Hi Mamas,
I was wondering if there was any ideas out there on what to give my son's teachers for Christmas. He goes to preschool so there are about 4 teachers I would have to give a gift to but that can get pretty pricey. I thought maybe something in general for all the teachers so no one is left out and perhaps something they can share. Any ideas are most welcomed.
A good idea for teachers is just a gift card. I wouldn't give something "teachery" because most teachers have a ton of that kind of stuff. Just give a $10 gift card or something. Maybe just make them cookies or something they can share. Good lucK!
I'm a teacher and the one gift that every teacher I know appreciates is a gift card. I would much rather have a $5 gc to Starbucks, Target, Jewel, Blockbuster, etc. than a $20 candle. If you really want to give an actual gift, then give a Xmas ornament (assuming the teachers celebrate Xmas) because they don't take up much space. Also, have your son make the cards or gift tags for the gifts -- that is always appreciated.
I just saw an idea that I like very much---a sleeve of 4 Godiva or other chocolate truffles. My guess is that you can pick these up for around $10 (Godiva) or less (Target has their own chocolate line now), etc., etc. Or, there's plenty of holiday themed candy that is nice enough to put a bow on and gift. Good luck.
Other thoughts--
*Nice handcreams (e.g. with heavy shea butter), etc. (The Body Shop; L'Occitane)
*Nice frangranced candle (L'Occitane comes to mind, but will cost at least $20, unless they have smaller candles now).
*Gift cards seem a big hit these days. I'm not much into them, but perhaps a gift card for a gingerbread latte or two at Starbucks, couple Blockbuster movie rentals, a dozen bagels at a local bagel shop, etc.
*Also seems popular, but I never purchased--Burt's tinted lip balms. I recall seeing these at a few places including Walgreens, Whole Foods checkout, etc.
*Something initialed would be a nice gift. Not sure everyone would appreciate this, but an initialed handkerchief. I recall seeing some nice ones every once in a while at Marshall's or TJ Max.
*"Home Goods" is also a fun store to browse through (there is one in Morton Grove on Harlem, about a mile north of Milwaukee, I believe, and in Schaumburg across from Woodfield). Its like the Home Goods section of every Marshall's or TJ Maxx. They often have pretty and inexpensive gifts for the home there. Maybe an overnight water vase & glass, cookbooks, an interesting gadget for the home, etc.
*Picture Frame. There are so many beautiful frames out at Christmas. 5 x 7 is always a good size.
Good luck! G.
Hi Frances-
My daughter is in preschool also. The teacher reads to the kids a lot and my daughter loves books so I got an ABC learning book for the teacher to use in the classroom. I spent $5 at Target. Oh and as I read through the other responses-from what I have heard, teachers do buy a lot for their classrooms. I know my daughter's preschool is grateful for toy donations. So even a learning toy I am sure would be appreciated.
Being part of the PTO and talking to the teachers and listening to their issues..they would love gift certificates to walmart to use for classroom supplies(yes teachers buy alot of stuff for the classrooms out of their own pockets) and they would even appreciate gift certificates for lunch places(subway, bk, mcdonalds) or even to a book store. Teachers are always buying books for the classrooms..K.
There are cute ornaments at Wal-Mart starting at $0.97 cents. Check those out.
I gave my daughter's preschool teachers some homemade peanut brittle, hot cocoa mix and a Target gift certificate.
My sister teaches Fifth Grade and although she loves the thought behind every gift she gets, she can only eat so many homemade baked goods, burn so many candles & even though they are cute she doesn't know what to do with the homemade gifts made by her students themselves. I think her favorite gifts are the gift cards. Even if you only want to spend a small amount, a gift card to Starbucks can get her a cup of coffee as a treat. Or a card to Target or Walmart or anywhere else she can use to put towards anything she wants or if she gets the same thing from other students she can put them all together and get something bigger.
Hi Frances,
I was a teacher and I would say that a good gift for all would be a fruit basket or desert basket. They could use it for there staff Christmas Party.
I like to give homemade drink mixes for hot cocoa, Mocha Coffee (if they're drink coffee), Orange apple cider, Chai tea, Southern Tea etc. They're all so easy to make (and inexpensive, with 3 kids, we had 8 teachers to consider), you put them in a mason jar with mixing instructions and viola! yummy treat.
Having been a teacher in grades K-4 in the past years my fav. gifts were gift cards to panera, starbucks, borders, barnes and nobel etc. even for $5. I also loved children's books signed by the kids.
