Moms of schooled kids - I have a question....

[Jenni]

Preschool, elementary ... whatever. I'm have a debate of sorts with a friend and I'm curious. Have you ever (or do you plan) on bringing holiday gifts for your childs' ENTIRE class? Personally, I've never done this or been the recipient of such a practice but my friend insists that her mom did it every year of her elementary school and now she's going to do it for her daughter's preschool class (to add to this, she's organzing a homemade project TODAY to be completed and ready for class distribution next week Thursday).

Are any of you familiar with this? Any of you teachers have parents like this? I'm not trying to be a scrooge or anything but I'm thinking the entire class is really overkill.

[Elaine]

I'm not a mom of a school aged kid yet but thinking back to when I was in school I don't think it ever happened. Valentines, yes, but not holiday gifts for everyone. I think that's a little much.

[Mama Sandy]

We have five kids, four school aged. Our classes do a book exchange that is OPTIONAL and organized by the teacher/room parents. The book must cost less than $5 and if you are unable to participate your child will still receive a book but all "donations" of books are welcomed. I have never (my oldest is a freshman in high school) given nor received a class gift. Seems extremely unusual and unnecessary to me, especially in economic times like this when other parents simply aren't able to recipricate.

Also in my personal humbug opinion I think it's actually kinda showy. I mean, what's the point?

ETA: I also need to note that the exchange means each child brings one gift annonymously to exchange. They do a party and parents are asked to donate a food item, party favor, gift bag, etc and that's strictly voluntary. Often the moms that work at or have husbands that work at the Cadbury Adams plant here donate sugar free gum for the kids as take home treats.

[Ashley]

I would agree holiday gifts seem excessive. Tyler's preschool is having a party on Friday, and each parent brings a food item, with two doing a gift bag or gift bag item. I said I would just do gift bags because no one is volunteering-- BUT, there are 8 kids in his class, including him. It's not a big deal to make gift bags for that small of a class. And, the only thing the teacher asked for was like a candy cane or something if only one person was doing it , but I'll make it fun since the moms who did the halloween & thanksgiving ones made bags. But it's a different person for each event who does this. Again, a preschool class of 8 with a few inexpensive goodies versus a gift for each one is a huge difference to me!

[Marcia]

When Mackenzie was in preschool, I would just take in some store bought cup-cakes and gifts for the teachers, I never bought anything for each of the kids in the class.

HOWEVER, last year, Mackenzie's two teachers not only bought each kid a gift, but they also bought stockings and filled them up with goodies. They must have spent at least $10 - $15 on each kid. Grant it, it was just a $5 or so toy from a $ store, but there were 13 kids in that preschool class. That could not have been cheap.

But, to answer your question, NO, I have never done anything besides cup-cakes or goodie bags for each child.

[Jenni]

Okay, so I am normal. I told her a cookie would be more meaningful to the kids than an ornament and I was told that's hokie - leading me to believe it's more of an ego booster for mom. I was also informed that all my volunteering is the same as buying (or making) each classmate a holiday gift. Thanks for your input - pretty much on par to how I thought holidays were handled among peers in the classroom.:D

[Anjyldream]

Never been a recipient, nor ever heard of this! And honestly... I think that's a bit much IMO.

[Jojo]

We did cards for everyone and a secret santa :)) That was fun!

[Farah]

Never been a recipient, nor ever heard of this! And honestly... I think that's a bit much IMO.
:ditto:

As a teacher I never have heard of anyone doing this. I know students bring gifts for teachers, but I've never heard of it where a parent gets gifts for the entire class. As far as I'm concerned it sounds excessive and too materialistic. Isn't the point of Christmas (besides religion) supposed to be the spirit of the holidays...not who gets/gives better crap.