Need Help Regarding Christmas Gifts for Teacher/others

You can buy gifts if you want, but as a former teacher, some of the VERY BEST ones were the ones that were homemade!! You can buy cups, plates, etc. at HOBBY LOBBY and have them paint them. Have them make ornaments etc. There are TONS of craft ideas out there that would be GREAT for teacher gifts. NO, that's not being cheap either! It's lots more personal and I always appreciated those MORE! Trust me, the kids enjoy giving it more, too, when they had a part in it!

As a teacher for over 50 yrs., make it consumable such as holiday cookies or the like. I have more knick-knacks and doo-dads than I know what to do with.

Hi K...My son goes to a special needs school and although it is not required to give gifts to the therapists and such I do.Nothing big..His teacher and personal assistant gets bigger gifts and the therapists and bus drivers something small.I usually will bake small loaves of pumpkin,banana nut, or cinammon bread..just enough to let them know they are appreciated but nothing that breaks the budget.Good luck

My son was in a preschool with lots of teachers, therapists, and bus drivers, too. I took in a fruit basket - one I made myself because it was much cheaper than buying one already assembled. I also made a fruit dip and cookies. That provided something for those with a sweet tooth in addition to the healthy eaters. I took it on the first day of the last week before Christmas break. That way, they could eat it at school during the day, and it was there for the ladies who worked in that building only one or two days a week. If any fruit was left over, they could split it up and take it home. It ended up being a lot cheaper than buying individual gifts, plus it included everyone.

Hi K.,
My mother taugth for 34 years and let me tell you she received more items that she didn't use. If a parent baked anything my mother threw it out because didn't know them well enough to eat their food. The best thing is money, even something as little as $5 in cash or a gift card.

Now my mother did keep pretty ornaments but unless a name of the child is on them she can't remember who gave it to her. One year a parent brought treats for the class and let my mother have a break while she spent time with the kids. My mother was in the class room but in away from the kids where she could grade papers. Good luck!

Do what you can and don't sweat the rest!! I think too often we blow our budget feeling like we have to give something to EVERYone we come in contact with. If you want to give something to all of the teachers, consider having your sons make cards for them. But, gifts should be out of gratefulness, not obligation.

No, you don't need to buy presents. Have your kids help you make something. Decorate cookies, make fudge, color pictures, whatever they like to do.

I go through this every year and let me tell you, it doesn't get any better. I now have 3 kids in elementary school and two of my kids change classes, so all told...6 teachers have my kids in their class!! I used to get nice gifts for homeroom teachers scarves, gourmet candies, candles - one year I got them tin signs with expressions like "Joy", "Read", "Because I Said So" LOL!! I loved getting unique things. However, with three of them and more teachers to buy for, times have changed.
One idea is to do it yourself, or go in with other parents to get an animal from www.heifer.org. It's an organization that provides impoverished families with animals from bees to cows. They are able to provide food for their families or sell products with the eggs, milk, honey etc. they get from the animal. My son's class did it last year and it's a special bond they have with their former teacher. You could get a trio of rabbits in the teacher's name or have the whole class go in on a larger animal.
I've also heard that a heart-felt card, possibly decorated with scrapbook items, is always welcomed.
I know that around the holidays, the teacher's lounge is a constant "lazy susan" of cookies, pies, treats, etc. I like the idea of the fruit basket. It give the healthy option!!
I, personally, think you can never have too many ornaments! I know a former teacher who has a separate small(16") tree she has packed with ornaments from her students. Like previously mentioned, make sure the child's name is on it.
Last, but not least, this year my plan is to give giftcards- Barnes&Noble, because they can use it to find something for the classroom or use it for personal use. It won't be much, but even $10 off a book for $20 is a great deal!!
Good luck!

At my daughter's school, we try to do a group gift for the teacher, perhaps something for the classroom. We have purchased books to be used in the classroom and gift certificates to teachers stores.

Good Luck!

My mother-in-law makes cookies for the bus driver, teachers, teachers aids if any, the office staff, ect. She also has my 3 boys help her. All it takes is a few dozen, she then puts them in a sandwich baggie and puts Christmas stickers on them (well the boys) ;-)

I think I'm going to bake cookies this year

As a former teacher, I can tell you that I didn't expect any gifts-I figured that everyone else had to deal with a Christmas budget just like me.
If you want gift ideas, I will say that I appreciated anything for my classroom, gift cards, home made things from students, nice notes from families, invitations to dinner at their home, you name it. It really is the thought that counts.
And yes, I do still have all of the gifts that students made for me! I have several ornaments that go on my tree each year that put a smile on my face as I remember each child that gave them to me.
Our PTO started something this year...each child brought home a note at the begiinning of the year introducing the room parent to us. We were asked to send in $10 to that parent and it covers teacher gifts for Christmas and the end of the year, party supplies, etc. I'm sort of torn on my thoughts about this. It's nice to send in the money and supposedly be done with it but I think it's also too impersonal and planned out for you.
Hope this helps!

For the past few years, we've gotten a plastic bucket at Michael's that has everything needed to make a dozen or more photo ornaments out of that craft foam stuff. The kids make them and we use a small picture of them (usually printed from the computer). It's inexpensive and unique and personal. And all the teachers say they really like them.

it is in any way something you have to do, what about just a nice card? or a homemade gift like the jars of cookie mix.

funny I had just read an article in some parenting type magazine called everything your Preschool Teacher won't tell you. Sounded kind of similar to the teacher reponse on here. They don't feel like you need to get them a gift at all, but if you do basically a gift card even small amt was most preferred. I would go with a card with a very nice note in it and if you feel more inspired to give more perhaps a $5 gift card to all from Starbucks or Wendy's, etc. Or perhaps a fruit basket or box of candy for all the staff? Now you have me thinking, my son is in preschool with an aid, bus driver, etc... My mom is a preschool teacher and she does keep every little ornament or dollar tree figurine and it is just clutter to be honest, she loves it though, but think about the amt of stuff they could potentially get! It is the though that counts and sorry this is long now, but I think a card would be great!

What about making them something? Do you do any crafts, jewelry, knit, cook? Make them a basket of Christmas goodies or with wine. Another idea that I've done in the past is to find a recipe or use one of your fave's and do a basket theme as well, put the recipe on a nice card and get all the main non-perishable items and put them in the basket!

Otherwise go with a Woodwick candle or Bath and Body aromatherapy - you can never go wrong with those. All of these can be affordable!

Good luck!
A.

As a former teacher... we appreciate the fact that you thought of us during the holidays. I loved just getting homemade cookies or fudge... but I guess that depends on the person. By making one or two batches of cookies and/or fudge you can get some little tins at the dollar store and make several really inexpensive gifts.

I've also taken inexpensive Christmas mugs (again - try the dollar store) and in each one I put a few packets of flavored coffee or hot chocolate (I get big boxes of these packets at Sam's) along with one Little Debbie's individually wrapped gingerbread man cookie (only available around Christmas), a few candy kisses and a candy cane. I wrap it in celophane and tie a little bow with a ribbon at the top. You've just given someone an instant opportunity to take a break and the gift only cost about $2.00/each to make.

One child gave me a little fabic pillow about 3" square with sachet in it that he and his mom had made. I still have it. It's not the amount of money that you spend. It's the thought and effort behind it.

We have gone to a craft store and made items. You can get the kits to make Christmas Wreaths, candy canes and the like and we make a card for the kids to sign. The boys also have a store at school and I give them $ and a budget. If they have extra money then they can purchase a gift for their teacher there. One year I got them $5 gift cards to a local restaurant.

Good luck
L., mom of 4 boys (10, 8, 3 and 2)

K.,

I would suggest that you contact the other parents in your children's classes and go in together on a gift certificate and a card that you have all the children sign it. You can also include a scrap book if you have time, and have each child draw a picture of their favorite part of the year (sometimes best for the end of the year.)

That way, you recognize the teachers and others, but you don't have to spend so much. The other parents will appreciated this as well, and teachers appreciate the card or the scrap book very much.

M.

Last year my son had 2 teachers and 2 bus drivers. Like you, I wanted to acknowledge all that they did, yet not spend a lot of money. I made picture frames. Michaels has nice ones that are wooden and only $1 each. I painted all 4 white & then glued on anything that I found at the store that I liked with the theme. Bus drivers had the obvious school bus theme--I think you understand. I even found cute buttons that I was able to cut the backs off & glue on. Whatever you wanted. Everyone seemed to love them. I've even made cookies and put them in gift bags.
I think just the fact that you though of them is enough. It's not how much you spend.

I don't want to be negative but....I think ornments, frames, scrapbooks, mugs and knick-knacks are not great teacher/school gifts. If you have taught for a few years, you will have accumulated hundreds of knick-knacks. I also don't think homemade food is a good idea. Do you want to eat something that you don't like or are not sure what is in it. I think going together with other parents and getting a gift card is a good idea but takes a lot of effort. Prepackaged foods are good or gift cards.

I love this question as this is a very important time of year for my kids and I. The first year my daughter was in preschool, The school had a parent workshop that gave us ideas for science experiments, recipes to make with your children, and arts and crafts ideas, and from there we took off with it. My favorites are salt dough ornaments which would make enough for everyone and then some. We also make homemade bubble bath and decorate the bottles. Oh the kids and I have so much fun. Last year we even tried making some homemade dog biscuits for their pets. That went over well also. Whether they use any of it at all they all commented that it was the neatest idea. We have even expanded it to anyone that my kids receive a gift from is given a gift from them as well out of these homemade items. I would be glad to send you recipes if you are interested just email me.

Ornaments are great and can be inexpensive.
I use to teach and I have an entire collection of them that I recieved from students. They are a cherished collection to me.
I liked them better than candy or perfume which once it is gone it is gone.
Homemade things are great too.
Perhaps an ornament for the teacher and cookies for the others.
Enjoy and be creative!
I once got a simple wooden ruler and the mother wrote my name on it in permenant marker in fancy writing.

I think a lot of teachers will tell you that they do not need another tree ornament or coffee mug. If you feel you want to get a gift - something for the classroom would be appreciated. Like maybe a book, a puzzle, envelopes (kids love using them in class.) Office supply gift cards or Target cards.

I think a heartfelt thank you note is just as desired. Maybe attached to a small plate of cookies.

I may be late responding, but I feel like you when it comes to including everyone: I don't want to leave anyone out. Deals or other dollar stores have very nice inexpensive items, as well as craft shows. I got 32 wooden dyed rose buds last week-end for 50 cents each in red and green (they came in many colors) to give to prayer group members, etc. for Christmas. I'll attach a small ribbon of the opposite color, and add a cookie or two to each, and Voila (however you spell it)! Good luck.