I am the class mom for my son's preschool class and I want to coordinate a sentimental gift to give to the teacher from the class. Any great ideas? I know teachers appreciate gift cards etc but I am more interested in something besides the typical monetary gifts. Most parents at the school have the means and will probably gift something in addition to what coordinate from the class. Thanks so much for your help and I look forward to hearing some neat idea as it always amazes me how clever many of you are when I read posts!
This is just for a holiday gift. Thanks to all you thoughtful moms for such brilliant and wonderful ideas!
Thumbprint tree with each of the kids names and thumbprint as leaves with "you helped us grow" at the bottom or a personalized glass mug with a gift card and goodies inside. I do these every year at Christmas and I have run into teachers who say they loved them and still use them after 5 years or so.
A blanket/throw with the names of the students embroidered.
I like gift cards. (You could put it into a basket with theme related gifts like give movie tickets, restaurant gift card, popcorn and candy). How many picture frames, flower pots, soap and lotions can one teacher use and although I am sure the teacher loves the kids to have a gift that has their names, pictures, hand prints or anything else so personal and specific I think will just sit in a closet. I think it is better if the gift will be used and who doesn't like cash or gift cards?
This might sound a little out there but it popped into my head so here goes...if she has her own home and doesn't live in an apartment, how about something that can be used outdoors? I'm thinking that something like a Adirondack chair that the kids can put their hand prints on in paint with their names on the hand prints, then treat the whole thing with a few coats of polyurethane to make it stand up to the weather? If that's too large in terms of budget and effort (and item size LOL) then maybe something along those lines for something she can use in the classroom? Someone personalized a wooden step-stool for my oldest son and we still use it 15 years later. I think the got it at the Mill Stores or Christmas Tree Shops. We have a few other small, personalized items that we still use or have in the house as well, including a child-size rocking chair. Does she have room for a rocking chair in her room? Maybe you could get one on thrift and have the kids decorate/personalize it?
Sorry if these are wacky ideas - I know they're a bit impractical but I figured I'd share :-)
depending on how much work your going to put into it and when your going to give it. here are a couple of things my kids have done for teachers in the past. room moms did the coordinating of these things.
hand print wreath.
have each kids handprint traced and let the child sign there names on it. also attach and photo. get these sheets laminated and then cut out the handprints. put them together to form a wreath and instead of a bow you make a big 2013 (my kids did this back in 98 and 99 lol) you use green a light green paper. that way she has something that can be used at the holiday and she will see the kids faces.
another teacher when my kids were in about 4th grade had the kids each dip there hands into paint and she had an american flag made. so some kids white paint some blue and some red. that went up several times each year. same concept with the names of the class. no photo's on that one.
a photo collage is great but a teacher probably won't keep that forever they just don't have enough space but something they can use as a decoration might be used.
When the school Librarian retired, we gave her a rocking chair. She was a very tall woman, so we made sure she was going to be comfortable in it.
Maybe a Bracelet like James Avery and have each child pick a charm to go on it.
How about a tote bag with the class photo of all the kids on it...saying Thank You. Each child could also do a hand print on the bag as well if you want to really go all out.
we did a picture of all of the kids. put it in a nice frame.
Do you have any or can you get any pictures of the teacher having that "special moment" with the kids? I was a preschool teacher many years ago and the most precious gift I got was one of those pictures. During a field trip, one parent clicked a picture while I was in motion helping her son to pet a horses nose and the rest of the class was gathered around us watching in amazement. At the time I didn't know the picture was being taken but I still display that picture today all these years later. It is an awesome picture and for me defines what I was trying to do with my kids. Help them to experience new things and watch as they learned. Just an idea :) maybe just spend a day in the class helping out and see what you can get.
Good Luck
Is she leaving? It's October so are you talking about Christmas. Guess it depends on occasion. Knowing that would help.
