Would any of you out there have some good advice on how to save money on "teacher gifts"? I have a bunch of children and they have a bunch of teachers each (not to mention the bus drivers, principals, vice-principals and school secretaries)!
I simply haven't the funds to be able to buy substantial thank you gifts for them all, but I can't really leave anyone out either. I need to spend as little as I can get away with, without being obvious about it. Help? Thank you so much!
As a former teacher, I would suggest a handwritten thankyou note/card from the child if you have a lot of people to thank/gift. A school picture of the kid, and/or a hand drawn picture is something nice to enclose. I also vote for the hand baked goodies.
If you had only one or two gifts to give, you could give something with the apple motif or a mug. I always liked those, although I suppose some people don't appreciate them. I used to keep a lot of those things at school on my bulletin board so that I would be reminded of my former students. Another small gift that I liked was a pen or pencil (good quality, but not expensive) that said something like "teacher's pen" or something like that. Cute to use, and something that one uses up. Candles are another good choice, if you know that the person might burn them (some people don't!), as they are also consumable.
As a teacher's daughter, I can tell you that when my mom passed away, 20+ years after she retired, I cleared out a big dresser drawer full of costume jewelry, scarves, hankies, etc. that she kept and appreciated, but literally never had time to use because there was so much of it. Please don't waste your money on knick-knacks unless you know the recipient well enough to know they'll be appreciated.
On the other hand, the gifts of baked goods were a huge blessing to her (especially at Christmas) because she never had to bake anything herself! So I vote for edible items--make them healthy, tasty or both depending on your preference--and if the recipient doesn't like them you can bet there's someone close to them who will.
What about a neat coffee/tea mug? You can make the "cakes in a mug" and put one in each mug. (You can find them at www.budget101.com I have made these for Sunday School teachers and they are much appreciated. They can leave the mug at school and not worry about not having something to drink our of.
Check out this web site. FamilyFun.com In the search area, put in "gifts for teachers". It has a few suggestions you may like. I think you'll enjoy checking out the web site too!
As a retired special education teacher, the gifts I remember the most and still have are notes and drawings made by made students thanking me or telling what they enjoyed. They are precious misspellings and all.
I can see that you've recieved some good ideas already and I would like to reinforce that something the child makes is especially appreciated. A gift certificate for a restaurant is great but might be too spendy for so many. I vote for a handmade card by the child with a personal note from you. Most teachers, etc. have enough trinkets to dust!
My late father-in-law was a bus driver for his entire career. Believe me after receiving oh so many buses, in the forms of trinkets, knick knacks, key chains, and magnets etc. he was grateful for the occasional restaurant gift certificate. Eventually, the kids caught on that just because your a teacher or a bus driver, doesn't mean you want 100 apples or buses every year. P.S. I am sure that they are appreciative of gifts, but cards of thanks and praise are always good too. He would put the handmade ones up on the bus ceiling and it always made the kids proud to see them there.
Here are some of my favorite teacher gifts: Painting framed and signed and put in a dollar frame. Homemade cookies (or not) wrapped in pretty plastic wrap. Dollar frame with a poem in it for the teacher about the teacher. Candles are fun~
I would also buy those white lunch bags and decorate them with markers and such instead of buying those bags...creativity is always best! Hope this helps!
This pages has been archived 2 times. You can view older posts and feedback below.
Request: Gifts for Teachers (05/08/2009)
Christmas gift ideas for teachers and bus drivers. I need ideas for little Christmas gifts for teachers and other school staff that help my children plus their bus drivers.
Tip: Gifts for Teachers (11/10/2006)
As a former teacher, I know that teachers do not need gifts in apple motif, mugs or perfumes. What I loved the most were gift certificates to restaurants, movies, Starbucks, and Wal-mart.
Post Feedback:
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
Archives:
Request: Gifts for Teachers
Archived on 05/08/2009
Christmas gift ideas for teachers and bus drivers. I need ideas for little Christmas gifts for teachers and other school staff that help my children plus their bus drivers.
Debbie52 from IL
Feedback:
RE: Gifts for Teachers
I am also a teacher assistant. I don't need any apple things to sit around, but a bag of apples or apple bread would be wonderful. I also agree on the gift certificate idea. I have put that idea on the tips this year and last. Anything that you can eat or spend money on what you want is very appreciated. (11/10/2006)
I usually go to Michael's arts and craft store throughout the year and check their dollar bins for little notepads -with the magnet on the back for grocery lists, sticky notes, notecards, etc. They carry Mary Engelbreit and other nice designs for a dollar, and sometimes clear them out for 50 cents. I put a couple together (notecards and sticky notes for example) that match, and I usually use a paper gift bag that I find there or at Walmart for 20 cents, add a note about how much you appreciate the teacher (this is actually the best part of the gift!) and you are set.
Most teachers do not love little cutesy apple gifts, and getting gift cards to Target or something (which of course they would love, as would any of us) adds up too fast to do for several teachers. I'm a teacher too, and I can always use fun notepads and notecards (for those thank you's after the holidays!) My kid's teachers have always seemed to appreciate the thought and especially the note. (11/10/2006)
By Naomi
RE: Gifts for Teachers
A favorite of ours has been to give 2 cans of soda, 1-2 bags of microwave popcorn, and a $5 gift card to a video store. This way it was a gift that could be enjoyed by the whole family. (11/10/2006)
A gift certificate is always good for teachers. They are always appreciative of what they receive as gifts, but those certificates are great because they can choose what they need. Teachers are happy just knowing that they've added knowledge to someone's life. I know, I'm a teacher/instructor - once retired and now back to work again. (11/10/2006)
By Beverly G.
RE: Gifts for Teachers
Please, no nick-nacks with apples on them, or Avon fragrances. Avoid fragranced anything unless you know the teacher well enough to know her preferences. Home-made goodies and gift cards to restaurants, coffeehouses, video stores and the like are great. Even stores like Wal-mart and Target are appreciated. How about a home-made gift certificate for after the holidays where you will deliver her a lunch one day at school in time for her lunch break, or even a home-cooked dinner for her to take home to her family on a pre-arranged day. Gifts of time or those that save a busy teacher time are always appreciated. As a single teacher I was once invited to a home-made pizza dinner at a student's home, which was lovely! (11/10/2006)
By Linda
RE: Gifts for Teachers
I bought a bunch of Christmas ornaments at The Cracker Barrel Restaurant. They were Angels and were only 1.99 each. They gave me cute little gift bags and tissue paper for wrapping. That's what I am giving for those "Teacher gifts". (11/10/2006)
By Debbie in Texas
RE: Gifts for Teachers
I always give them homemade chocolate covered popcorn and Chex party mix. I just put the goodies in Ziplock bags, and then place them in a cute gift bag. Simple and yummy! (11/11/2006)
By Stacy from El Paso, IL
RE: Gifts for Teachers
I vote for gift cards. Teachers often use their own money to buy school supplies for their students. Big Lots, Dollar stores, outlets, everyone it seems offers gift cards. It will be appreciated. (11/14/2006)
Whoa! Just be grateful for whatever you receive from a student. Say, "Thank you," and throw it away at home if you don't like it. Or better yet, donate it somewhere. Many of my parents are financially strapped and can not buy me gift certificates to restaurants, movies, Starbucks, etc. Sheese!
Let's remember, "The season's the reason", "It's the thought that counts." One of my special treasures was a pencil holder a 12-year old made for me. I still have it. (12/05/2007)
A wonderful compromise and great gift idea I found, especially considering the economy right now, is a site my kids' teachers told us about called Gold Star Registry (goldstarregistry.com). My kids' teachers are registered for items they need for the classroom (books for free-time reading, flashcards, math games, etc.). Nothing was expensive, and if you only had a couple dollars, you could donate to the teacher's piggy-bank for her to use to buy those classroom items.
The teacher thought it was great because it was helping her out, and I had no worries about whether it was something she would use or not, and knew the gifts would have a positive impact on my kids as well! It was a huge success! I highly recommend passing the word along to other parents (or to your kids' teachers if they don't have a registry yet). It seems to be a very appreciated site by teachers, and handy thing for parents, too. (10/07/2008)
By NJ
RE: Gifts for Teachers
Teachers should not expect gifts, but at least give them a card. They work all year to help your child be successful, and they watch over them when you are not there. If you can afford to give them a gift, give away. Giftcards are an excellent idea. Many of us (teachers) are on tight budgets, and we have to play Santa to our own kids and family, so there is little left for spending on ourselves. Thank you. Happy Christmas! (12/12/2008)
As a former teacher, I know that teachers do not need gifts in apple motif, mugs or perfumes. What I loved the most were gift certificates to restaurants, movies, Starbucks, and Wal-mart. Home-made edibles like banana bread that I could freeze until after the holidays were great. Even a thoughtful note on a card telling your child's teacher how important she is and what a great job she does are A plus gifts. A gift of time, such as an offer to help with a field trip, work in the classroom, or do school-related tasks at home would make you a much-loved parent.
By Linda
Answers:
RE: Gifts for Teachers
As a teacher inundated with mugs, refrigerator magnets and bubble bath, I can't agree more with Linda. My best gifts have been gift certificates to book stores. One family even asked if they coud rake my leaves in the fall ! And another child's parents offered me ths use of their condo in the mountains for working with their son after school when I said I woudn't take their money. Gift certificates for massages are popular and much appreciated, too. (11/20/2004)
This year I bought these wonderfully beautiful apples (that were so big that some wouldn't even fit into the little fall festive celophane baggies I had bought to place them in) and wrapped each one. I printed off cards to place tied with raffia around each baggie. The apples weren't bought necessarily because of the apple/teacher thing, but because of the festive season.
"Mrs. Johnson,
I am thankful that you are my teacher. I hope that you have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Susie"
Each card had a festive picture on it as well. The teachers were so grateful and not only thanked my kids, but thanked me as well.
I did something similar for the ladies in my Bible study group. I bought a spice cake mix and made cupcakes. I lightly sprinkled powdered sugar on top and wrapped them in the same festive celophane baggies with similar notes of thanks. They were a hit! (11/27/2004)
I agree. A more unique idea for gifts that a lot of people on the fishinfordeals forum suggested were these coffee favors from http://www.coffeeink.com. i purchasd some for my daughter and son's teachers and they really loved it. I'm not a teacher, but I think we all get too much candy and bubble bath. (01/01/2005)
