Are you wondering what to buy for your child’s teacher? Then I have all the answers for you! Speaking from experience (I am a teacher), I can give you many ideas for what teachers would like as gifts.
Quick & Easy Gifts:
Gift cards. You can’t go wrong with gift cards. Restaurants, Starbucks, and Target or Walmart are usually a safe bet. Are you getting a gift for a teacher who is new to the school or grade level? Then a gift card is an especially good idea because she is surely broke from buying classroom supplies and commuting the great distance she probably had to go to find a job. Worried that your teacher may not be a coffee drinker? Starbucks is still a good choice since many people who don’t drink coffee may still drink tea. And for people who don’t drink caffeine, most Starbucks sell sandwiches, breakfast items, and sweets. I have never heard of a teacher not being appreciative of a gift card…although I do know of a woman who received a gift card to Victoria’s Secret, and she thought that was kind of weird.
Practical Gifts:
Classroom and office supplies make great gifts for teachers as well. Most teachers could use whiteboard markers, Post-Its, a nice pen, stickers or rubber stamps and ink pads. Pretty or personalized notepads are useful as well. You would be surprised how many notes teachers write!
Candy or Homemade Treats:
This may be just me, but I love getting edible gifts from kids and parents. It’s fun to share them with coworkers and brag about how loved you are by your students. Most teachers will be ok with chocolate, but any candies that can be shared are wonderful. I have been given one of those chocolate-dipped fruit bouquets that you can buy from a specialty shop. Those make a pretty unique gift for a teacher.
Get to Know Your Teacher
Your child probably knows the teacher pretty well. My son’s second grade teacher was really into Monet, so we bought her a new calendar for her classroom at Christmas. I knew a lady who was really into cats, so her students would bring her cat-themed gifts. Sports fan teachers are usually pretty outspoken about their favorite team. Ask your child what they know about their teacher- his/her interests, etc.- and you may get some good ideas.
Flowers
They’re big and brag-worthy, and they make your classroom look pretty. ‘Nuff said. Flowers make a super gift for a teacher!
Cards (From your Child)
Why not? I keep the special things my students draw me up on a wall. I get so many that I rotate them out after a few weeks to make room for the new ones, but it’s pretty neat to get a picture or homemade card from a student.
Bottom line? Teachers are, for the most part, a pretty nice group of people. They will love anything you give them, as long as it’s from the heart. We work pretty hard before and after school, during our lunches and breaks, and take work home on weekends and over school vacations. So show some love and say thank you to your child’s teacher in a special way for all that they do to help your child be successful in school 🙂