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In the past I have struggled with what to get for the both of my childrens’ teachers for Christmas. I usually wind up getting nothing, except for one year. That particular year my husband and I got to know both sets of teachers and assistants for the rooms that each of our children were in. In that case, we KNEW what each of those women liked because we got to talk to them so much throughout the year. In that case we bought gift cards for $20.00 to stores or restaurants that we knew they each liked. They were all thrilled with the gift cards they recieved.

Since then, we haven’t had the chance to quite get to know the teachers they’ve had as well as we did those other ladies. So I haven’t been getting anything. I personally feel guilty about this because my mother is a teacher and works with children who are severely emotionally and mentally disabled in high school. She doesn’t get paid NEARLY enough money to take care of those kids the way she does and yet she seldom recieves anything from parents showing any gratitude.  She does what she does because she is good at it and loves it.

My point is that teachers are teachers because they WANT to be and because they love their job, not because they are making the big bucks. We should be thanking them in some sort of way just to let them know we were thinking about them and appreciate what they do with our children. Let me just say, on a side note, if your kid is a badass heathon of a child you BETTER get their teacher something!!!

I am determined this year to get something or have the kids make something. I’ve been looking around and I made a list of options for myself. While I was doing this I figured I can’t possibly be the only person that struggles with this so I decided to share. I hope this sparks some creative juices for you and gives you some ideas. The list is in no particular order.  I’m sure there are even more things that could be on this list, but I think this is a good start.

1. Gift Cards:  If you have inside intel and know what particular restaurant or stores they  frequent, then get one that matches their interest.  If you don’t have that information about them go for a major bookstore chain or a local supplies store for teachers or even a movie theatre.
2. Personalized Gifts:   This gift can be anything from a mug to a t-shirt to stationery that you have made with the teacher’s last name printed on it.
3. Pin/Brooch:  This is a gift my mom used to give to my teachers and my younger brother’s teachers.  She used to work for a store that sold costume jewelry and one of the items they used to sell were brooches.  If she knew a particular teacher liked Winnie The Pooh, for example, then she would buy a brooch of that character.  If she didn’t know of a particular object or theme that they liked then she simply would buy one with the initial of their last name.  She would spend about $5.00-$10.00 on these and the teachers loved them and would wear them.
4. Gift Basket:  You can go a couple ways with this gift.  You can buy a pre-packed themed basket like a pedicure set or a bath set.  On the other hand, this could be an opportunity for you to be a little more creative on your own.  You could make a gift basket full of teacher supplies or you could buy a mug and put together a tea/coffee basket with different flavors/blends.
5. Plant:   You can get a small potted plant for her desk or to put in the window.  The classroom kids might like this one just becuase they might want to help water it and it may help open discussions about growing.  There’s an educational element to it.
6. Hand Made Gifts:  This would be a gift the kids can make.  It can be anything from painting a mug to making a frame or even having them make a bookmark that you can have laminated at a local office supplies store.
7. #1 gifts:  There are a lot of #1 Teacher gifts you can get.  They sell hats, shirts, sweaters, pens/pencils/mugs etc…with #1 Teacher printed on them.  What teacher doesn’t want to be #1?
8. Cookies:  Your kids could help you bake a batch of cookies.  My kids love doing that.  You could have your child do a little digging and just conversationally ask the teacher what is their favorite cookie so you will know specifically what to make.  You can pick up tins, beautiful tins, to put them in at the Dollar Store if there is one near you or even at Walmart.
9. Chocolate:  This is a no brainer.  You could pick up a box of chocolates with a variety of flavors and fillers.

Most important about all this is to include the kids.  Let them go shopping with you and give them the choices to make.  If you are shopping online, have them sit with you and help you pick out what they want to get for the teacher so that the gift really is from them.  Don’t feel pressure to be extravagant.  I really believe it is the thought that counts, so do what is within your budget.