Did anyones school have a Christmas store - for the kids?

luvmykids wrote: Ours did, the stuff was anywhere from .25 to $8.00 and ok, some of it was cheesy but some of it was really cute. The kids brought home envelopes where you had to fill out how much they should spend and on who....they came home with their loot today and are SO proud of themselves for the gifts they picked out and bought all by themselves (or so they think LOL).

We had a wrapping fest and they had the best time....didn't want me to see anything they got anyone and are SOOOO excited for everyone to open their gifts

Calimama replied: That is such a neat idea!!!!!!!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: cute!! how sweet of them to be in the holiday spirit and thinking of others!
It was forever and ever ago but I remember doing that one year when I was little, like 2nd grade or so. My nana seriously still has the gift I got her, a little tin tray

HuskerMom replied: I remember doing that when I was little, it was so fun!

luvmykids replied:
That's what I loved, it seems like it really clicked for them, more so than when I take them to the store and nag that we're thinking of others and not what we want

CantWait replied: That's an awesome idea indeed.
I've seen things like that at the mall, you can drop them off and they shop with a helper.

so what did they get?

Kaitlin'smom replied: yes, Kaitlin's school does that it was supposed to be druning the holidy open house but it was canciled I wondered what they were going to do then Kaitlin told me the other day she went shopping for us. They gave us an envlope and suggested $10 for ever 4 poeple, well its just DH and I so I put in $5, she got each of us something and the also let her pick something out for the cats

this was her second year doing it, I olny told her not to get daddy another tie

luvmykids replied:
I have no idea They wouldn't even let me see what they got each other, or my parents or DH. It was so cute, they are loving their little secrets and can hardly contain themselves

It's the first year they've done it on their own and I'm so glad for them But Macie is jealous, I'll have to take her to the dollar store and let her do some shopping for them

boyohboyohboy replied: our school did it after hours if the parents brought them in..
but the teacher had bought little tea candles in tiny glass holders and had the kids paint these little snow men on them and gave them to us parents for gifts..they are so cute.

CantWait replied:

How cute.

lesliesmom replied: DD had that a couple weeks ago. Last year (when she was in Kindergarten) she had her "chapel buddy" take her and write down her list. She brought it home and we gave her the money. This year, we got the envelope and gave her $2 a person (She actually ended up spending $5 more than "budgeted", oh well, the woman running it said it was spent on me so... ). They actually bag the items there and write the to/from on it so we have no idea what's there but she is soooo excited and can't wait for us to open them.

coasterqueen replied: Yes, our school had one too. They are fun!

Boo&BugsMom replied: No. What a super cute idea!!! I love it!

holley79 replied: Our Elem school use to have that when I was in school. I didn't realize schools still did that. I think it's awesome.

Cece00 replied: Yeah they had one here...Ross has been DYING to tell us what he got us, he begged us for like 3 days to open the gifts before Christmas

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley's preschool did that last year -- I think it is a great idea and loved it. She had so much fun doing it. This year in kinder, they made us something.

I can't wait to hear what they got for everyone.

msoulz replied: Yep his school does this every year, and it is pretty amazing how well they can budget their money! He absolutely loves it!!

bawoodsmall replied: Ahh man. We loved doing that when we were kids. I think it was called our Secret Santa Shop but I could be making that up. I wish we still did that here. Em likes to buy for others but it is hard still cuz she cant comprehend the amount of money it costs. I cant wait to hear what the gifts are. How fun!!!

Anthony275 replied: they started doing this when i was in 5th grade, i dont know if they still do it now

MotherForever2043 replied: Yup, we have it over here. Amber is so anxious for us to open the gifts!

amymom replied: We have one at our school and the teachers who run it do an amazing job. They shop at the dollar store all year long. They will start this week when items become 2 for $1. They set up all the items the week after Thanksgiving and then the kids pay $1.50 per item they want to buy. The teachers buy more each year and give a scholarship or two to a high school graduate.

They used to have a company come and run it, but item prices were all over the place. This way the prices are easy and fun for the kids. Also, they make sure every kid can shop, they use the extra funds to pay for the items that some of the kids want to buy.

luvmykids replied:
WOW, that is no small task! Ours was done by a company, but I love the idea of the scholarship benefitting from it!