My Funny Picture - From a parents perspective, would this be weird?

From a parents perspective, would this be weird?

I volunteer in a preschool and I have really come to enjoy a certain group of children in the classroom. There is one girl in particular that I will miss when she and I each go our separate ways at the end of the school year. I was thinking about how after this year I'll probably never see her again and since she has only just turned 5, she might not remember me so well later and a 5 year old isn't exactly someone you can keep in touch with, no matter how much you like them. So, I was thinking that the least I could do is make something for her. I knit, but since the summer is coming, something like a hat wouldn't be so useful, so I thought about making a stuffed animal such as the one I made in this picture: http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/Sarah_Bearah_/?action=view¤t=finished2.jpg I was also thinking of writing a note to the parents about who I am, the fact that I've enjoyed spending time with their daughter, and that the stuffed animal their daughter would have, is from me. In response to the person who said "as long as you're female," my fiance actually volunteers in the same preschool on a different day and really likes the same little girl and was actually thinking of making something for her as well, after I told him about my idea. and about the idea of babysitting... I'm moving at the end of the school year... It would be fun to babysit before then, but I don't know how to offer that without it being weird... it's not like the parents know who I am or anything...

Public Comments

its not weird, its called love. You will make a GOOD mommy one day :)
I think that would be nice. You could also speak with the parents and see if you could come over and play with her or babysit her if they would like a night off.
I think it would be lovely to have someone care so much for my child that they actually handmade something. You sound a very sensible person and to write the note to the parents explaining about the gift would alleviate any doubts they would have.
I think that's a very sweet idea. The parents will be thrilled that their daughter touched your heart and the little girl will love her stuffed animal. My daughter's preschool made picture books for each of the kids. Maybe you could do that too. That way she'll have a picture of you. ETA: Oh, I just remembered. When my daughter left the pre-school at age 4 the teacher gave her a hardback storybook. On the inside she wrote a beautiful letter to us describing her feelings about our child. It was really sweet and definitely a keepsake.
That sounds like a great idea,when writing the note though I would word it carefully.
I think it's totally so sweet and kind-- (as long as you are a female-lol) I would be so flattered if someone said that about my child. Hopefully the parents will make an effort to let her visit you.
As a parent, I would think it was very sweet.
it's not weird. If you called the kid and asked to hang out, then it'd be weird. lol
not weird at all your just a very sweet person who cares about children
It isn't wierd at all. Like the one said, write her parents a note stating how she has affected you. Maybe even offer yourself as a babysitter.
Not at all weird........and yes you can keep in touch with her. If you have a good relationship with her parents, offer to babysit or take her out to have fun every once in a while. My son's former teacher (she went to another job) comes and "kidnaps" him all the time. She takes him to the movies, swimming at her house, company parties, etc.......She has no children of her own and most of her friends have kids so she "borrows" mine when they are having get togethers so the other children will have someone to play with. I think it's great that you've formed such a bond with the child!
that's so cute. i had the same thing. i was in this kind of thing were i would be a kind of moniter for kids. and i love children and she was special. she rly liked me. and now im in highschool we seperated. and so once i went to her house to meet her again. she was crying at the end of the year. we probably wont see each other ever again so its good for you to make something she will have and remember for the rest of her life. and i dont think your parents would find it weird. it's for a kid. theyd understand. :]
As a parent I would feel a little weird. Keep your feeling to yourself, you dont want to seem crzy
I think that is a beautiful gesture.The froggy is gorgeous by the way!! Its so hard not to get attached to the children you work with. I worked in a pre-school too and often think of the kids i used to look after and wonder if they remember me. I wish i had done something for them like what you are thinking of doing back then, it's a gorgeous idea. I think writing that letter to the parents is a big must too, you dont want them to think its a bit creepy. Take care and goodluck.
thats really sweet! but you know you dont have to not keep in touch, i think you should write the letter and also say if you are able to babysit or not. that way if youre good, which im sure you are, you dont have to say good bye just yet! :]
I was a preschool teacher for 1year and i found it very hard to leave the children at the end of the year. I then found out that i was going to be a nanny so i had to say goodbye to them for good. there were 3children that i cared for very much, i was going to make them something special(which i still dont think there is anything wrong with)but i felt bad for not making something for everyone. So i wrote everyone a goodbye note saying it was wonderful to have them in my class, then i wrote special notes with a picture of me and the child attached. I also left a note in there for the parent saying i was going to miss there child very much and if there was ever a time they need a babysitter i would be available, because i wanted to keep in touch with the family. I still see them and watch them after 3years and once you become a family friend you are keeping in contact with parents too. as long as you go about it the right way its not weird.
Unless you can do it for every kid in the class then NO I wouldn't do it because it looks like you're playing favorites. Parents will complain that "so and so got a gift from the helper and my kid didn't". It would be better to either start making them for each kid in the class and write a little note to each of the parents for each kid or don't do it at all.
Yes, as both a teacher and a parent, it is strange. Do not do this, do not do anything to single out a child. Don't contact the parents, it's creepy. Sorry to be blunt... but it's the truth. I KNOW it's easy to get close to kids - I know I did when I was a teacher aide, when I was a student teacher, and when I was a teacher as well. But you just cannot get into the lives of the children in the manner which you have explained. So just keep the memory of knowing a cool kid, as just a pleasant one.