Gifts for Preschool Teacher

Hi B.. I'm a high school teacher, so when I was in your position last year I was thinking partly about what's been meaningful and enjoyable for me to receive. (Hint: Nobody really needs another mug.) We sat down with our son and a catalogue from Heifer International (or www.heifer.org) and had him pick out "gifts" to give his teachers. We donated money in their honor, and Heifer supplied families around the world with a flock of chicks and a hive of honeybees. The website allows you to print a card explaining the gift given in their honor. It worked very well. Peace, A.

Hi B.!
I know Im late in responding but I just got this in my email box today!
It was titled:
Holiday Gifts Teachers Like Best

What not to give:

LAVISH, EXPENSIVE. Avoid any appearance that a gift is payment for services rendered. This of course rules out the $100 gift card, expensive jewelry and the like, no matter how well-intentioned. Even if they are allowed by the administration, expensive gifts make teachers feel uncomfortable.

COLOGNE. This comes from a wide range of teachers—both male and female: Please no more fragrance or dusting powder.

KNICK-KNACKS. Unless it’s a handmade treasure signed by your child, forget the knick-knacks. Paddywhacks and coffee mugs, too.

What teachers really want:

GIFTS FOR CLASSROOM. Schools everywhere these days are suffering from budget cuts, leaving classrooms in need of basic tools and supplies—and teachers dipping into their own wallets. If you are not aware of the specific needs in your child’s class, ask the teacher what the classroom can really use. Any gift from a new book to arts and craft supplies will be gratefully received. Make sure you involve the child in the decision and the gifting.

KID-MADE CRAFTS. A special craft item that can be used by the teacher in the classroom (a box to hold paperclips or pushpins for example) made by the child is a great idea. It makes the child feel proud when the gift can really be used by the teacher.

A SIMPLE THANK YOU. One teacher told me about the album he’s been filling with letters of thanks from students and parents for more than 20 years. These heartfelt expressions are priceless gifts that will last for a lifetime, and encourage him every time he reads them.

CONSUMABLE GOODIES. Teachers often don’t have time to bake, so they love to receive wonderful homemade goodies around the holidays. Put them on a decorative plate or in a fun holiday container and wrap with cellophane and pretty ribbon. Always attach a handwritten note from the child.

GIVE TO CHARITY. If you know of a non-profit charitable cause that holds special meaning for the teacher (a community project, world relief, an animal shelter, etc.) make a donation in the teacher’s name. Write a note from you and your child announcing this gift.

STARBUCKS AND MOVIES. I would be remiss if I did not pass along the sentiments of so many teachers I’ve heard from: Please tell parents and students that we really love Starbucks gift cards in any denomination, and movie tickets, too!

There you go, all you need to know to show your appreciation for the teachers in your family’s life in ways that will be enjoyed and budget-friendly, too.

***I dont personally believe in giving money as a gift, a little "thanks" goes a long way!
I personally dont like/care for StarBucks nor do I have a whole lot of time to go drive to a theater and sit there for 2 hrs but then thats me :-) . I once had someone make an actual Bread basket...yes, made from bread! It was too beautiful to eat and I wish Id had a way to preserve it. We had fun eating the goodies that she'd put in it and kept it as long as we could for "looks!" Classroom supplies are always needed (you usually get a long list when school starts) but paper (all colors), crayons, pencils, are welcomed and even stickers for the kids "well done" homework is great too!***

Hello B.,
I have two children that are in a parents day out just one day a week. I think a $5-15 item per teacher is acceptable when it fits your budget.
I know several moms in my older sons class so we all go in together on a larger amount item. We just agreed this week about a bracelet or something from Silpada Designs sterling silver jewelry. We did the same thing last year for their 2 teachers.
I don't know the moms in my younger son's class and there are at least 3 teachers so I will probably do $5 gift cards to a coffee shop.
I also have a holiday tradition of making english toffee. Hopefully I will have the time this season and include a bit of this with each gift.
Chocolate or colored almond bark dipped pretzels or pretzel sticks are a good idea and fun for the kids to do. I dip the pretzels in the melted chocolate and my kids get to put the sprinkles on.
You can get inexpensive treat bags at a dollar store and tie with a cute ribbon.

Enjoy the holiday season!
J.

As a teacher, gift certificates are good. You can only put up so many red apple, nick nack, #1 teacher sort of things. If the teacher has some sort of collection, that would be good, but I would stick with a gift certificate, and any amount is fine. Gifts for teachers are not expected, but greatly appreciated.
Also, since it is preschool, I would have my child make a card or do something that gets them involved in the giving. Last year, my son cut flowers from our garden in the Spring for his teachers. It was something he could do with little assistance.

I agree with many of the other posters: gift cards to local places are a great way to show your appreciation, and they can ultimately choose what they want most. Many teachers I know end up spending the money back on their own classrooms (on supplies, books, etc.) For the end-of-the year gifts, we buy my son's preschool teachers a potted flowering plant with some sort of little note like "thank you for helping me grow." They are inexpensive, pretty, and can be placed almost anywhere.

B.-- I know you already got great advice on this topic, but as a former teacher, I just wanted to reiterate how true it is that teachers really love a note of appreciation. I agree with the teacher who mentioned that-- I always saved any cards and notes that expressed some specific way that I had made a difference in that student's life, and I kept them on my desk in a wooden treasure box. (I still have it to this day.) When I was having a really bad day as a teacher, I would pull the notes out and read them, and it refreshed my soul. Teaching is wonderful, but it can be disheartening because you encounter so many obstacles. It touched me more than the parents and students will ever know to hear positive words. I've taught high school, middle school, and elementary school, and I have cards and letters from all three levels. It helps me feel that I did some good, in spite of my flaws and mistakes. Having said that, the PERFECT gift (in my opinion) would be a heartfelt note (if you feel it's deserved) accompanied by a gift card for a small amount. I think most teachers love Target, Barnes and Noble, or any restaurant or (I would imagine) any spa! Teachers don't make a lot of money, and we often put a chunk of our salary into supplies for our classrooms, so a gift card that allowed me to treat myself was something that I always truly appreciated. I also loved to get Starbucks gift cards. One amazing parent always gave the teachers homemade chocolates from Peterbrook Chocolatier (sp)? Even though I'm always trying to diet, I was always thrilled to get chocolate or homemade cookies. When I taught elementary school, the students were so proud to give their teachers cookies that they helped their moms make and package into treat bags. They would always want you to take one out and try it, and ask you if it was good. :) The only thing I would stay away from is mugs or "an apple for the teacher" knickknacks. I always appreciated the gesture, no matter what I was given, but you can only have so much of that stuff before you're overrun. Thank you for showing your appreciation for teachers-- I know from experience how much it will mean to them!

~B.

I used to be a preschool/elem teacher and I'm a parent of 4, so I have some ideas to share. After reading some of the other responses, I can see that it can really vary. In our town, most kids did not bring gifts for the teachers and it was completely acceptable. If you are trying to be frugal, an appreciative note can mean more than a gift to a teacher! Truly! If you choose to purchase a gift, definitely stay away from mugs and ornaments. Teachers are often over-loaded with those. Here are some inexpensive ideas: a big bag of M&Ms (yum!), a pack of decorative computer paper, cocoa mix, pretty paper napkins, scrapbook supplies, etc. I usually tried to stay away from "teacher" kind of things like apple decorations and school supplies.

Merry Christmas! :)

K.

We've done $50 each in cash for the teacher and assistant teachers who are assigned to our son's classroom. It can add up to a lot of money, but I look at it as a personal thank you for a job well done. The most important thing is to do something to show your appreciation. On the Teacher Appreciation Day I send a bouquet of flowers for everyone. Throughout the year we buy supplies for the classroom as needed.

Gift cards are the best(Borders, Starbucks, Amazon, Target, Macy's...)! Or a gift certificate to a local restaurant! I am a teacher and we get so much body lotion, bubble bath and mugs or holiday items we don't really need. It's nice to let the teacher choose something her/himself.

I would also recommend books for the classroom. Those are always great!

Plus, I have to agree, a heartfealt note means a lot!!

*Be careful with holiday related gifts...not everyone celebrates Christmas! (I gave away so many ornaments, red and green colored things and Christmas tree shaped platters!)

Hi B.,
I know you've received a lot of answers to your question, but I thought I'd answer because I've been a pre-school teacher for over 25 years. The gifts themselves are not particularly important. What really makes a difference is that someone cares enough to show their appreciation.

I give my chilren's teachers, the mail man, the neighbors... all Tupperware filled with some kind of treat, like candy or homemade snack mix...

Right now, Tupperware is offering a 14 piece canister set (of small canisters) for $50. That one purchase will just about take care of all of my small gifts like those mentioned above and comes out to less than $4.00 each.

I hope this doesn't sound like I am trying to SELL you Tupperware, but I am a Tupperware consultant, so if you want more information on the set, you can see it on my website at www.mytupperware.com/christineotte. You can contact me through that sight if you decide to try it or want more information.

I just do a little gift for Christmas. I've done caribou cards. (I spend around $5 bucks). Most people drink coffee, and they do have some non-coffee drinks there as well. I give these to our mail carrier, our milk man and our paper carrier as well.

I usually do alot of christmas baking, Cookies, Honey Butter, Chocolates, etc...so when I present them with their gift, I will give them a christmas card and a little food item from my stash of things I've baked or made, specifically to give away. I usually put them in little cute baggies with a pretty little ribbon or whatever. It's all about presentation.

My grandma is a pre-school teacher and ends up getting so many things for holidays. The things that she uses the most and enjoys are gift certificates out to eat, to get her hair done, massage. A lot of times parents will go together and get something like that too. I would say actual gifts are tough because they end up getting so much. I can not tell you how many mugs, plants and little figurines she has. I know that she does get gifts at both the end of the year and at Christmas. I hope that helps :)

Last year I gave my sons teachers ornaments with their names on them. One was an apple and the other was a chalk board. I also bought the photo-gift cards from Walmart (they print your own picture on the gift card) and gave them gift cards to buy what they wanted. I liked that because it was personalized and there was something for them to keep with my sons picture on it, but they also got to buy what they wanted for themselves.

cash, cash or cash.
And gift certificates work just as good - better, even.
spa treatments are a close third.
That';s what I wanted the 10 years I worked as a teacher & pre-school teacher.

I know you got lots of ideas but I have one that noone said...we gave the teacher last year a "movie box"....I put a $5 gift card for blockbuster, 2 sodas a box of M&Ms and a bag of microwave popcorn in one of those cardboard 4pack things that sodas come in....or you could do it in a gift bag....

I'd have to agree that gift certificates are the most welcome and appreciated gifts. Last year I gave my kids teachers Amazon.com gift certificates. I was able to email them, which made it very convenient. They all loved them.

I was a teacher and my favorite Christmas and endo of year gifts were gift cards to restaurants, the teacher store (Lakeshore Learning in Golden Valley is a really nice one), Barnes and Noble, Target, or a nearby salon for a manicure. Either something that allows the teacher to pamper him/herself or helps the classroom is always a nice gift (teachers end up paying for a lot of materials themselves, otherwise). I also always LOVED getting a besket of homemade goodies! Some made cookies, chocolate coverd pretzels, even had a Mom make me a bunch of eggrolls to freeze and cook on busy nights!

I teach middle school, not preschool, but I want to reassure you that none of us actually expect gifts from our families. If you do really want to do something, that's great, but don't feel pressured. Gifts that I have always appreciated are gift cards to places I would shop (book stores, Target, Lakeshore Learning) or practical supplies for the classroom. The two best gifts I have received recently were office supplies and a new electric pencil sharpener. What we can never get enough of, and rarely get at all (and best of all, costs you no money at all) is a sincere thank you letter for something that the teacher has done for your child-- a positive change you have seen, something that your child has clearly learned from them, a comment about how your child is enjoying their class. You would be amazed at how rarely teachers hear the words "thank you." I keep stuff like that for years whereas the new mug or whatever just takes up space.

As a former teacher, I can tell you that I recieved everything from homemade gifts to $100.00 gift cards. Teachers do not expect you to give them anything. In fact, just offering your time helps them. Volunteer to help them with making things for the classroom or whatever they need. Another idea......ask the teacher to write down a wish list for her classroom and then purchase something off of that. If you want a more personal gift for her and not so much a classroom gift, gift cards to a coffee shop are usually a big hit. Good for you for thinking of your childs teacher. Those pre-k teachers work the hardest of them all!!!

This may not help for Christmas, however for the end of the year maybe. I usually get a recipe and a picture from every child. The recipes can be anything but I usually ask the parents for a family favorite. Then I just scan the childs picture in to my computer, and create a page with the recipe and picture and the childs favorite memory of that teacher. It's personal, easy, inexpensive, and the teachers get some great recipes. I've even had parents offer to pay me for a copy of the book. If you wanted something Christmas themed you could do each families favorite cookie. Hope that helps.

I usually give gift cards from Target ranging from $20-40 (which may be too much...I am curious how much others are giving too). I give my children's main teachers the higher gift cards and if there are some regular back up teachers I give them smaller gift cards as well. One year I started at a daycare in November and hadn't been there very long so I didn't give them as much. I think gift cards are always good because then they can buy whatever they want.

The absolute best gifts are gift certificates to common places near your school like local bookstores, coffee places, bagel shops, restaurants or chains like Caribou, Brueggers, Barnes & Nobel, Target or even to a nearby mall. Some families have gone in together to buy a larger gift certificate. Average teacher gifts range from $5 to $20. Have your child make a special card and you can write a note thanking her/him for teaching your child.

Teachers get soooooo many home made foods and crafts and ornaments and they can only keep so many. My sister is a first grade teacher and as much as she appreciates the thought behind the annual ornaments and Christmas decorations from families, she turns around and gives them to goodwill or another charitable organization because if she kept everything, she would have clutter chaos at her home.

Good luck to you!

My husband is a 3rd grade teacher & I have to agree he gets more joy out of the sincere notes & any home made FOOD...he has also recv'd gift cards to Home Depot & Bass Pro...I always try to get something personal for the teachers like note cards with their names on them or gift certificates to get a pedicure...they are on their feet all the time & need to be pampered too!

My daughter is now in Kindergarten, but she attended a wonderful pre-school for 3 years. The parents gave a group gift to the teachers at the holidays and also at the the end of the school year. One person would collect donations from each family - usually $20 - $30 and then all the funds would be pooled and a cash gift was given. I believe it ended up being a citibank credit gift, and when all the donations were in the total would be $500 or more. Also, at Christmas, I always gave the teacher an orchid - they are the best floral gift because they last the longest. I'd usually spend about $25 on a nice potted orchid and include a card.