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Teacher Appreciation Gifts Cheapskates Style
It's been six Christmases since I've bought gifts for teachers, but I remember well the stress of finding something each teacher or tutor or coach would like, that would be useful and enjoyable and that wouldn't create unnecessary clutter for them.
And it hasn't become any easier. As the years go by, it seems to become more and common for parents to be expected to give huge, expensive, gifts to their children's teachers at school - more than the token that was heartfelt and showed true appreciation for a job well done. For many families, there's a fine line between showing appreciation and going broke - especially when your child has more than one teacher ( class teacher, music, gym, reading, craft etc). And then there's the tuckshop ladies, the lollypop lady, the office secretary, the school bus driver, not to mention Sunday School teachers - the list goes on (and on, and on).
Finding just the right gift - at just the right price - can be challenging at best. And besides, how many apple-decorated key chains or coffee mugs can one teacher use?
With the end of the school year almost here (already!) here are some suggestions for helpful and cheap gifts for teachers. Most of these gift ideas can be found at $2 shops, markets, discount stores etc. or can be made at home, so they won't cost you a fortune.
1. Shoe-box sized plastic storage box full of school and classroom supplies that you can stock up on throughout the year at sales, clearance stores, etc. Pack it with things like washi tapes, or Sharpies, sticky tape, whiteout, hand sanitiser, scissors, paper punches, etc.
2. Bag of popcorn and a flavoured salt sampler.
3. Homemade fudge in take-out meal containers (or Biscotti, or gingerbread men).
4. Pencils printed with their names on them.
5. Painted glass ball ornaments. (These are easy to make yourself, and the balls cost around 33 cents each for a medium size).
6. Flavoured coffee or tea mixes.
7. Coffee and cup decorated by your child.
8. A candle and candleholder.
9. Anything for the classroom: games, writing equipment, books, rulers, things to decorate or theme objects.
10. Handmade items from the students (potholder, pencil holder, etc).
11. A small basket of lotions or soaps.
12. A letter from the student (and/or parent) telling what they enjoyed about the year or the teacher's input into the child's life.
13. A small plant potted in a thrift store coffee mug or tea cup.
14. A child-made apple-shaped something or other (although over the years many teachers end up with more apple decorations than they have room for in their house or classroom).
15. Baked goods (bread, cookies, candies, quick breads, etc.).
16. Chocolate dipped pretzels.
17. Chocolate anything.
18) Christmas ornament.
19. A voucher to a bookshop.
20. A bundle of blank notecards and envelopes.
21. A bundle of mixed birthday cards and envelopes - enough for each child in the class.
22. A set of personalised labels - Vistaprint is great for these at budget prices. It could read "Property of Mrs. XXXX" or "This belongs in Classroom X".
If you feel that a gift for each individual teacher would be too much, time and cost wise, why not donate a book to the school library in recognition of all the teachers that year? This would be a lasting gift, that would benefit a lot of people.
Remember: it isn't a competition to see which child or parent gives the teacher the best or most expensive gift. Showing appreciation to assorted teachers should be an expression of heart-felt thanks to the dedicated people who've touched our lives and given of themselves to our children throughout the year.
And it hasn't become any easier. As the years go by, it seems to become more and common for parents to be expected to give huge, expensive, gifts to their children's teachers at school - more than the token that was heartfelt and showed true appreciation for a job well done. For many families, there's a fine line between showing appreciation and going broke - especially when your child has more than one teacher ( class teacher, music, gym, reading, craft etc). And then there's the tuckshop ladies, the lollypop lady, the office secretary, the school bus driver, not to mention Sunday School teachers - the list goes on (and on, and on).
Finding just the right gift - at just the right price - can be challenging at best. And besides, how many apple-decorated key chains or coffee mugs can one teacher use?
With the end of the school year almost here (already!) here are some suggestions for helpful and cheap gifts for teachers. Most of these gift ideas can be found at $2 shops, markets, discount stores etc. or can be made at home, so they won't cost you a fortune.
1. Shoe-box sized plastic storage box full of school and classroom supplies that you can stock up on throughout the year at sales, clearance stores, etc. Pack it with things like washi tapes, or Sharpies, sticky tape, whiteout, hand sanitiser, scissors, paper punches, etc.
2. Bag of popcorn and a flavoured salt sampler.
3. Homemade fudge in take-out meal containers (or Biscotti, or gingerbread men).
4. Pencils printed with their names on them.
5. Painted glass ball ornaments. (These are easy to make yourself, and the balls cost around 33 cents each for a medium size).
6. Flavoured coffee or tea mixes.
7. Coffee and cup decorated by your child.
8. A candle and candleholder.
9. Anything for the classroom: games, writing equipment, books, rulers, things to decorate or theme objects.
10. Handmade items from the students (potholder, pencil holder, etc).
11. A small basket of lotions or soaps.
12. A letter from the student (and/or parent) telling what they enjoyed about the year or the teacher's input into the child's life.
13. A small plant potted in a thrift store coffee mug or tea cup.
14. A child-made apple-shaped something or other (although over the years many teachers end up with more apple decorations than they have room for in their house or classroom).
15. Baked goods (bread, cookies, candies, quick breads, etc.).
16. Chocolate dipped pretzels.
17. Chocolate anything.
18) Christmas ornament.
19. A voucher to a bookshop.
20. A bundle of blank notecards and envelopes.
21. A bundle of mixed birthday cards and envelopes - enough for each child in the class.
22. A set of personalised labels - Vistaprint is great for these at budget prices. It could read "Property of Mrs. XXXX" or "This belongs in Classroom X".
If you feel that a gift for each individual teacher would be too much, time and cost wise, why not donate a book to the school library in recognition of all the teachers that year? This would be a lasting gift, that would benefit a lot of people.
Remember: it isn't a competition to see which child or parent gives the teacher the best or most expensive gift. Showing appreciation to assorted teachers should be an expression of heart-felt thanks to the dedicated people who've touched our lives and given of themselves to our children throughout the year.