Holiday Gifts for the Day Care Teachers...

I gave my son's daycare providers each an inspirational book from the same author. When they finished the one they'd been given, they traded them around until everyone had had a chance to enjoy them all.

Hello!
I am going to get my teacher gifts from the Dollar Tree in Irving , off 183 , across from Irving Mall. Most gifts are $1.00 ! One time I baked banana bread from a mix. I put a bow on it. It was inexpensive and festive!
Speaking from experience, it is so nice to be appreciated as a teacher in any way!
Blessings!
C. Nelson

M.,
As a pre-school teacher for 20 years, I loved note pads. I received some personalized ones over the years and they were so great. Also, the gift cards are wonderful ideas. One year a little girl gave me a CD of her favorite songs. Her mom burned one with all the songs she picked out. It was so special and I would play it in my car and think about her. As an end of the year gift, the parents got together and made a t-shirt with everyone name on it in their own handwriting. It took some doing but it was wonderful and I would wear it year to year. Yours being so little might do handprints.. Teachers always love any thoughtfulness. One Mom even brought us lunch one day as our gift with a happy holiday card or thank you card. Your are a thoughtful Mom to be thinking of his teachers. Good luck.

I worked at a preschool and, honestly, the most appreciated gifts were gift cards to book stores, Targets, restaurants or movie theaters. Most of the ones I received were for $5 or $10 but accumulated from numerous parents, I bought a couple of books I really wanted, a cd, and went to the movies with my husband. Our preshcool had us each fill out a sheet with our favorite gift card locations and those were available at the front desk for parents if they wanted one. I am not ungrateful for anything someone takes the time to shop for as a kind gesture. However, I left the preschool over 6 years ago and I am still trying to use up the lotions, candles and homemade hot chocolate mixes. I

M.,
When kids are a little older it is nice to include them in a craft project to make something for their teachers. They are proud of it and it teaches them to show appreciation. In my opinion, gifts for a daycare teacher are a little different than for an elementary school teacher. Daycare workers are paid far less than teachers and deal with diapers and potty training and runny noses all day. Many days, they spend as much, if not more, time with our children than we do. I think that a gift card that they can use for necessities, a treat for themselves, or even to help with their own holiday giving is the best gift. All the gift cards don't have to be for the same amount- if he has a "main" teacher, give her a larger one and give smaller amounts to the others.

I would either go in with a few of the other moms or the whole class and do a gift card somewhere. Even if you do it on your own, gift cards are always appreciated and they can do with it what they want. The personalized and crafty items are nice and thoughtful but they only have room for so much. Get the gift card and add a homemade card to it.

I actually was having the same issue for my son's MDO teachers. I actually sell some really cute Magnetic Picture Frames that can stick on your fridge & anything magnetic. If you know them pretty well, you could even get some that some suit their personality or if their kids play sports, etc. They run about $8.75 but that's what I'm using for my son's teachers. If you want to check them out on my website, it's www.celebrationgiftsandmore.com. Good luck!

I agree that little consumables are better than keepsake items. I have heard from many teachers, they just don't know what to do with them all, as the years go on...

$5-10 cards to treat themselves to Starbucks, Sheridan's, Corner Bakery, La Madeline etc. Or something consumable like homemade baked items, cookie dough they can use during the holidays. Another idea may be teacher supplies that the classroom needs, like a book or two, or a new game/toy.

Also, I sell Gold Canyon Candles, and have some smaller ones that many of my customers give to teachers, that they love! There are holiday scents, or apple scents for teachers etc. They are under $10 each.
Here is my site if you are interested in looking..
www.mygc.com/txcandlefreak

good luck

Wow, great ideas! I also like to give note pads...Teachers have to write so may notes home (especially when the kids are younger) so last year I did these really great Tyler candles and a couple of note pads. I didnt think it was that amazing of a gift, but I got a lot of comments about the note pads! The teachers loved them.

Since there are several teachers, I would suggest something like hand lotions (the small ones for the purse are great!), a mini manicure set, or something like that. I worked in a daycare for several years, and those were always great! Or a $5 gift card to Starbucks. I would steer away from candy, b/c I always got so much that I ended up giving to friends or throwing out. I will tell you that the teacher's are not in it for the gifts. It is just nice to know that you appreciate what they do!

My mom was a teacher for over thirty years and she said the best gifts she ever got, were homemade. She liked goodies so when she actually had a couple days off, she had something to set out for guests. Also, a nice thank you note because it made her feel appreciated. All the other cute little gifts, well they went in garage sales. Good luck!

When my son was in daycare I bought some nice and inexpensive red photo albums. I tied them with pretty ribbon and nice card. The teachers all liked these. They were small and$10 each at Target. They looked like they were made with leather covers. You could probably find something similar at Garden Ridge and probably for less.

Hi M., Gift Certificates are good. How about baking something, it's a little cheaper than spending 10$ on 5 teachers. Something like Pumpkin Bread or Christmas Cookies. Everyone likes sweets!

Hi M.
Check out this item. It is something a little different.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17004629
It is a little felt apple pin (or hair clip), but the pins are probably better for adults. It is personalized with the teacher's initial. It is cute and affordable.
Happy Gift Giving!

Hi M., I make soy candles. For a couple years now my friends buy my mini 1.5 oz. soy sprout candles for their kid's teachers. I take 2 soy sprouts and stack them in a clear bag with a ribbon. It's really cute and sells for only $6.00.

My daughter just started school this year so I plan to do the same for her teachers. You can check out my website for more info: www.alittlewhisper.com. I don't have a picture of the minis actually stacked but will post one soon. Good luck.

I vote some type of gift card. My daughter is an 8th grader in middle school with 8 teachers. They LOVE starbucks. I usually give $10 cards to all teachers except for her 2 orchestra teachers who are so awesome and give so much of themselves to the students. I give them $20.

My SIL is an elementary teacher and she has candles, lotions, bubble baths, running out her ears. Gift cards are apreciated because most teachers spend their own money on supplies for the classroom as well.

Hi there! Gift cards are a teacher's best friend when it comes to gifts. Take it from me, a former teacher. Teachers never have the 'extra' money to splurge on the little things and it is SO nice to get to have a little treat every now and again. I always LOVED getting SONIC bucks, Starbuck's, Barnes and Noble, Target etc. Teachers get a lot of sweets, homemade foods, candles and lotions all year long (especially the sweets and homemade foods- think teacher's lounge), so it is nice to get something that we can use when the cash flow is low :-) Good luck!!

If you want to go a little cute and a little less-expensive, you can give Homemade Gourmet cheesecake mixes with a cute holiday spreader tied on with a ribbon. I've done those for people in the past, or can just get you the cheesecakes and you can attach your own spreaders. I haven't shopped for spreaders yet this season, but I've been able to find them for a dollar a piece in the past. Let me know if I can help! ____@____.com

Hi M.:

I, myself am a preschool teacher. I teach 15 month olds to 2 year olds. Believe me, we aren't into what we do for the money - we do it because we LOVE it and we LOVE all our babies!

Any gift you choose would be such a nice surprise!

The Director at my school sent home with all the students a note telling the parents that there are gift ideas for each teacher in her office. She had us each fill out a questionaire with questions such as; our favorite candle, our favorite store, restaurant, salon, etc. Perhaps your Director could do the same...

$10 off our favorite anything is wonderful!

Good luck and have fun!

I teach preschool & have kids in preschool. At our school a lot of the parents get together & each give $5- $10 toward a giftcard. It is a nice gift for the teachers & easy for the parents. (After all- you can only have so many "best teacher" gifts)

I know this sounds bad, but as a teacher of low income students I get alot of junk as presents. I take it home and it goes in the trash. I say thank you and give out cards, but I can't keep it all. How many coffe mugs can one person have!? I would love, love , love $5 to Wal-mart, Sonic, or the local teacher store.

My mom is a preschool teacher with allergies to just about everything; so she really appreciates notepads or note cards, it makes it easy for her to include a small note to a parent etc throughout the year. Gift cards to restaurants, Target or Wal-mart, book stores and video stores or movie theaters.

As a former preschool teacher, I can tell you what I liked:
baked goods, gift cards, note cards (for writing thank yous to all those parents that were nice enough to send gifts :).

As a business woman (I have my own embroidery business - www.institches.biz) I can give you ideas as well:

personalized coffee mugs
personalized water bottles
personalized apron
personalized market tote (teachers usually have lots to bring back and forth to school like lunch, notes, curriculum books, etc.)
personalized lunch box

I hope you find something helpful! Let me know if I can help you out with any of the personalized items.
S.