Every December at elementary schools all over the country, the ritual of Santa's Secret Shop takes place. 
"Budget" envelopes are sent home so the children can bring in money and buy dollar-store gifts for their family members. Of course, the kids always want to buy gifts for themselves, too--and usually the money spent on their own gift far exceeds the money spent on gifts for others.
This year I volunteered at Santa's Secret Shop during the time when my second-grader's class was doing their shopping. It was pretty funny watching these kids choose gifts for their moms, dads, brothers and sisters. I tried to steer my son toward something his siblings would like. But he was picking out the "mom and dad" gifts on his own. It looks like Daddy is getting a new coffee mug this year!
Then he headed toward the table with gifts for moms. As he reached toward a boxed coffee mug, he exclaimed, "I found something great for--um, turn around, Mom, OK?"
Coffee mugs all around, I'm guessing.
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One Response to “There's a present by the tree, stockings on the wall”
Do the teachers buy cheap gifts and set up a store in the classroom, then on-sell the gifts to the children? I'm confused. Sounds like a fun thing for the kids to be involved in.