Preschool Is Done - What Do We Buy the Teachers as Farewell/thank You Gifts?

As a former preschool teacher, I suggest you don't by anything for the teacher. Instead, write a letter about the teacher's specific talents and how much you have benefitted from the program. Provide a copy for the teacher and for her personnel file.

Best,
C.

I am a retired teacher. For years I received mugs (World’s greatest teacher!), t-shirts (I have never worn a t-shirt made by a student…can you imagine if I wore one, I’d have to wear them all, and equally…), ornaments, plaques, towels, vases...you get the idea. Imagine, 20+ kids every year, every Christmas, buying those things for me. I taught for 10 years, you can do the math.

Here is what I know. Teachers do not need any more mugs, t-shirts, ornaments, plaques etc.

TEACHERS NEED…

GIFT CERTIFICATES: for a massage or a pedicure, or for some sort of pampering OF THEIR CHOICE. Get together with some other parents and get the teacher a gift certificate for a local salon.

TEACHER SUPPLIES: You know all those stickers and pencils and great paper that your child came home with on their birthday or work that was done well? The teacher paid for that out of her own pocket.

REST AND RELAXATION: Tickets to a dinner theatre, local play house, restaurant, movie theatre, bowling alley, fun center, etc.

Every year I organize the parents (by a letter home) to donate toward a year end gift for the teacher. Some give $5. Some give $20. With the money, I purchase a “Survival Pack”. In it there is usually a gift certificate for some kind of salon, a bunch of pencils, stickers etc – just like the ones she used this year – something to make them laugh, a DVD perhaps of I love Lucy or Gilligan’s Island, something their home family can enjoy, and there is always hand written thank yous, just a quick personal note from the kids that let the teacher know that they were appreciated.

Everything in the basket is CONSUMABLE. Nothing needs to be stored, dusted, packed, wrapped or displayed. It is a basket that comes from the heart AND can doesn’t take up any space.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, think about how many presents this teacher will receive over the course of her teaching career. PLEASE respect that she will probably be diplomatic and polite, but also remember she is human…

A handwritten note, is always appreciated... not a 'generic' one, but something that tells how you and your daughter loved her Teacher(s) and school... and any special things they did for her...
then with that, you can include a picture that your daughter drew, and a family photo... even simple things like this, is really thoughtful and appreciated. It's not the dollar amount spent... teachers get mugs and knick-knacks all the time... that just accumulates dust. So, something "personal", to me, is always nice and shows actual thoughtfulness and not showing that you just ran to the nearest handy store and bought something on a whim out of rushing...

Or, make something.... like a T-shirt and have your daughter paint it with fabric paint.... Teachers like to wear handmade things I have found... and it will last a long time.

In my State, we also give the Teachers a "lei"... and you can make it out or real flowers or with construction paper and cut it out in flower shapes and string it together.

If you want to gift them with something monetarily... you can donate some books to the classroom... or a gift certificate in addition to the handwritten note and drawing, for a store that is useful... for the Teacher... or as what lots of people do, is a gift cert to a hair salon or spa. But Teachers get lots of those too.

Something personal, always shows that thought was put into it. And that is what I usually like to give.

All the best,
Susan

I was a teacher for 17 years and the best gifts I got were gift cards for various venues of relaxation such as: a day spa, Starbucks,Manicure/Pedicure places, restaurants, etc. Additionally, some other nice gifts parents got me were gift cards that I could use for the next year for my classroom such as: Lakeshore, Constructive Playthings, Target and Walmart.
I usually ended up with tons of candles, bath stuff, teacher jewelry, and mugs. There is only so much of these things that one person can use. :)

WHen I was a teacher I liked things for the classroom like art supplies, homemade cards from the kids, baked goods, book store gift cards.

As a teacher, I can tell you that hand made cards -- something your child helps create are most meaningful.

Gift cards are great. Any amount is appreciated (consider your budget, the community in which you live/local of preschool.

I buy teachers gift cards for $15 or $20 - they probably get hundreds of little gifts that they don't need - they are very thoughtful, especially the hand made ones, but what can you do with dozens of these kinds of gifts? Stick to gift cards.

K.,
WE gave our preschool teacher a gift certificate to her favorite food place and bookstore, and for a manicure and pedicure. We've also given her a gift card to her favorite teacher supply store in the past. We did a collective gift.
A.

I work in middle school, not preschool, but the end of the year tokens indeed make you feel like your hard work has been appreciated. I agree something the student writes or makes is the most touching and meaningful.

I love a gift card... but the most common ones I get are to Starbucks or a bookstore. Educators DO have other interests besides drinking lattes and reading, believe it or not!

Target is good, or a clothing store if you know the teacher's style :)

looks like you've gotten some great responses! i agree - do a gift card to somewhere, even if it is a small amount. as a i teacher, you really do have soooo many candles, etc. that people spend about $5 on. a $5 gift card to starbucks, in-n-out or cold stone is enough to get a nice little beverage/meal. :) you are so thoughtful to want to do something nice for the teachers.

but really, like a couple others said, a nice note written from the heart is just as appreciated!

I think whatever you feel comfortable spending is great. Try to have your kids make a card. Flowers, a plant, baked goods, gift cards are always nice... or something for the classroom. Try to avoid things that don't have a purpose or will collect dust- teachers get plenty of that. Or go in with some other moms or do a class gift- dinner or spa gift certificate...

C., mother of 3, sleep consultant, sleep blog writer www.lullabyluna.com