End of Year Gifts

When I was teaching, I found the CUTEST idea! Buy a pair of gardening gloves (they have them at the dollar store) and have all the kids sign them. Fill them with candy and tie them off. Put it with a card that says something to the effect of "Thanks for your helping hands this year. You really helped us grow!" Super cheap and a great way to say thanks!

What we do: Terra cotta pot. Spray it with clay pot sealer (so it can be indors or out). I paint grass blades on it, and some tall stems. I then have my kids dip a finger in a paint that is good for this kind of stuff (sealer and paint were from Michaels) and then they poke, or put fingerprints on the top of the stems. It makes really cute flowers. Ours always look like huge multicolored Bluebonnets. I write the kids names on the bottom and the year. I then have my kids pick out a flower from the store and they plant it. They LOVE doing this.

I think a sincere, handwritten thank-you note is best. Add a garden flower that s/he can dry and fold in the note later.

Teachers give and give, and generally don't get paid enough to pour out lavish gifts. Your generous spirit speaks through your words, and you have already shared your gifts through teaching the chidren.

Best wishes for a restful and rejuvenating summer!

-Alice Marie

I like to give gift cards to a store or restaurant you know she likes. We have a place in my town that makes entrees and side dishes to go. I like to give a gift certificate along with a menu so the person can choose what they want and have an easy meal made for their family.

I like to give angels to my children's caregivers. Sometimes I'll add an inspirational book or card. You can find some really wonderful ones at the Family Christian Store.
As far as the parents go, it might be nice to simply acknowledge their efforts with a personally designed Certificate of Merit or something to that effect, maybe adding a small picture of the class. There may be software you can purchase or just shop online for 'awards' to print at home. Kinko's can help you design something as well. You can probably make a short and sweet speech/presentation on the last day as your parents show up early to pick up their kids. You really don't need to buy them anything. We, as parents, appreciate the effort, patience, time and love that all you educators give for the sake of our children. We also know that you are not paid nearly what you are truly worth, and we don't expect any gifts. You have done more than enough throughout the school year! THANK YOU and may the Lord bless you always.

A quick, easy, inexpensive, and practical gift for the parents would be gift cards like to Panera (approx. $10 ea.), Blockbuster (same $), Starbucks, keychains (with catchy phrases or last name initials), candles from Illuminations or Yankee, or great smelling lotions from Victoria Secrets (which you can find 2 for $XY or some other great deal). Hope these ideas help some.

A.

For the parents you could go to the local favorite restaurant and get a dinner for two gift card. What parent doesn't need a date night. This is significant because it shows your appreciation of their help by helping them get a break as well. The caretaker could probably use a break too. Maybe you could get her a night out by giving her a babysitter for a night free of charge so she can go out.

Some of my favorite thank you gifts from teachers were very personable. When my youngest (now 12) was in kindergarten I went to school every Wednesday and helped out. The teacher gave me an apron with all the kids' handprints and their names on it. Needless to say, I've never used it, it's too precious. The next year I would go in and read once a week. At the end of that year, the teacher gave me a great hardback book that all the kids had signed. Since then, I've had 4 more children so I'm unable to volunteer but I'll be back. Gifts really don't matter. A sincere note would be appreciated as well. As for your sitter, have you looked into getting her some kind of tree or flowering bush for her yard - or maybe a gift card to a nursery so she could pick out her own? Good luck!

I treasure pictures of my child with his teacher! I try to get one cute one per year. So, other parents would probably appreciate a pic too? Maybe in a cute personalized frame (purchased, or decorated yourself, or even let their child help decorate?).

For the daycare provider, I would say something personal for herself. Perhaps even a certificate with an offer to care for her children a day or two during the summer, along with a spa certificate or restaurant gift card?

Simple bath gifts from Bath and Body works are always nice. Get a scent that is not too overwhelming, and be sure to include some bubble bath :)

Last year I volunteered in my son's class a lot. The end of year gift the teacher gave me was a plastic plant pot about 12" and she had made a print of flowers on it with all the kids thumbprints being the flower petals. I didn't dare plant something in it! I keep it in my sewing room to put things in, and cherish it.

AJ,
I just did some candle for another person for the end of the year teachers (preschool). I do candles. I like to create them according to who it's for (what they might collect or like to do...) U pick the color (but if something is going to be in it (teacher stuff) clear is best a scent and the glassware.
Check out my site and I’ve posted the candles there.

www.Craftlister.com/ValerieAltman

If u'd like me to do something I’d be glad to and give u 20% off since u re on the mama source site. Good Luck

Books are always nice, or a gift card to a family friendly restraunt, picture frame with their kid in it would be awesome. (P.S I love the glove and apron idea!)

As for the daycare..could she use a new movie or audio book? But I think a nice plant for the yard would be great too. Peony or a small rose bush would look great!

Hi AJ,

I am a Beauti-control consultant and have some wonderful, not to expense Spa produts that I give to my little ones nursery workers and to people that have helped me . People love them and use them ( everyone wants a little relaxation) so if you are interested please check out my webpage or email me and I will help you the best way I can.
www.beautipage.com/jellison or e-mail at ____@____.com. I can wrap it up free of charge too.

Hope this helps
J.

Hi,
How 'bout going to the internet and getting a cute pattern for a 'gift card'. Making the card will be inexpensive and will personalize the gift...then put a gift certificate to Baskin Robins or Dairy Queen inside. You can even make up some silly pun like, "A sweet for the sweet who helped me make it thru the school year".

Or you can buy an inexpensive plastic or terra cotta 5 inch flower pot and decorate it with paint, lace, buttons, stickers (if you decompoge over it) and then put a bright flower or plant in it. I recently did a small terra cotta pot with a silly face and planted a fiber optic grass in it. The grass looks like hair and is a really neat little plant to have should the receipient ever want to transplant it. I have also done lacy pots with Coleus and old-fashioned stickers on a terra cotta pot (decompaged before adding the plant) with moss rose. Just choose a planter style and a plant that complements the sentiment you are trying to express (silly, sentimental, classy etc)

Another thought, if you are into jewelary art, would be to make a bracelet or earrings. Both can be done fairly inexpensively but be very classy gifts.

Hope this helps,
V.

See my business listed on this site! Taste of Gourmet! Great food and easy but thoughtful gifts! It'll look like you spent a fortune on them...and taste like it , too! Or e-mail me and I'll let you know more about it! It's what my kids (all 5 of them) give as teacher gifts every year. The teachers at church get excited about it every Christmas...they know what they're getting from my kids! Ha!
L.

i gave my kids teachers some good/nice tea (republic of tea) and for an extra special thing i gave one a mug (I am a potter so i made it) but you can find cheap ones that are nice.

For your daughter's daycare lady, I would recommend a gift certificate to a local nursery. That way she can pick out a plant or two that will go with her new landscape.