Advice | What holiday gifts do we get for teachers and day-care workers? (2024)

FAQs

Advice | What holiday gifts do we get for teachers and day-care workers? ›

Parents that care about their kids education give cash or large gift cards because we know these people are underpaid and only in their jobs because they love kids. If we like the teacher, we try to compensate en masse by gifting cash as much as possible.

School supplies

Pencils, pens, dry erase markers, coloring supplies, disinfecting wipes and tissues are used on a daily basis, so whenever teachers get a new stock of any classroom supplies, it's a big help. Get creative by making a supply cake like this one from Hometalk, or present the supplies as-is.

But, if you really want to buy your child's teacher(s) a gift, read on. There is no set amount you should spend on a teacher gift—it really depends on your budget. A good rule of thumb is to spend around $20-$30, but if you have a larger budget, you could go up to $50.

Giving your kid's teacher a holiday gift is a wonderful way to show them appreciation for all that they do, but buying something isn't always necessary. There are many other ways to give, that are just as thoughtful, such as a homemade gift or a card with heartfelt words.

Don't spend too much

A safe bet would be to keep your gift under $20, and public opinion is right around that same number.

The best gifts, truly, are the heartfelt thank-you notes written by students and parents. Coffee, chocolate, books, etc. all are lovely, but the words from someone who appreciates what you do as a matter of course are like gold.

It really depends on each individual family's circ*mstances, too. For some, $100 is right on the mark, while for others it's overly generous. It certainly seems that no one finds it stingy, however.

Experts recommend tipping each staff member who works with your child between $25 and $70, depending on your circ*mstances. Alternatively, gift cards or presents worth roughly the equivalent work, too. (Again, The Emily Post Institute recommends an additional small gift from your kiddo.)

Price range for teacher gifts

“If your child has the teacher for just one period of the day, $10 to $20 is appropriate.” Melissa Verity Baral teaches kindergarten in Los Angeles and tells SheKnows that most parents give $25 to $50 gift cards.

According to surveys like this one from the website SheKnows, most parents give the teacher something worth between $10 and $50.

What can teachers accept as gifts? ›

It is illegal to accept a gift that could be construed as a reward for a past official action or because of the position an individual holds in the decision-making process. It may be permissible in some states to accept an item such as a gift basket valued at less than $25 or $50.

When the school you're connected with retains stellar educators, giving teachers gifts for work anniversaries provides many benefits. Teachers look forward to the following year when they'll be recognized. Other teachers see that the school values loyal teachers.

Gifts raise ethical and fairness concerns.

Legally, most public school teachers are not allowed to accept gifts worth more than $50, but even if a family gives me a $5 gift, I think about the time and labor that went into it… and frankly, feel uncomfortable.

Most people give anywhere between $25–$35, and we recommend using it to purchase gift cards (teachers' top choice) or other consumables.

If you suspect that your child's teacher is not making a living wage, by all means feel free to individually give them presents of gift cards, useful items, or even cash — if and only if you can afford it, yourself, and if the gifts fall within the ethics of the particular school.

Teachers and Daycare Providers

If you have children, don't forget to send a card to their daycare providers or school teachers. Bonus points if you pair it with a heartfelt holiday gift. Sending a card to school administrators, counselors, nursing staff and even your kid's favorite gym teacher is also a sweet gesture.

Private music teachers are not tipped after they teach a lesson. It is common to give your music teacher a small gift during the holiday season though.