Do you give your child's bus driver a Christmas gift?

[GoingtoWDWagain]

First time my child is riding the school bus. Do you give your child's school bus driver a Christmas gift? If so, what do you suggest?

Thanks a bunch

 

[mombare]

Okay...I just replied to your other post regarding teacher gifts!
I had this same question about bus drivers, and to take it a step further...this is my question list:
regular bus driver (DD)
SACC workers (DD - only goes 2 days per week for 1 hour, and the staff changes daily)
Dance teacher (DD)
Transit bus driver (DS)
PE teacher (DD)
Art teacher (DD)
Music teacher (DD)
This just seems too overwhelming to buy gifts for, but they are all on an equal playing field when I think about the impact they have on my childrens' lives. Does that make sense?? I was thinking about making some almond bark pretzels and wrapping them nicely, but then I remembered reading other threads that said no homemade items. Any thoughts??

 

[dislal]

I do buy for the bus driver, but only one gift and she drives all three of my kids. She has been driving since DD14 was in kindergarten and we all love her. Last year we got her a small gift basket from bath and body works. This year we got her a GC for a restauraunt.

 

[soccerchick]

I always gift the regular teachers, depending on our circumstances and how much my child (and I) likes the
teacher $5-$15.

For all the others, I usually pick up the Andes mints or the After Eight mints when they go on sale. They are usally $1-$1.50 tops. Have my kids make a card and we're done. Another budget saver is to make homemade bark or fudge and send it in the cute little cellophane bags.

There have also been several years when I did not get anything for music, PE, art or bus drivers. I do not feel bad about it. I can gift who I like AS I like. Don't feel pressured to give to everyone out of obligation.

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

This year we got her a GC for a restauraunt.

Love the GC idea, what amount on a GC without giving too little, but on a budget Thanks a bunch

 

[clh2]

Love the GC idea, what amount on a GC without giving too little, but on a budget Thanks a bunch

Put on the amount enough for 1 a lunch or 2. When we gave a present for Christmas to the drivers, if it was Noodles, we would do $10. Same for a sub place. We would not do a GC to "fancier" restaurants, becasue a $10 GC would not be enough for a meal. KWIM?

 

[G's mommy]

We gave the bus driver (a man) a $10 gift card to Subway. I got it with my coke reward points.

 

[mombare]

We gave the bus driver (a man) a $10 gift card to Subway. I got it with my coke reward points.

I really wish I had gotten the $10 ones instead of $25 - I have one left, and it would have been nice to have a few more of the smaller amount to give out to the bus drivers and others.

 

[Evans Family]

It is customary in my neighborhood for each family at a bus stop to pitch in $5 towards a gift for the bus driver. Unfortunately, we are the only family at our bus stop so I bought $5 worth of Lindt chocolates to give her. I think a small token is very appreciated.

In years past I've given $7.50 Moe's gift card....enough for a lunch.

 

[KirstenB]

Yes, our dd's ride separate buses, and I give each driver a gift card to Target. They do a great job of watching out for the kids, and often go beyond just "driving". They always have a smile and a kind word for both dd's.

 

[dislal]

Love the GC idea, what amount on a GC without giving too little, but on a budget Thanks a bunch

Oh I forgot to say what I got for the bus driver was a $15 Eat n Park GC. They have two children, but they are both grown and out of the house so $15 should be just about enough for her and her husband to go out for a meal.

 

[dislal]

I really wish I had gotten the $10 ones instead of $25 - I have one left, and it would have been nice to have a few more of the smaller amount to give out to the bus drivers and others.

Just a thought but could you go into a Subway and ask if they could change the amounts on the card. Like if you give them a $25 card could they make it into two $10 ones and one $5

 

[lowie]

we gave a $20 starbucks GC to our driver. she's awesome and we want her to feel appreciated.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I gave our bus drive a visa gift card. I figure she drives them in the am and pm. She is responsible to keep them safe and does a great job. I gave her $25 - the same I gave the classroom teachers.

 

[robin09]

we gave the bus driver and aide on the bus a $10 giftcard to Hess. DD is on the special needs bus, so there is always the aide with her. The Hess station here in town is whre all the bus drivers get their coffee in the AM.

 

[tchrchgo]

we gave our driver a $25 best buy card. my older DS is constantly forgetting almost everything on the bus every day (major adhd), and the driver is almost daily returning his things to him. so I figure I'd spend more than $25 replacing all those items if they were not returned

 

[ptmmg]

we gave our bus driver a $10 gc to dunkin donuts

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

We gave each driver a $5 scratch off lottery ticket, and a bag of chocolates.

 

[JerseyGirl84]

Even though we are the only ones at our bus stop, another mom collected money from all the families on the bus that she knew. We kicked in $5 per child (I have 2 kids on the bus).

My other daughter goes to a special ed school that is 30 minutes away. I gave her bus driver $20 and the aide $15. That is a long bus ride with special ed kids. They are really special people and I know my daughter is in good hands.