Holiday Gifts for Teachers - Hallandale,FL

I used to get a lot of gifts and I appreciated every one of them. Many women love Bath and Body products, but I could not use any of them because of allergies.

I enjoyed snacks like a small dollar store basket with some chocolate covered pretzels, fruit, and instant cocoa to drink at work. I also always needed simple notepads. The dollar store, Target, and Michaels have lots of cute holiday stuff for baskets.

You could do a nice basket, from Harry and David.
They have really great ones.... and quality.
Send it to the 'school' and for the faculty/Director.

http://www.harryanddavid.com/gifts/store/home___

Or, a handwritten card, to each of them, with a heartfelt appreciation for them.

Also, www.vistaprint.com has great reasonable things... once, for my daughter's Teacher, I got her some personalized notepads and pens... and a mousepad. She LOVED it.

all the best,
Susan

I have taught in the past, and the best gifts were Starbucks or Caribou gift cards. You could do as little as $5 a piece and it'd be quite appreciated.

This question gets asked about 100 times every holiday season and the answer is the same---teachers want gift cards. No, they are not going to come out and ask for them or tell you they don't like the 200th tacky "I heart my teacher" coffee mug, or 400th bath and body soap basket, but its the truth. If you can't spend alot (and that is totally understandable) just pool cash with some of the other parents who are no doubt in the same boat. Teachers do not need any more mugs, trinkets, cookies, and bath soaps. Gift cards anybody can use. I know it is the thought that counts, but if you really think about what the receiver would want and could use, then you will go with gift card when it comes to the teachers. (I am not a teacher by the way---but about 90% of my friends are) Why waste money on something that will probably just get tossed in the garbage, just my 2 cents.

Teachers get so much stuff year after year that I always try to think of something that can be used right away. Gift cards are great, but I usually like to do something a little more personal. Here are a couple ideas for a group teacher gift. I did this when my kids were in daycare with multiple teachers caring for them, many I didn't know very well.

I once just took in bagels, different flavored tubs of cream cheese, OJ & coffee from Einstein. I arranged it nicely on a platter, provided holiday plates, cups & napkins, and then had my son make a sign/card to go along with it. Everyone really enjoyed the thought and of course the breakfast!
You could also do the same with a lunch from Panera, Subway etc. Or even make it on your own. Make sure you call the director and arrange a date to do this.

I have also taken in a big plate of cookies and eggnog for the teachers to enjoy throughout the week before Christmas. By just providing the holiday napkins & cups, it made it feel like a celebration.

Another time I purchased multiple copies of a paperback book I loved and gave each one with a bookmark my preschool daughter made. The bookmark is so fun & easy to make- cut cardstock paper to bookmark size, decorate it, laminate it, punch a hole in the top and loop a ribbon through it. The teachers all enjoyed reading the book and discussing it too!

Another time I did give gift cards. I purchased $10 gift cards from different places, wrapped them so they looked the same and put them all in one basket/gift bag. I included a note for each teacher to pick one and enjoy. They really had fun picking and see what everyone got. I think there was also a bit of trading too! Just makes it a little more fun.

Those are a few that I remember that the teachers enjoyed and appreciated. Good luck and have fun!

Just a suggestion- our preschool director had each teacher fill out a bio sheet at the beginning of the year with special likes or dislikes and they are bound together in a booklet that parents or other teachers can review for ideas. It has questions on favorite candy/treats, favorite color, favorite place to eat out and shop, coffee or tea, birthday, favorite fragrance, hobbies, favorite sports teams, etc. and a classroom wish list. It sure does make it easier when you are trying to find an appropriate gift to buy for that special teacher. I usually get a $5 gift card and pair it with a jar of their favorite candy (you can get cute containers at the dollar stores) or some classroom stickers. I always had my child write a card and I included a personal note of thanks. FYI- I usually buy seasonal stickers after the holiday for 75-90% off and then save them for next year and send them to teachers prior to the holiday so they can use. I still do this -- and my kids have long since graduated so I donate them to our local elementary schools. The trick is remembering where I put them!

Perhaps take the time to find out their likes/dislikes by asking about their favorite 'pick me ups', lunches, restaurants...

Definitely pass on the #1 Teacher paraphenalia, likes apples, mugs, etc. Teachers receive a lot of that kitsch and it all ends up at the thrift store, from what I gather.

A lot of schools sell gift cards now as a fundraiser, so start there if that's an option. My favorite choices: bookstores, movie/theatre tickets, local restaurants, or pick up a handmade piece of jewelry from a craft fair or street bazaar.

And always include a heartfelt note of appreciation :)

I personally make bathsalts every year for every one and they are huge hit. So much so that I receive orders now through out the year for more.

I am a preschool teacher. The thing I absolutely value the most is a hand-written card of thanks. What is even better is a little picture of the child and family tucked inside the card:) I will keep them forever so that one day when I am old and gray I can read them to remind me of how wonderful and meaningful it was to work with all those families:) And every year at the end the year I compile a picture book for each child's family with photos of the child throughout the year doing various activities with their teachers and aides. Then I have the teachers and aides sign the book with a comment about a favorite memory or description of what their child was like that year, positive of course:) I would never want a family who is struggling(and most are) to budget a silly gift or card for me when paper is free. But of course I do accept graciously when a gift is presented and am very conscious of it being truly meaningful from the gift-giver.

Another thing that I think is an awesome show of appreciation is to write a glowing letter of recommendation for the teacher to have that they can use in their professional development portfolio. It is such a simple thing to do, and most teachers will move on to other jobs one day and could benefit from it. I have done this for all of my daughter's teachers, and they were very much appreciated.

Why not just a nice (handmade?) card with your thanks? Why do we need 'stuff' to say what we feel?

Gift cards! I have a lot of teacher friends and I know they love them. My daughter is also in preschool and I am considering asking the other parents if they want to go in on a gift to make it a little more. If so, I will choose the outdoor mall nearby where she could shop, eat, or see movie...her choice!!

I second gift cards--I worked for 3 1/2 years in a child care center and LOVED getting little $5 gift cards for the nearest coffee shop. Other ideas for a lead teacher, especially if he or she is someone who is living independently (not at home) might be seasonal dish towels or something. We also had parents sometimes give everyone a small ornament which you can find in box sets. I still have ornaments from my kids. You could have your kids make something small, like a hand-made ornament (inexpensive) and add that with a coffee card. Honestly, I always appreciated gifts from parents and children but never expected them. It is better to get something you know will be liked/used than something just to get something. Even just a note letting the teacher know how much your family appreciates his or her care would be great.

Oh, about following the Bath and Body Works idea--one parent gave me a really yummy purse-size hand sanitizer which I LOVED!

Hi there
As a former teacher I can tell you the one thing they DO NOT want and that is a mug or perfume. The things I appreciated most were things like gift cards from Target, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble. I also loved a nice music CD or christmas CD or I always enjoyed things like a pretty picture frame, an apron, or coasters. I loved little cute plaques with great sayings on them and of course I loved getting things my students made. Hope that helps and of course if you're really crazy about the teacher - a gift card somewhere out to dinner is a hit

If you had just one teacher then I would say the giftcard idea is just fine. You are talking about 5-6 people though. Someone else suggested a basket and sending it to the school to be shared by all. Perhaps you could personalize that idea a bit by making and decorating christmas cookies. You could even use frosting to spell out the names of each one of the teachers so they each have "their own" cookie amongst the basket/platter.

Personally, I give my kids' teachers things like diffusers and candles. I figure if they don't want them or use them that they are easily re-gifted to the neighbor or an unexpected guest who shows up on the holidays.

A gift card to an office supply store. or Starbucks! :)

how about one of those fruit basket or fruit boquets? i used to work in an office and one of the general masters or attorney would always give us one of these for christmas. it was great.

I worked at a school where a "team" of teachers worked with special needs children. Some of the parents would give us gift cards to nearby places & we'd use the card for a group breakfast, lunch on a planning day (or happy hour/apps on a friday)... Pick something close to the school. We loved Panera, Starbucks & Chilis :)

I've usually given a gift certificate in the amount of $25 to the primary teacher and then a candle or other type of smaller gift basket to the other teachers and daycare Director.

Gifts that are practical and useful for everyday are the best. If you'd like to know what I give please message. I don't want to break any of the rules here.

When you have a lot of teachers you can't really afford to spend a lot. But I would advise against the dollar store knick knacks that another poster suggested. teachers get overwhelmed with junk stuff they have no where to put. teachers in a preschool don't have a desk to put it on. instead I would suggest a mug with a $5 gift card to starbucks or mcdonalds for coffee and some cookies. if you make the cookies the right size you can fill up the mug and then stick the card either inside or attached to the handle. this is always a big hit.

The best and least expensive route I have always taken is the dollar tree you could get a little something for thier desk or an ornament of some kind. Just a token of appreciation sounds like that is all you were looking for. Target has a great dollar selection as well.

Gift cards!!! We truly appreciate any gift we receive, but we all love gift cards!

My best suggestion is Premiere Movie tickets, or at least a gift card to the theatre. This is a luxury many of us don't splurge on. A gift card to a restaurant is a welcomed gift...depending on your budget.
Also, a big thank you from your heart will be a blessing to them. That's a personal touch. Your three year old must do the art, while you print out the message.
Blessings, S.

Definitely a gift card. It's not too personal, can be in any amount, and the teacher can purchase what they want!

I have some cute stuff for teachers. You can personalize them too :)
http://www.myinitials-inc.com/SAL
click on shop or catalog. My contact info is listed on my site too.