6 tips for a gift for the teacher.

6 tips for a gift for the teacher.

The end of the school year is near and with it the inevitable question for every primary school parent: what to give to the teacher? At many schools this is tradition, but what do you give? Do you buy a gift, or is it a craft? Do you have to give something at all? And how much do you spend on it?

It causes parents a lot of headaches. Also for our director Lobke Vlaming, who is also the class parent this year. For the teachers’ day it is her task to arrange a thank you on behalf of the children and parents. That is why she asked teachers themselves on Twitter what they like to receive and what they really do not want. This resulted in more than a hundred replies from teachers. Especially for parents with the same question, here are six tips she got.  

1. Give something for the class

Many teachers like it much more to get something nice for the classroom than something for themselves. For example a nice reading book or a fun game. A plant for the classroom, a microscope. The most special suggestion? An electric lice comb.   

2. Bath foam is a ‘no-go’

There are a few gifts that are often called ‘no-go’. The ‘go-to solution’ of many parents, a bottle of bath foam with a ribbon around it, appears to be unpopular with many teachers. Also soaps, shower gel, a mug with a catchy text are often mentioned. So do not do these this year. 

3. Preferably a plant the day before the holiday 

Well, a huge bunch of flowers is of course very nice. But if you get in the car the next day to go to a French campsite, not very practical. Many teachers therefore prefer a plant over flowers.

4. Just ask the teacher

Gifts are often welcome if they match the person a bit. So just ask what the teacher likes to get. Does a teacher love reading? Then give a book voucher. Does the teacher love ice cream? Give an ice cream voucher. Does he/she like beers? Give a beer pack. Or besides all beer or wine bottles, maybe something healthy like a fruit package. 

5. It does not have to be expensive

With a personal card or drawing, you definitely score points as well. Many teachers say they especially, or even prefer, to get a sign of appreciation from parents. And something nice that the children made themselves. Tip: give something that is not too big and has to be kept. 

6. Do not feel obliged, not all teachers are waiting for it

There are also many teachers who do not look forward to teachers’ day. ‘I would have liked to abolish that day, that would have been the nicest gift’ writes someone. Also not everyone understands the use of the gift tradition. ‘I really do not understand why there have to be gifts.’ Others point to social inequality as a reason to stop: ‘Children who sometimes come to school with the most expensive gifts and children who have nothing at home and cannot give anything. They are bullied by the rest and are very sad.’ There is definitely something to say for that and that is why of course you can organize something together with all parents. The advantage of that is that it does not have to cost much. You can think of personal and funny anecdotes, all neatly bundled together. Or perhaps for that cheerful teacher a joke book compiled by all the children is a nice idea. 

In short, the most important thing is that you show with something personal that you appreciate the teacher’s work. Then there is still the question what Lobke Vlaming did as class parent with these tips. What did she buy on behalf of all parents?