Teachers have revealed the common Christmas gifts they secretly hate receiving from students and their parents – and which could put a dent in your shopping list.
Turns out they don’t want cups of coffee or food for their classrooms.
In a new video posted on TikTok This week, former kindergarten teacher Natalie Parmenter looked at the three gifts teachers don’t really enjoy before the Christmas holidays.
The first, according to Parmenter, founder of Primary Focus, an online guide for elementary school parents, was another cup of coffee.
“We have pencil cups, we have plants that grow in cups, that’s it, that’s enough cups,” Parmenter admitted.
“Number two, surprise cupcakes during the party,” she continued.
The former teacher revealed that this isn’t exactly a gift to the teacher, but rather a gift to the class, calling it “rude.”
‘Where were you a month ago when the registration form came out?’ she questioned.
Teachers are criticizing the Christmas gifts they don’t want to receive this year and could put a dent in their shopping list.
“We have pencil cups, we have plants growing in cups, that’s it, that’s enough cups,” admitted former kindergarten teacher Natalie Parmenter (file image)
“Now you’re making it really awkward for whoever signed up to bring cupcakes, and now I have too much sugar in the classroom,” the TikTok creator added.
And last but not least, he revealed that the third thing teachers don’t want is parents talking badly about them online.
“Number three, you’re badmouthing them in a Facebook group,” he said.
“Even if you post anonymously, these communities are small, a screenshot will be taken and sent back to the teacher,” Parmenter revealed.
“They’ll never tell you anything about it, but now they will,” he added.
Arizona professor Patricia Britton also echoed some of Parmenter’s sentiments in another videourging parents to no longer purchase Christmas-themed mugs.
“Don’t give us this,” Britton said in the clip, while holding up a giant green mug shaped like a Christmas tree.
“We teachers don’t want more cups, I have a closet full of them and I don’t need any more.”
Arizona teacher Patricia Britton also echoed Parmenter’s sentiments in another video, urging parents to no longer purchase Christmas-themed mugs.
‘Teachers love receiving gift cards, no matter the dollar amount. “It’s the thought that counts,” added Parmenter (file image)
But when it comes to the gifts teachers do want, Parmenter suggested a gift card to a local coffee shop, adding that the dollar amount doesn’t matter.
‘To put inside our cups!’ Parmenter joked with him Today show in a recent interview.
‘Teachers love receiving gift cards, no matter the dollar amount. What counts is the thought,” he added.
She also shared that teachers often love receiving homemade gifts, such as artwork or cards.
“First of all, teachers always appreciate gifts, whether it’s a piece of art from a student or a handwritten card,” Parmenter told the publication.
“It means a lot, because we work very hard and we don’t always get recognition.”