by Lois Breneman, © 2006, Heart to Heart
It seems to have become more and more common for parents to be expected to give gifts to their children's teachers at school, so if you are at a loss for ideas. Hopefully, these sixty suggestions will give you some creative ideas. Showing appreciation does not mean you have to go broke, however.
Of all these gift ideas, my favorite is number one - that of writing a heartfelt thank you note with a small gift. I'm sure this would be one of your child's teacher's favorite and most treasured gifts as well. I remember how after I wrote a thank you note to a kindergarten teacher at the end of the school year, she told me how she rarely ever got a thank you - in letter or word! That is terribly sad! And it doesn't cost anything except a little thought and time! Your child could even add a P.S. and we all know how that would be appreciated by a teacher! Even an additional thoughtful poem about children or teaching would be enjoyed by your child's teacher.
I might add that I believe most teachers already have quite enough coffee mugs, vases, hankies, key chains, decorations and trinkets with apples on them, especially if they have been teaching for several years. So unless you know the teacher collects apple trinkets, try not to give a gift that will end up at a yard sale or as a donation to charity.
Before giving chocolate, nuts or sugary sweets, find out if they are able to eat them. Some people are allergic to chocolate or nuts, are diabetic, trying to lose weight, or would just rather eat healthier foods. Perfumes are not a good gift since many people are allergic to them or might not choose the scent you would. Hand lotions that are lightly scented or without scent would probably be fine in most cases. Of course, if you know your child's teacher's favorite perfume, then it would be a fine gift. When teachers were surveyed, most teachers said they did not consider gift certificates impersonal, but loved receiving them.
There are so many good people who serve us throughout the year but are forgotten when it comes time for showing appreciation or giving gifts. How about the principal, secretaries, cafeteria staff, the teacher's aide, the P.E. teacher? Then there are the nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, the Awana leader, bandleader, private piano teacher - and the list goes on! Parents can't possibly buy or make gifts for all of these people unless you make something like identical inexpensive Christmas ornaments in assembly-line fashion. Then it probably wouldn't break your budget.
I heard of one mother who wanted to do something special for people in volunteer positions, who are often completely overlooked when it comes time to give out thanks, such as Sunday School teachers or nursery workers at church. So each year she and her husband try to invite their children's Sunday School teachers and their families to dinner in their home to thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. She said it never ceases to amaze her that she always hears comments like, "No one has ever done anything like this for me before and I've been teaching Sunday School for twelve years." If you can not invite them all to dinner, a nice "Thank You" note or card given at the holidays or the end of the school year would go a long way in showing your appreciation. They love sincere appreciation!
If dealing with such a large number of potential gift recipients is just too much to think about, but you still want to remember each one in some special way, think about donating a book to the school or church library in the names of all the people who have been part of your child's life this year. Then give each person a card telling them why they are so important to you and your child. Let them know of the book donation and how you hope this gift will help other children as they have helped your child.
It's the thought that counts. Showing appreciation to teachers should be an expression of our sincere thanks to the dedicated people who have given of themselves to our children or touched our lives in a positive way. Remember that gift-giving is not a competition to see which child brings the most expensive gift for his teacher. Explain that to your children as well.
The following are suggestions for helpful and often inexpensive teacher appreciation gifts for "Teacher Appreciation Week," the holidays, or the end of the school year. If the cost for what you'd like to give is too high, get on the phone and find one or more other families to give an extra special gift as a joint effort. Most of these suggestions are not that expensive, especially the first one.
1) A heartfelt thank you letter or handwritten card from the parent (and/or student), telling what you enjoyed about the year or how you appreciated the teacher's input into your child's life. This seems to be one of the best and most appreciated gift ideas and could be given alone or with a small gift.
2) A gift certificate to a Christian book store
3) Nuts
4) Homemade fudge
5) Pencils printed with "Best Teacher in the World," the teacher's name or "Mrs. Dye's Class"
6) Decorated gingerbread men
7) Flavored coffee, hot chocolate or tea mixes.
8) An apron, possibly that you made.
9) A candle
10) Anything for the classroom: games, construction or other paper, books, rulers, masking tape, Scotch tape, rubber bands, things to decorate or theme objects.
11) Potholders or placemats - plain or quilted (maybe start planning for next year)
12) Dried fruit
13) A gift certificate to a Bath store.
14) Shoebox sized plastic storage boxes for classroom supplies or home use.
15) A houseplant that you started and established earlier in the year or one you bought. Pothos is a good hardy plant that lives through most anything and does well even without a lot of light.
16) A homemade mix in a jar, where you layer the dry ingredients and attach the recipe (Muffins, cookies, five bean soup, etc.)
17) Homemade Christmas cookie assortment
18) Chocolate dipped pretzels.
19) Chocolate anything, if you know they aren't allergic to chocolate
20) Painted glass ball Christmas ornament or another type ornament. These are fun for teachers to take out each year and remember students from years past. Write your child's name and the year on them, if possible.
21) Rubber stamps for class papers (100%!, Good Job!, Excellent!, Improvement!, etc.)
22) Rubber stamps for the teacher's own personal use
23) A gift certificate for a massage (several parents might join together for this)
24) Stationery or note cards
25) Postage stamps
26) A book about birds, flowers, houseplants, science experiments, riddles, jokes
27) Silk flower arrangement
28) Decorations for various holidays
29) A gift certificate to a school supply store
30) Pretty cardboard storage boxes. You could cover sturdy shoe boxes and lids with fabric, wallpaper or contact paper or buy some boxes at a craft store.
31) Homegrown herbs and spices -- Children can help with this.
32) Fresh fruit basket, though it's best to give too many perishable gifts, in case they get more fruit than they can use.
33) A coupon for a main course, dessert or complete dinner - to be delivered in January or whenever you say. Then be sure to communicate with the teacher and deliver when the time comes.
34) Handmade gift tags for all year round - birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas. Punch a hole in one corner and add a few rolls of thin ribbon to tie on the tags.
35) Devotional book, music tape or CD
36) A tape or CD from Focus on the Family www.focusonthefamily.org
37) Housecleaning - a joint gift of several families going together to cover the cost.
38) A list of cute kids' quotes, possibly made into a booklet
39) As you mix up cookie dough, mix a very large batch in a clean dishpan, and give some of the dough as gifts. Simply roll the unbaked dough into logs, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap, then in cellophane or gift wrap and tie at both ends. Keep chilled. Or if you freeze it, the dough will stay cold for several hours. I made the Best Ever Gingerbread Cookie recipe and gave the dough as gifts one year. Later it can be sliced and baked.
40) If you have an herb garden and have dried your herbs, a sampling of a few different herbs from your garden would be a very nice gift.
41) If you know of a more expensive item that your teacher is in need of, several families could go together to purchase that item as a joint gift. Give other parents a call and see if they might like to join you in that purchase.
42) Cloth napkins or paper ones (find out teacher's kitchen colors).
43) Kitchen towels - possibly with an embroidery design - made much quicker with the embroidery machines these days! (Find out kitchen colors)
44) A gift certificate to the grocery store. Now that's one everyone can use!
45) Stickers!
46) Gift certificate for video rental.
47) Find out your teacher's hobbies, and purchase an item she could use, or give a gift certificate to a hobby store.
48) Popcorn and a flavored salt sampler.
49) Hand lotions with very light or no fragrance
50) Teachers are on their feet for long hours. Several families could go together to give her a foot massager.
51) At times teaching can be stressful. Several families could join in and give a hand held Homedics massager.
52) Homemade candies
53) Concert voucher (for 2)
54) Movie theater passes (for 2)
55) James Dobson's book, All About Boys - www.focusonthefamily.org He is currently working on a similar book about girls! (Note: The book came out in April 2010 so it's available now as well!)
56) A snow globe nativity scene. You will find the best bargains after Christmas, so you might want to put this on next year's gift list.
57) A small nativity scene for the schoolroom, her home, or both. Again after Christmas sales are best.
58) Have a small trophy or marble block made saying, "Best Teacher of the Year Award - According to Your Third Grade Class" Call the trophy store for prices. You might be surprised at how little one would cost.
59) Homemade quick breads (Cranberry-orange, date-nut bread, banana nut bread, etc.)
60) Homemade whole wheat-honey bread or homemade sticky buns! Yum!
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