socks. High school don’t bother.

I just want to add, I actually give the office staff a big box of chocolate to share. The amount of times I would walk into the office at the dnd of the year and parents were there waiting to give the principal hampers and wines. But the office staff that are the frontline workers who deal with the abusive and angry phone calls about “my precious little Timmy”, who deal with the hundred of little problems that the little kids come in with, bandaids and ice packs. They are the ones that get forgotten. They don’t have 25 kids to give them a gift of appreciation at the end of the year. So, I ALWAYS give the office staff something!

I’ve been doing it since my kids started school. The oldest is 15, so about 10 years. But it’s only about $5 to $10. I don’t go above that. If I really didn’t like the teacher I’d accidentally on purpose forget. For female teachers it can be something like a hand cream. For male teachers, unless I had an idea of what they liked, a box of chocolates would suffice. It does get complicated if they have more than one home room teacher.

I think it depends on the teacher and how much you believe the teacher has assisted in your child’s learning life. Up to you to decide.