Christmas Presents for Son's 3 Pre-k Teachers...

Hello: I donated to the Children's Hospital in Oakland in the name of all of my son's preschool teachers. They send you a card to give to the teachers but it does not state the amount...so it could be as much or as little as you want.

Y.

I see that you're a photographer -- how about a certificate for a photo of their family or just themselves?

Hi, as a teacher myself, here are some ideas:

homemade bread or goodies
Starbucks cards
things for the classroom

I have four children, so I try to find fun gifts without spending alot of money. This year I will give my children's teachers a CaliBowl with salsa from Trader Joes. you can order the CaliBowls in sets of three and split them up. I came across a coupon sticker with the coupon code for 15% off the code is 1calibowl. you can order online www.calibowl.com and I think they are offering free shipping. I think it's a great gift. Everyone loves salsa and bowls!

I normally do gift cards, but when my son was in pre-school and he had multiple teachers we brought in lunch for all of them. One year we did Subway, another year Round Table Pizza. We arranged to bring lunch the the day of the Christmas program, since we knew that was a long day for the teachers.

I'm not a teacher, but it seems to me that a gift card would be the best gift. Teachers aren't paid enough, and although probably appreciated, I can't imagine little trinkets being very useful. With a gift card, they can buy classroom supplies, or use it to de-stress over the holidays with a cup of coffee, etc. That makes for a better teacher, better classroom environment for your kid. It doesn't have to be a huge amount- I know I'd appreciate a $5 gift card much more than some soap or lotion.

Or have your little guy make his own soaps to give away. I have the make-your-own-soap place in Palo Alto (Opal'z) and that is a great gift. Kids love making them and teachers can use them and not have to find a spot to store it. they can us them --- and they are lovely!

Hello:
Every year I give my kids teachers cash to spend on classroom supplies. Teachers get so much candy, cups, etc. To make it better, my emplyer will match my contribution. I am always amazed at how far these teachers can spread that dollar.
C.

I am a teacher as well and LOVE gift cards. Anything from Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Barnes and Noble/Borders, or a Mani/Pedicure gift certificate was always nice. Good luck!

Im a teacher myself - definitely go with the gift card. While actual presents of things are always nice and thoughtful, with all the students one has over the years, one ends up accumulating lots of useless, knick knacky junk that inevitably has to be thrown away. Gift cards you can always use: Im a big coffee drinker myself and always really loved getting Starbucks gift cards, but find out what your child's teachers prefer and gift accordingly (barnes and noble, music stores, jamba juice, a restaurant gift card, etc).

When I was working at a school my favorite gift was a Starbucks gift card. It was only for five dollars, but I greatly appreciated it.

How about a pot of herbs, wrapped prettily, for each teacher. Who doesn't love the smell of fresh basil and the green leaves on the kitchen counter? Trader Joe's usually has either herbs or a pretty potted rose for a great price.

I went to the dollar store and bought scented lotions, sprays and candles or soaps and put then in a basket. For male teachers school supplies or starbucks cards for either. Have your child help you make something for them.

I usually bake something (usually a loaf of quick bread) and give them a Starbucks gift card.

Definitely something consumable. I give gourmet food products from Tastefully Simple or candles. I love the new SOY candles that are now out on the market.

Gift certificates. Even a $10 gift cert., if that's what you can afford, is good. Starbucks or Jamba Juice, for example. No trinkets.

Since you are a photographer, how about photographs. You could say you would like to take pictures of your kids at school, then take candid, happy pictures of the teachers interacting with kids--yours or others. I work with kids & always love getting pictures of me w/ "my" kids. Or, just a nice, professional, framed group photo of the whole class with teachers included. That would probably involve some kind of release form, unless you just take photos of your kids with the teachers. I'm sure you are creative enough to figure it out!

I don't know about you, but if I give a giftcard, I am always put in an awkward position to try to figure out how much to spend. If you spend $5-10 that is basically 2 cups of coffee depending on what they get & it may not even be enough for a book etc... While it may be nice to give a giftcard, you may feel cheap if you only gave $5-10. With 3 teachers it can get pretty pricey if you end up spending more than that.

As a photographer myself, I love the idea of giving a picture of the kids to the teacher so they have a lasting memento of their time with them. You can also go to places like a Christian supply store and they usually have coffee mugs, and inscribed frames that have to do with what a teacher represents, etc...if you wanted to give them a frame without a picture inside of it.

Hope this helps.

N.

Hi K.,

When we didn't know what the teacher's interests/hobbies were I usually gave them a holiday gift such as a cute platter, candles, or a Starbucks gift card inside a holiday cup, scarves, tea/coffee gift baskets. At our preschool center we had five teachers one year and I gave them all an ornament.

Happy Holidays.
J.

I make lovely molded soaps in prices ranging from 3/$5 (for guest sized bars) to $5 (for a generous 5.5 oz bar). I also produce aromatic room and body sprays ranging in price from $6 to $11 and a host of other personal care products. Please take a look at my website: www.mccluckfarms.com.

We have also just produced the first in a line of children's books: Billie's Sweater, which is available as a paperback or as an ebook on our site. It's a great bedtime or naptime story and great for early readers, too. We've just started a series of County Library readings and craft hours and the University of San Diego is reviewing the book for possible recommendation to the school system. Please take a look, and tell your friends!

Thank you for your consideration, and have a blessed holiday season!

Hi K.
I responded yesterday to a similar request. I just gave my 2nd grader's teacher a homemade SOY candle for Thanksgiving (she'll get another for Christmas). These are so simple to make that I've even had 6 years old make them (I have classes). Anyway, to make a 10 oz. candle costs about $3, and they retail for $16. It's a nice gift, and the preschooler can help decorate with scrapbooking stickers. If you want to know more - where to get the wax, how to do it, etc., feel free to contact me. Be careful - it's addictive!!! Don't try paraffin - too messy and hard to work with. Soy is clean and go green and helps to support the American Farmer!

If you want to give the teachers something that your son has made, you could give them each a tub of home made peppermint cocoa mix, and a couple of candy canes that look like reindeer. My kids always had fun mixing up the cocoa & dry milk & crushing peppermint candies. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22401235.tip.html

I don't have a good suggestion for what to get, but I wanted to caution you that some schools and programs don't allow teachers to take presents from their students, so you may want to check before you pick anything up. Happy Holidays!

Hi K.,

I am not responding to your gift question but rather....my daughter is looking for a wedding photographer. If you have any info or a website that I could pass along to her I would really appreciate it. They are getting married next August and are actively looking for a photographer.

Thanks,

I got my daughter's teachers a tote bag from www.piperbags.com Super cute designs and most bags are named.

I have gotten gift cards or movie tickets for my childs teacher.

Hi K.,
I apologize if this repeats ideas...I didn't get a chance to read all the posts. When my son was in preschool, we did this: Buy a roll of tickets (the raffle kind). Take the tickets and gently push the center out with your thumbs to create a basket. You can make it as shallow or deep as you want. It takes a little work and shaping, but it turns out cute! Then use modge podge or some other sealant and paint the whole thing - dry overnight (my kids helped with this step). Then choose movie items (DVD, microwave popcorn, candy, movie passes, gift card to rental place, etc.) and fill the basket with them. It's nice because the basket isn't huge to fill and most people like this theme. Then tie a bow around the rim of the bowl. Both of my son's teachers loved theirs! Good luck!

Hello K.,

The idea of gift ablums sounds exiting to all of us friends when it comes to gifts.
Gift album is a unique and attractive way of giving gifts and letting them know you care.
It gives the person a choice to chose form a variety of gift collection, convenience of ordering online and shipped to the person's doorstep..!!

All that at a very low price price per album that the person would never know!

Experience the joy of giving gifts-goto

http://rpalnitkar.ordermygift.com

and order the album of your choice and it wil be delivered to your doorstep free of charge..!

~Friend

as a teacher myself i will echo the other responses...GIFT CARD GIFT CARD GIFT CARD :)

Someone on the post mentioned gift cards. They are the best. Get gift cards for places to eat or shopping stores like Target, Walmart etc. Shopping mall gift cards work well too. It will give your preschool teachers options to buy from whichever store they want in the mall.