Gift Ideas for Preschool Teacher - Shorewood,IL

What about a little basket of fun office supplies that she could use in the classroom? Like colorful post-its, cool binder clips, pens, etc. As a former elementary teacher, my school district didn't pay for much of the extras and I always used those type of things--even better when they are bright and colorful.

Also, teachers always appreciate gift cards to local restaurants or stores, too! They get more than enough candles, coffee mugs, etc.

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everyone wants to get that "perfect" gift for teachers, bus drivers and child care workers.....that PERFECT gift IS A GIFT CARD!!!!! I am a bus driver and have been for 5 yrs, i drive 2 routes with a total of 94 kids, so over teh yrs that is almost 500 kids...you wanna guess how many, school buses, mugs, notepads, candy packs and other chachkies i have recieved??
While I have appreciated the thought behind the gifts, the ones I truly remember?.....the neighborhood that got together and gave me a $100 gift card to my favorite salon, or gift cards from the stores I shop at, and the gift cards from PANERA, which I LOVE! (it is too expensive for me to go and spend there). Gift cards REALLY ARE THE BEST!!!! they are not thought of as being lazy, teachers, drivers and the like actually appreciate them more because parents have thought about how many "things" we get and these are of an actual "use" to us.

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Think outside the box. PLEASE no more coffee mugs, plaques with cute sayings, or Christmas ornaments. A teacher can have only so much of those. Gift certificates really are appreciated - manicures, spa treatments, restaurants, recipe book/baking utensils, book stores, craft stores, teacher stores. Alot of teachers spend their own money on classroom stuff and stuff for their students and neglect themselves so something they ordinarily would buy/do for themselves is a real gift. If you need to buy something, buy something useful to package a gift certificate in. (Like a measuring cup to put a gift card to a cooking store...) It's also nice to go in with a few others so the gift can be a larger amount :-)

From a teacher...

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From a teacher's point of view, I really appreciated gift cards. It doesn't have to be much at all. I loved to get Target, Walmart, etc. There is so much you have to get out of pocket as a teacher and those types of gifts really come in handy.

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these teachers get so much "stuff"! they would really rather have the gift card! I have a friend who is a preschool teacher and she has basically used the gifts she received at grab bag gifts and give aways.

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It seems to be the consensus that the teachers prefer the gift card to most anything, you could also include a small token gift if you like.

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I'm in my seventh year of eight straight at my preschool. In my second year there, I started taking up a collection from all the parents to get just one gift. I ask the teachers from other classes where they really like to shop. Then we get one big gift card for each teacher. I have gotten them for the spa, Kohls, Hallmark, etc. Plus, I get a card for everyone to sign.

I usually ask for $10 per teacher, but leave it open if they want to contribute more or less. The teachers really appreciate it because it alleviates all those knick knacks and they get what they really want.

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I'm a teacher....a gift card is the way to go! No ornaments, coffee mugs, or knick knacks!

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my husband is a teacher,and he says gift cards! I can't even tell you how many coffee mugs,ornaments,and trinkets we're acquired over the years.A gift card is always appreciated.

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As a perschool teacher in a previous life ;) I would reccomend giving cash. S/he will love it because cash can be spent how ever they wish.

I loved getting trinkets and gift cards but as a preschool teacher I didn't make much, so the money could help where ever I chose... like for groceries or even bills if I needed it.

You can give whatever you were planning to give in a gift or a gift card. I'm sure whatever you give though, it will be appreciated.

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gift cards are the best! i used to be a teacher and loved getting gift cards to really useful places like target, starbucks, panera, etc...

My friend is a grade school teacher and she would tell you "gift card, gift card, gift card" :O) She has been given so many mugs, note pads, etc. over the years and there's only so many of those you can actually use. Alternatively, she also enjoys when a mom gives her a homemade treat, but that can be tricky to find the time for, I know.

Hi S A I don't know how well you know your son's teacher, but a gift card would be just fine.

I agree with the gift cards! Also, in our preschool, each teacher has an "about me" posted in the hallway. It's just a little about them and their family, as well as their interests and if your school also does this it may help you decide where to get the gift card they would really appreciate!

I'm an independent rep for Tastefully Simple, & that's always a great gift for someone, esp if you don't know them very well.

We have been getting bamboo plants as presents lately. Everyone seems to enjoy them, and maybe it is something that she could keep in the room for the children to enjoy as well. They are not too large and very inexpensive. Easy to care for and something different.

Give her something really simple but I would discourage nik-naks because teachers get so many of them. I like the idea of hand & foot lotion. Do you know if she drinks coffee? If she does get a certificate to get a fancy coffee drink. A $5. cert. would be find for that. How about a certificate to Barnes and Noble or Borders, where teachers get 25% off any of their purchases so she may shop there for books.
A nice designer or woolen scarf would be a good idea or gloves. How about some fancy note cards. One of my students made some cards herself. Although she was in 4th grade, but she drew and colored the pictures and made them into cards. they were nice.
If you happen to know someone who makes their won cards using rubber stamps you could ask to borrow a few and make some cards that way also.

Good Luck

Gift cards and homebaked things were my favorite...plus a note about what I did well. All the other things (except bath & body works) were kind of dust collectors, and I am quite picky about chocolates etc.

Hi S A,
Try a box of chocolates, cute t-shirt, book, movie passes, bath & body works or something simple and fun.

All the Best!

You might want to check with the other parents. I tend to buy gifts early and then learn a couple weeks before Christmas that the class is planning a group gift and they ask for a $10 or $20 donation per family. Then I'm stuck with the gifts I bought.

Hello there, I know what you mean about the gift card.... Anyway, my daughter loves the Balocco Italian waffer squares/cookies. Not sure if they sell them at Jewel, but we have found them at small local grocery stores. for about $3.00 we thanked the teacher and encouraged her to share my daughter's favorite "treat" with her family over the holiday season. We later received Thank you notes stating how they enjoyed them!! happy shopping = ) C.

I'm so happy to see all the other responses from teachers - please PLEASE read their suggestions!

A gift card is definitely a suitable present. The amount is irrelevant.

Getting the one-millionth apple ornament is suitable too, but really how many apple ornaments does a teacher need?

I have always given hand or foot lotions or aromatherapy scents from Arbonne International. Great gift ideas and healthy products. I am an Independent Consultant with Arbonne if you decide to check into this route. Good luck!

K. Maruna
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I have been in daycare for over 20 years and yes I do like gift cards but there have been some great gifts also. You could make up a cute basket with a theme like a movie with popcorn in a nice popcorn bowl, all the makings for a pancake breakfast with a cute syrup decanter, Pasta and sauce with a bottle of wine, Stir fry: soy sauce chowmain noodles, rice, chopsticks, etc..

I'm not sure how much you want to spend but I have given my son's teacher a small tote with her name monagrammed on it. She still uses it two years later:)

If you have never heard of Scentsy, you should check it out! They are porcelain warmers that use a lightbulb to warm scented wax to just above body temperature so there is no chance for fire or injury. They are very unique, and still so new that most people have never heard of it. Visit www.scentsy.com/cgreenlee to take a look and feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Bed Bath and Beyond and even Office Depot has really cute gift packages that I get every year for my daughters teachers. (ei. cute Christmas mug with small marshmellows and hot chocolate mix or instant flavored coffee with cookies, lotion,shampoo,body soap with loofa combinations, etc...) They are all under $10.

I used my points and redeemed them for my daughter teachers and got them (she has 2 teachers) a $25 Chase gift card. Therefore, they can spend them anywhere.