My son's last day of preschool is Monday, and I want to get his teachers a gift. I am having a hard time thinking of something nice but not too expensive. Any suggestions?
I want to thank everyone for the great ideas. The personalized note is a definite. I think I will go w/ the Starbucks gift cards and bake some cookies or banana bread. At my sons school last year they had the teachers fill out a sheet w/ their favorite restaurants, places to get gift cards for etc. so it made life a lot easier.
I have been a teacher for 14 years and have received many gifts. I have shelves of mugs, candles, frames and lotion. Most teachers love a small gift card and a letter from the heart about why you appreciate them. The best gift I ever received was from a family that had money troubles. The mom made me the most delicious tamales I had ever tasted. Her letter and note from her child still makes me cry today. I knew it came from the heart!
I think the thing they would love the most is a nice note thanking them for what they do, how they have impacted your child, and the difference they make everyday.
Maybe add a small gift card for gas, coffee, etc. Very practical.
I have a lot of teacher friends and the LAST thing they want/need is another candle, coffee mug, anything with an apple on it or hand lotion! LOL
The best gift that us teachers always love is a gift card. It doesn't matter how much for, but of all the gifts we get, those get us the most excited. Anything is appreciated, and I'm always amazed that parents think of me during the holidays and at the end of the school year.
I always do $10-15 gift cards to Target, Subway, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Coldstone Creamery...
I once gave a teacher who was expecting a $30 gc to BabiesRUs and she was so surprised she said she couldn't take it. I basically had to beg her to take it.
M.
Gift card to Dunkin' Donuts, or some other coffee joint. Even in small amounts this was the MOST useful gift I got from parents when I worked in school.
:)
I asked this same question a few years ago when my son was in kindergarten. The majority of the responses were gift cards and home made gifts. Just this week we gave my son's teacher a Target gift card and a Cold Stone gift card. Everyone shops at Target but the Cold Stone gift card was her favorite. I've also given Bath and Body Works items and cards.
I agree it doesn't have to be much. I've received many different gifts over the years - gift cards are great to most anywhere. At Christmas time I always make a bulletin board with a letter to Santa and the kids say what they want, I always put Diet Coke, which someone always gives me! But the teachers who put a house, money, car...get nothing or toy money. One year a single mom made me mounds bars - she apologized and I said why they are my favorite and it's better than something I won't use or yet another candle! Today one boy who moved up to the next class gave me a gift card for a massage and a heart wall hanging. A girl gave me a late teacher's appreciation Cadbury Eggs and stickers (she told her mom I like stickers and her mom knows how much I love Cadbury's and found some!). I've received Sharpie markers and given them! I give lots of $5 giftcards to places I know the teacher's order out from. I gave 3D bookmarks at Christmas time (they can be personalized with the Thank you on the back). Just some different ideas!
I would go with either a gift card to a book store or restaurant, a pretty plant or some baked goods. Avoid candles, lotion, etc. They get too much of that stuff! And do include a hand-written thank you note- that's the important part!
A nice picture frame is nice. Or gift cars are always great.
we just did teacher appreciation day last week, and we got an adorable little box, some hersheys kisses, two votive candles, and a tiny little notebook, at the dollar tree. (okay, the votives were two yankee candle votives i had tucked away for a rainy day....) it was only a few dollars. (sorry about the candles, denise p - but i love candles and they are always a valuable commodity at my house! i love getting them as gifts - at least if they are decent ones). my son made a huge deal about hiding the gift behind his back and presenting it with tons of fanfare, his teacher was charmed. we don't have a lot of money to spend - it's absolutely the thought that counts.
Gift card and a thank you card with a nice note of appreciation from you and your son.
In my experience from being a teacher, I loved getting the heartfelt notes from students and families. If you are going to buy something, I would stick with a gift card...no matter the dollar amount...no amount is too small!
My son's preschool is fabulous about taking pictures and loading them on the internet (secured). I plan on making a small scrapbook with a photo from each month and a "Thank you for showing/helping/encouraging etc me by...." & a funny saying he said for me throughout the year.
He just turned 3 its amazing what he says about the things he does each day. I still can't believe that Miss Mendy "showed" him how to do a somersault, but I guess anythings possible :) I just know I wouldn't be out there rolling around on the grass (or maybe I would I don't know). I love how excited he was in general about going to his class, and just want to convey that excitement to them somehow.. I'm also debating on whether to include a 5-10 giftcard for Target or Starbucks...
Don't know if you have any pictures, but I would say something just to show you appreciate their time and hard-work would be more than enough. I feel these days teachers of any level are not told how much they are truly appreciated :)
Good Luck let us know what you decided to do!!
We just got our kids' AWANA teachers a hanging flower basket. I let the kids each pick one out and then had them make a home-made card to go with it. The teachers really liked them.
