Need Some Teacher Gift Ideas

My son is in preschool also. He has 2 teachers and he has picked out teacher ornaments for both of them. those can be used and are relatively inexpensive. just an idea for you

No candles or bath stuff. Everybody gets those. Gift cards are great, even if it's just $5 for McDonalds. A really thoughtful gift we got one year was a parent who sent along a menu for Panera and said they would take orders and bring us lunch one day the following week. That was SO nice! :) I also always love flowers and candy.

With my son's preschool class we decided to do a class cookbook (low cost) and give them gift cards to the local grocery store. This is something that everyone can use and they won't care if they get 20! Last year we did supplies for the classroom, so they didn't have to spend their budget on things like that. Good luck!

Most teachers spend lots of their own money for their classrooms. I would suggest a gift certificate to a teacher's supply store or a craft store such as Michael's.

I bought my son's teachers their gifts already. I found little warm fuzzy socks at Bath and Body Works. They came in red great for christmas and the price was good 2 for $12. They even have cute gift cards to put with it if you want to spend a little more. I used to teach 1st grade before staying home with my two sons. I always loved gifts like that because I would never spend the money on it myself. Good luck and happy shopping.

this may not be so much for a christmas present but last year for my son' preschool teacher at the end of the year presents...all the parents pitched in $10 and we all gave her a gift card to the local spa for what ever she wanted to do.

I have to agree with the others. I have enough lotion and candles to last a lifetime. I always donate them. One year, when both of my kids were in preschool, they had 4 teachers. I gave them a discovery toys catalog with a limit and said they could pick what they wanted up to that limit, which is basically like a gift card. That way they got what they needed and my kids benefited from it as well.

Hi there!

My Mom has been teaching for 35 years (first and second grade). I can tell you without a doubt, stay away from the "World's Best Teacher" mugs and apple keychains/pins/Christmas Ornaments. She appreciates every gift but boy does she get a TON of those!

Go with a gift card. Coffee shop, Amazon, brick and mortar book store, restaurant - anything you would like yourself. Book stores are especially fun because it may give the teacher a chance to buy something for the classroom that she's really been wanting or better yet, a book for herself. Amount doesn't matter, gift cards are wonderful whether they cover the entire purchase or just take a few dollars off the final price.

Happy holidays,
M.

Just wanted to give you the idea of getting a gift certificate for "teacher supply stores". They have them everywhere and my friends that are teachers appreciate this the most, b/c they can actually use it!

My mom is a Kindergarten teacher, and she has said that her favorite gift ever is when a child drew a picture of himself and her (the teacher) and then framed it with an inexpensive frame. She still has it 30 years later!

I am going to get my children's teachers gift cards to a book store or go buy them some books. You can never have enough books in a classroom! So many teachers have to spend their own money to provide things for their classrooms. This way they don't have to.

Have you heard of the company arbonne?? It is a company that offers pure, safe, and beneficial products for our skin. I love to give these gifts as i know they are good for me and the benifits are unbelievable. If you want more inof on how to order let me know. My skin never felt better nor has it looked better in years. More info. E-mail me B.

To add to the response mentioning the "movie pack," here is a link to a nifty idea I've used for some daycare providers. It's an altered Jiffy Pop popcorn tin. I like the idea that they made a pocket for the gift card right on it. I actually decorate mine with a Christmas theme, but you can do whatever you want for a theme - Christmas, Movie Time, Teaching... And you can be as elaborate or simple as you would like...

http://analteredstate.blogspot.com/2007/08/altered-jiffy-...

Another thing I did for a provider who had a large family was the microwave popcorn bucket you can buy now. Then I just filled it with a movie gift card, some candy, juice, etc. They loved it. Hope that helps a little!

Hi,
I am a teacher and I love it when the students give me something personal, but useful. For example, I have a nice sturdy canvas book bag that I can carry my supplies in that a student put his handprint all over and painted "Thanks for always lending a hand". I was so cute, and I use it everyday! I have also had students decorate mugs or ornaments for me. Those are special too! If you don't have that much time, find something that your child's teachers use everyday, like Starbucks every morning or whatever. Get them a gift card to starbusks or a nice bag of premium coffee. Hope that helps a little! Good luck!

Gift Cards!!! The best gifts ever (from a teacher who knows...) They can be very simple, a few bucks to a coffee shop, a book store, or an online club you know the teacher uses (like scholastic maybe?). It may seem like a copout but was always very appreciated by myself and my teacher friends.

I have learned that the best gift to any teacher is something that can be used in their classroom such as a book. My mom is a teacher and every year she comes home with so much stuff and duplicate gifts. She thinks that a book or a game or something like that for the room would be great! You could write inside the book who it's for and from your child for Christmas. Otherwise one year me and some other moms got together and got the teacher a gift card to a spa. That way we didn't spend too much. Good luck!

Both my parents are teachers and, trust me, teachers LOVE gift cards. Even $10 ones are nice. They get enough lotions, candles, and knick-knacks =)

R.,
One neat idea I found this year was a beautiful trivet that had hearts in it. You attatch a tag that reads "Thanks for putting your heart into my child." They are sold by pampered chef and $2 from every trivet goes directly to America's Second Harvest Food Banks that benifit people who are a little down and out. If you want to see them you can check out my website www.pamperedchef.biz/ashleysdreamkitchen Go to products and then click on the Round up from the Heart link to view the trivet. They are really beautiful, useful and helps out a good cause. Let me know if you need any other gift ideas and I would be happy to help. I figure kitchen gifts are great because everybody cooks- even if they do not like to!lol
A.

R. - My kids' teachers have always loved getting bath products and candles. My best friend is a teacher and she said she's got some many #1 teacher things it's not funny. lol So go with something for personal pampering and you're sure to make a great impression! HTH! K.

All over the internet they have ideas for "gifts in a jar." Like hot chocolate, cookies, soups, etc, etc. You can layer all the ingredients, add some fabric and a tag, and they look pretty nice.

I have some awesome and unique products that I think his teach will LOVE. I am biased because I sell them but check out the website and see for yourself. I have all kinds of felt products but would recommend a Figure to Tell set. You get the felt to go with a popular book so as you read the story the children can put the felt up (or the teacher can too). Anyway, my 2 favorites are "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." They are 9.99 uncut or 11.99 precut (you can easily cut them yourself if you want). Also, if you want some for yourself or other Christmas gifts you can get a deal because when you buy 4 you get the fifth one FREE!

Good luck!
D. Edmondson
www.funfelt.com/D..html

Have you thought about getting together with the other parents to get something a little bigger? a gift certificate with the combined money you get is a great idea. I'm a teacher, and last winter holiday I received a gift certificate from my parents to a local spa, and I loved it! although Kohl's, Boston Store, etc. work great, too. you can get a smaller gift certificate if you don't do it with other parents, and have your child make a personal card for the teacher :) that's an awesome gift in itself! C.

Being a former teacher I can say the gifts I appreciated the most were gift cards. My favorite ideas I use with my son's teachers are a gift card from a movie store ($5), a package of microwave popcorn and a bag of candy (like m&m's). This gives them an opportunity to spend time with their family. Gift cards to a restuarant ($5-$10) or to a coffee shop. Knick Knack kind of stuff was always cute but after years of teaching you can only store so much stuff! Supplies for the classroom are alway nice too. Like a book or two or a game to add to the game shelf. Hope the ideas are helpful. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Hi R.,

I use to be a preschool teacher. (Now I am a SAHM) My favorite gift was a container full of a homemade family treat. It had the recipe attached. Every year I now make this treat. I love the fact that they took the time to make something and that they shared a favorite family recipe.

Hope that helps,
R.

This year I got my girls' teachers personalized coffee mugs and I am making homemade hot chocolate mix that I will include.

A book to be used in the classroom. Inscribed with a note from the child.

Board games that can be used year after year in the classroom

A gift basket filled with small teacher supplies( you can go to the dollar store and get pens, paper, markers, crayons, chalk, construction paper ect. and put it in a cute christmas basket) and then maybe put a tag on it as a gift to both of them .

Gift certificates to teacher supply stores

Gift certificates to maybe barnes and nobles or something I would assume they would like to read being teachers and all.

something that could help organize the classroom more.

Here are some ideas for you ... hope they help.

R.-- I have gotten pretty Christmas tree ornaments with some goodies they can share with their families. Alot of times I will buy the really nice ornaments on clearence the year before and set it aside for the next year... Good Luck M.

I have many friends who are teachers and I just asked them the same question and they just said" Gift Card really works because then they can really get what they need.

Hope it helps!!

T. H.

I give my son's teachers candle melts. Most of the teachers in our school have an electric melter in their classroom, and really appreciate the melts. I don't know if you've ever been in a classroom after recess...but it doesn't usually smell good...lol :)
I sell candles, so this is also a good way for me to get re-orders through the teachers...it's a win-win.

Easy answer - do a gift card!

Target is all purpose and all around you.

My friends are teachers and they have plenty of things to dust. They always preferred gift cards over food unless you KNOW what they like.

Good Luck!

D. in milwaukee

As a teacher, I agree that gift cards are great. Borders, Half-Price Books, A Coffee Shop, Target... I also really like the idea of a new board game or gift for the classroom.

I have been getting my kids' teachers the same thing for the past few years. It is a box of assorted teacher incentives like stickers, bookmarks, certificates, etc. The first year I found it at Sams Club but since then I've had to go to a store that carries educational supplies. The box is about the size of a large index card file. It works great since it can be a joint gift for more than one teacher (this was great last year when my daughter had four teachers). I hope this helps. I'll be watching to see other suggestions too since I'm always looking for new ideas.

Hi!
I'm a teacher, and I love to receive gift cards for bookstores!
A.