Preschool Teacher Gift Ideas

I got this idea from a teacher who appreciated the gift she got once - a gift card to a movie rental place (whatever is nearby) tied to a bag of microwave popcorn. This can be a very inexpensive gift - just $5 on the card and one bag of popcorn - perfect for a movie night at home. Or you can spend a little more - $20 on the card and a whole box of popcorn. Maybe even add some hot chocolate. Tie it with some pretty ribbon and it even looks fun!

I think consumable things (gift cards, food) are great gifts for teachers who get a lot of little knick-knacks. And you don't have to feel cheap if you only put $5 on the card, because that's enough for one movie rental.

Hi H.,
My mom has been a teacher for almost 40 years and each year we all sit around and help her open her gifts from students. Each year she recieves well intentioned gifts of jewelery, various items that read "teacher", and some lovely "homemade" treats. The most useful gifts are giftcards that she can use to enhance her beautiful classroom [books, art supplies, etc]. The most meaningful are the thoughtful, sweet cards that the students have made themselves. The gifts my mother appreciates the most however are those donations to charity that are made in her name. My mother has everything she needs and every teacher knick knack in the world. Why not talk to your children about charity and let them pick one that their teacher might be interested in. Accompany the notice of a donation with a homemade card. No matter what the amount or how old your child is, this will be a gift that their teacher will remember forever.
B.

Several of my good friends are teachers and they told me that the LAST thing they want is anything that says TEACHER!!!!!!

They have plenty of that and don't want anymore :o)

They suggested gift cards to anywhere!

Target
Starbucks - if you know they are coffee drinkers
bookstores
Office Max/Depot
craft stores

My friends mentioned that the gift cards they receive from class usually ends up going back into the classroom - books, supplies, etc. So those types of stores are ideal.

And I second the idea of consumables! Get things that you know the teacher likes - hot chocolates, teas, smoothie mixes, but keep in mind - people can eat only so much candy and popcorn :o)

Have fun shopping!

I pmed you with a made in MN gift idea!

How about a candle or I saw that scholastica had $5 gift cards for teachers.

Hello,

I've worked at daycares before and I agree totally with the ideas given so far, and here's a few things that I enjoyed getting or think would make nice gifts:

--A really cute ornament (it was a smores figurine made to look like a puppy) and on the bottom was written in permanent black marker (it had a flat ceramic bottom)love,the name of the child and the year and so now every christmas i put that ornament on the tree and think about the child

--A barnes & noble gift card

--A Target gift card

--A Michael's/Joann Fabrics or some other type of craft store gift card

--A special gift handmade with the help of your child (for example an ornament dated and signed, handprint wreath, photo gift, etc.)

Hope that helps, and oh, what I always think is even better than the gift itself, is a card that goes along with it telling the teacher how much you appreciate them or what a difference they have made in your child's life, etc...because teacher's really don't get to hear that enough...we hear what we may have done to make you unhappy, but not always what we have done to make you and your child happy:)

My advice is ask the teacher. As a former teacher, when parents asked me I would ask them to either give gift cards so that I could purchase something for the classroom (that was already suggested) or would give them an idea that we needed for the classroom. Often times as teachers we get A TON of gifts that we do not know what to do with. My husband jokes that we could make one room in our house for JUST students gifts. Sadly, he is right, but that room would be over filled and spill out into other rooms. So again, ask. Simply say, "As we begin our shopping this year, we would like to include you in our giving. Is there anything you would like? Or is there something we can purchase for the classroom?"

A gift card to:

A teacher's store
Restaurant
Movie Theater

A tin of popcorn
Fruit Basket