Teacher Gifts (And How Much $$) for the Holidays....

Hey! I just went to a place (I live in Fort Wayne) at the corner of Airport Expressway and Ardmore Rd called Darlington Farms. I was AMAZED when I walked in! I had never been there before. Ladies, this is insane, but everything in the store is $1.36 unless priced otherwise!!! I'm talking NICE stuff too! It's like a Beverly Hills Dollar Tree....no joke. For example, I bought 3 teachers gifts that altogether, with the gift bags cost me about $8, and it looks like I spent way more than that. I got them things that looked like something a teacher would like to have on their desk. One was a cute ceramic snowman that had two magnets that you could pull apart and put little notes in between to hold. I also got them little tart warmers that are in the shape of a little teacup. Get this, I got myself two BEAUTIFUL santa claus tree toppers that I set out on a desk at home for decorations and when I asked my neighbor what she thought I spent on them she said "maybe....$30"? She had commented on how pretty they were. They're really fancy looking. So, anyone out there who lives near or in Fort Wayne, it is totally worth the trip out there. I've never seen anything like it before. I was able to buy for so many people I don't normally buy for by only spending an extra $40. I was able to buy about 30 things for that!!!!!!!!!!!!

A great idea for a great price. William Sonoma has Vanilla Spice Bread mix on sale for $4.99 . They will put it in a celo bag and add a bow for free - or give you one of thier nice small boxes. This use to be $10 - and it expires next Sept . It is easy to make and very Yummy. If you want to spend more add a Starbucks gift card - what a great combo Vanilla cake and coffee .

I agree with Sarah on the homemade gift. Making teacher a box of homemade fudge, cookies, sounds super sweet & yummy! Perhaps a gift card to get a manicure/pedicure would be a pampering thought! Maybe even a gift card for starbucks, Borders,a mall near her home, a restaurant, How about a X-Mas ornament? Just a few ideas...

My husband's mom taught for years and he knows how that stuff collects in boxes! He won't let me buy candles, photo frames, or anything that can't be used up.

Gifts do add up, though. Between my two sons, there are currently 3 teachers and 5 daycare/after care providers to buy for. That can add up a lot of money in our xmas budget, which is not a large budget to begin with. It's really becoming a dilemma for me since I hate to not be generous, but I can't make more money out of nothing.

We have given gift cards (for a small amount when we don't have much to spend, but even $10 at Borders will buy a paperback or a calendar). We typically give my younger son's main daycare provider and her assistant cash (50 or more each), but we may give gifts instead this year since they only have him half-days now and we have more teachers to buy for.

I also like gifts that can be used up - food is always nice, and nice to have for guests during the holidays for most people, even if you don't want to eat it yourself. Homemade banana bread, fudge, candy, etc. Fancy jams, jellies, and spreads are nice for entertaining, too. Pretty stationary or note cards.

Good luck! I'll be checking back to see what ideas other people have.

I have been a daycare teacher for over 20 years and the greatest gifts were the ones that were picked out just for me. Everyone knows how much I love diet coke so one year I received a case of diet coke. I also get alot of gift cards to McDonalds, again for the diet coke. Homemade cookies with a gift card to Starbucks, it doesn't have to be much. The thought is what counts. Have your children make a special drawing and frame it. One year I put hot chocolate mix in canning jars (recipes on the net) with a basket of cookies.A fleece blanket with hot chocolate mix. Jewel had fleece blankets for $4.50 this week. Gift cards are always great. The price range depends on what you feel comfortable with.
I love all the ornaments I have gotten over the years. Every Christmas it reminds of all the little lives I have been part of.

Cheryl

As a teacher myself (right now I am not teaching in the classroom, but taught all the way from 3 yr olds to highschool level) I will thank you on their teacher's behalves. At holiday times it was always nice to get gifts from parents and often it was the nicest families that contributed to a gift for the teachers. Also, they deserve a heck of a lot more than a small gift once a year for all the time, effort, love, emotion, etc. that they give to children. That having been said, I can give you some ideas I enjoyed when I was teaching. However each person may have their own preferences for gifts. The cost is not so much the focus as the gift itself. If you can get a nice gift for $5 - great! If it costs you $50 then be it. Either way, its really not a lot considering what they do.

Ideas:

1)personalized frame, stationery pads, album, mug, etc
2)a beautiful candle holder
3)a handmade pocket sized (really inexpensive just requires some time and effort) album of pictures with your child and the teacher (I still have those around and enjoy the memories)
4)scented candles
5)nice box of stationery
6)trinkets that can be collected or displayed
7)jewelry in the style of the teacher
8)something bought elsewhere (ie. I had a chinese student whose father traveled a lot to family and on business so he bought me a beautiful tea cup and platter from China)
9)ceramic handmade by child, item (there's a place in "The Glen" in Glenview and also a few other places that are fun for the child and meaningful for the teacher. Also, fairly inexpensive.
10)when all else fails, (not too creative or time invested) gift cards are good.

If giving gifts remember that everyone sees what everyone else gets. So try to give according to how much involvement a teacher has with your child. For example, if they have a teacher and an aide, the aide should not get the same as the teacher. The teacher should get a nicer gift. If there are five teachers, no aides then they all should get the same gift. One will feel slighted no matter how hard you try to please them all.

I can think further but those are the gifts I've gotten that I think of right off my mind. No matter what it is you are a very thoughtful mom to give to your children's teachers.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

I'm a teacher, and I don't think you need to go overboard at all. Personally, I prefer giftcards to places like Target, Starbucks, B&N, etc. I'm happy whether the amount is $10 or $100; it's just nice to know that the family acknowledges you. If you could include the 'special teachers' (art, music, pe) that would be really nice. Most of the time they get treated like second class citizens when compared to the classroom teacher.

Hi G.,
I have been getting alot of orders for personalized stationery for teachers of all grade levels this year. You can get some great personalized notepads or personalized notecards for very inexpensive. I just joined mama source and listed my home-based business in the local business area. If you need any help you can contact me. Hope this helps!!

Spend whatever you feel comfortable giving. It's the thought that counts.

Personally, I like receiving gift cards the best. While some people find them completely impersonal, you know that they will likely find something they *want*. I don't want to sound ungrateful but food, ornaments - I have zillions of apple ornaments with names/years to fill a tree, stationery - again, I have tons of it, or anything scented such as candles, body lotions/shower gels are not my favorites.

If you go with food, go with a store bought mix for cookies or bread. Since I teach high school I never eat any homemade food, despite it looking very delicious. It doesn't happen often but you never know what kids might put in there!

My parents were both teachers and always felt bad when one kid brought something expensive and another couldn't afford to bring anything. So, what we did was make fudge. My mom loved when her kids helped make her something special (not that she didn't appreciate the gift cards and such).
Hope that's helpful:)