Looking for a holiday gift for teachers? When I saw a recent article brazenly titled “12 Holiday Gifts Teachers Do NOT Want” my curiosity was piqued. So was my insecurity.
I have four small kids and all of them adore their teachers. Each year they LOVE offering a holiday gift to the adults who guide them through their little lives every single day.
But was I doing everything wrong? Were our gifts somehow offending the amazing people we were trying to lift up, if only a little bit?
I asked around and our Foodlets community of teachers (and the families who live with them) set us straight. Here are the best holiday gifts for teachers, according to teachers!
Slam Dunk: Holiday Gifts Teachers Love
- Handmade cards. This was the most mentioned gift of all. Believe it or not, teachers aren’t immune to the charms of a nice note and a cute picture. (Plus, they don’t take up a lot of space for teachers who like to save them as keepsakes year after year.)
- Heartfelt note from a parent. Another gift that might not cost a thing, just writing out your words of appreciation can make a teacher’s day. These gorgeous note cards would do the trick.
- Gift cards. While it sounds impersonal at first, the practicality of a gift card can’t be beat. Two important caveats: 1. The amount needs to be small to comply with any government and school system guidelines. Five to ten dollars is appropriate. 2. Try to find out what schools or restaurants your teachers like. Many PTAs or school community associations conduct surveys at the beginning of the year. Or just go with Amazon (they even have specific “Thank You, Teacher!” gift cards!) Walmart or Target.
- Books or supplies for the classroom. Many teachers have a wishlist that’s usually easily accessed by a room parent.
- Handmade gifts. Especially in middle and high school grades where gifts are much more rare, most teachers do enjoy a beautiful handmade gift.
Maybe: Holiday Gifts Many Teachers Like
- Home-baked treats. Most of our teachers in the Foodlets community said they loved all your baked goods, homemade candies and so on. In my experience, the best have been recipes kids can help make, that also taste divine. Like these: No-Bake Chocolate Coins with Fruit & Nuts, Reindeer Snickerdoodles, and Easy Melting Snowmen Cookies. It’s also nice to pack them in cute cellophane bags or boxes that keep everything fresh and looking tidy too.
- Good chocolate. Unless a teacher doesn’t eat sweets or has an allergy, it’s hard to go wrong with a decadent treat. Seattle Chocolates come in a set of big bars that you can divvy up easily, and this set of chocolate covered Oreos would certainly qualify as a special treat!
- Wine. It’s easily re-gifted if your teacher doesn’t drink. But if you know they like wine, our community loves the idea of funny personalized labels for wine bottles or wineglasses like these that say “I’m a teacher. What’s your superpower?” (Bonus: If you go the wineglass route, fill it with the good chocolates!)
Better Not: Holiday Gifts Teachers May Not Enjoy
Despite the givers’ best intentions, some teachers admitted that these weren’t their favorite holiday gifts.
- Anything with “teacher” stamped on it. While Christmas tree ornaments or paperweights might be adorable, this one is just a math issue. Teachers who’ve been in the classroom for many years end up with too many to enjoy.
- Apple knickknacks. Ditto.
- Mugs. Some teachers lovingly held on to these over the years but many did say that storage space became tricky.
But overwhelmingly, our community of teachers said they were touched by every single gift. That nothing compared to having a tiny person stand in front of them, begging them to “open it!” If you are giving gifts to teachers, you can be pretty sure you’re doing the right thing. No matter what the gift is.
Do you have more suggestions? Please add your comments below!
This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase something, Foodlets receives a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Leave a Reply