Looking for Good Gift Ideas

Updated on May 20, 2009
R.S. asks from Richlands, NC
23 answers

Since it is coming to the end of the year, I would like to get my sons teachers a gift but I don't want to go with the standard coffee mug and they cannot except monetary gifts like gift cards. Any suggestions?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of your advice moms! Since I can't do gift cards or gift certificates I decided to go with the all natural masks (sarah-noelle) and the boys are going to make homemade cards to go with them! The lady I dealt with was super nice!!

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J.C.

answers from Greensboro on

get a pretty basket and 2 of those ice cream cone cups (the ones like you might find in the grocery store or Walmart - they are sometimes ceramic or plastic)then get an ice cream scoop, a jar of hot fudge and caramel, a bag or two of M&M's or REECE Pieces, a jar of Cherries and some sprinlkles and let them make a well deserved sundae when they go home to relax at the end of a long school year. (minus with whipped cream since that doesn't keep well unrefridgerated)

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

That stinks they can't except gift cards! For my daughter's preschool teachers I got them a personalized thermal lunch tote www.thirtyonegifts.com and a personalized set of stationery cards. Last year I got one teacher a basket with coffee mugs, starbucks coffee, chocolate dipped spoons, and chocolate covered pretzels. The other teacher got a book, a coffee mug, and some chocolate. You could get her a garden basket: garden gloves, flower seeds, flower pots, hand shovel, etc or a movie basket for her family: popcorn, coke, blockbuster gift card if you can sneak it in.... One mom made the teachers all a jar with the ingredients to make her own bread. She used banana bread with choc chips and then attached the recipe. I found a poem for teacher's online about being "bananas" over them and she attached that too. If you did not want to layer the jar with the ingredients, you could actually make the banana bread and attach the poem. If you want the poem and/or the ingredients, email me and I can send it to you. ____@____.com
it is hard w/ out giving gift cards even just to finish off a cute gift. You can bring her lunch one day....we did that this year and brought enough for all of the teachers...a few of us went together and gave them lunch and dessert. They love it!

Have fun! W.

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S.D.

answers from Nashville on

My sister is an elementary school teacher. When my son was in kindergarten I asked her what to get his teacher for the end of the school year gift. She suggested a children's book and have my son write a note to her in the front of the book. We did that for all of my children's elementary school teachers.

About 15 years later my son saw his kindergarten teacher and she told him that she still had the book that he gave her, she still uses it in her classroom, and she loved the little note that he wrote to her. His note said that she was "the best teacher in the whole wide world"--his words.

When my children were in middle school and high school we gave the teachers gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses. At Christmas we always do a plate of cookies--with a variety of cookies.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Omaha on

Stay away from lotion and candles for one. :) One of my favorite gifts as a teacher was a photo book a parent had made with quotes from each student... It was for my first baby with their parenting advice, but you could do like the best thing you learned this year or what you like the most about your teacher, or what you are going to miss about her, or funny things she says and does, etc. It's fun to flip back and see their pictures every now and again, plus the comment pages are hilarious and really remind me of each's own personality. Also, a photo book is easy to store and doesn't collect dust!

Blessings,
Amanda

1 mom found this helpful
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V.C.

answers from Wheeling on

How about a small fruit basket (or other food) or a bunch/garden of flowers? If you'd send it to their home address, you could send a gift card to a restaurant or store.

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S.R.

answers from Chattanooga on

Massage or day at the spa! My sister got a certificate for a 1 hour massage, and she loved it. It would, of course, require collaboration with some of the other parents.

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M.R.

answers from Jacksonville on

Tastefully Simple has easy to prepare gourmet foods. Teachers love these for quick and delicious meals or for entertaining. I'd recommend buying a few products and arranging them in a pretty basket. Let me know if you'd like some tips on what goes well together.

www.tastefullysimple.com/web/mross

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L.H.

answers from Louisville on

as a teacher i would suggest that you go to walmart or kroger and buy a small boquet of flowers and tie on a little baggie of some good chocolates like Lindt, Dove or Garahaldi( i know that is spelled wrong). They will enjoy both for a few days and not have the clutter around afterwards. I nice little not written by both you and the boys would also be very nice. L.

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E.A.

answers from Chattanooga on

For my daughter's preschool and Kindergarten graduations, I got ordered the following from silverfantasy.com for all of her teachers:

ABC Charm - $7.15
http://www.silverfantasy.com/catalog.php?item=935&cat...

18in Box Chain - $7.32
http://www.silverfantasy.com/catalog.php?item=285&cat...

Gift Box - $1.25
http://www.silverfantasy.com/giftboxing.html

Total $15.72 + shipping. It looks very nice once you put it all together and is quite inexpensive.

Of course, my daughter only ever had female teachers. If your sons have male teachers, I'd recommend a gift card and candy.

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R.W.

answers from Charlotte on

I just bought my child's preschool teacher a small rose bush for her yard. That way she can plant it and will be reminded each year as it blooms of her faithfulness as a teacher.

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J.A.

answers from Goldsboro on

I got my daughter's teacher a book called Words to Warm a Teacher's Heart. I usually give like candles or a book such as this one. I don't know where you live but I'm sure you have a Hallmark store. They have really nice Teacher gifts like little bags, magnets, a long pencil that has a message on it, etc. I hope this helps. J. A.

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T.C.

answers from Nashville on

I plan to give my daughters' teacher a mini scrapbook she can keep. For Christmas My daughter made her a 11 x14 picture frame with a sweet poem about being her first teacher (can find these poems on the internet) Or if you want it, just email me back) I can forward it to you.
Most teachers LOVE stuff made by the kids. Another suggestion would be to buy some reading books she can add to her class library.

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S.R.

answers from Greensboro on

Cut flowers or stuff to make ice cream sundaes with their families or friends.

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T.M.

answers from Greensboro on

I volunteer in my son's class a lot & when it was teacher appreciation week, his teachers were so surprised when another mom & I showed up to monitor the class during lunch so they could have lunch to themselves in the classroom. It would be a great surprise to take them lunch & monitor the class for them.

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K.

answers from Nashville on

I saw something I thought was cute at Kirklands. It is a photo cube that you put on your desk that could hold pencils. Since they could personalize it themselves, that would be a great idea. Then they can put pictures of their little ones or loved ones in it and it is something that they can actually use.

Good luck!
K.

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G.M.

answers from Raleigh on

OH, i found this awesome stuff! it's totlly natural skin care stuff. there is this oatmeal mask and you can get it in banana, coconut, mango (which actually smells like apple pie). it's not very expensive either and comes in a great little package so SCORE, don'thave to wrap!

anywho, you can check it out at sarah-noelle.com That's what our teachers are getting

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K.T.

answers from Lexington on

How about a meal or a tray of brownies? I like the sundae idea, too, from a previous post.

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T.F.

answers from Memphis on

For my oldest son's kindergarten teacher, we made a keepsake plate at a Paint a Piece store. I do not know if you have something like that in your area. Anything hand made from the boys would definately be a sentimental keepsake for the teacher. Add your words of thanks and she will have a gift to last a lifetime.

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A.A.

answers from Raleigh on

My friend has opened a new salon - Noor Salon and Spa at Hillsborough Street (Opposite Meredith College). I'm not sure where your sons' teachers reside or where their school is but you can schedule a facial for her/them. The facials cost $30 upwards and use herbal ingredients. The facials are very relaxing and would be a wonderful way for the teachers to unwind after their hard work.

You can contact the salon at ###-###-####

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K.P.

answers from Memphis on

My husband is a teacher and we have TOO MANY coffee mugs! :-)

A heartfelt note or thoughtful letter would be great. Perhaps something edible and/or disposable, because they might not need another picture frame at home, but would enjoy a fruit basket or something. Maybe ask them if there is anything they need for the classroom that you could get. Or you could get them something and slip the receipt in as well, so they could return the thing and then have the money for something else that they want (sort of a sneaky way to give them money), and explain it in your note that you understand they may not want or need the gift, but encourage them to return it and get what they *do* want/need.

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N.M.

answers from Charlotte on

I am a teacher and one of the best gifts I've recently was an Autobell Carwash gift certificate! A clean car made me very happy!
Thanks for thinking of your kids teachers! A little "thank you" goes a long way!

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T.M.

answers from Charlotte on

I'm not sure how much you wnt to spend. In many gift shops, or you can google them. I collect these and there are so many of them. But try "Painted Ponies" I flip over these as gifts. They make wonderful gifts, and they are not run of the mill kind of gifts.

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M.W.

answers from Asheville on

Please visit my site and support a Mom owned business, for easy gift ideas for teachers. Shop any time day or night from the comfort of your home and receive a 10% discount for being a Mamasource member. Your purchase will arrive gift wrapped at no extra charge. http://martaweaverjewelry.etsy.com, or http://martaweaverjewelry.artfire.com, just email me for your discount when you decide what you want to purchase and I will adjust the price for you. Blessings, M. Weaver

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