Giving the best teacher presents is truly an art. You want to express your appreciation without being tacky, cliche, or expensive.
It’s hard to strike exactly the right balance with a gift that makes the teacher feel appreciated without going overboard. Or repeating a typical teacher gift.
How to Give the Best Teacher Presents
The most important thing to remember is that a gift from the heart is way better than anything you could buy. Except wine. Wine might always win for teachers at the end of a really long, crazy year.
Gifts from the heart make the best teacher presents
Guide your child to creating a beautiful card or writing a nice letter. Talk about all the wonderful things they’ve done in school this year: field trips, science experiments, fun playground games, and cool lessons.
Set out crayons, pencils, markers, or paints. Invite your child to draw a picture of something from the school year or a portrait of their teacher.
With younger children, you might want to write down their story about the picture. Older children could write their own letter.
If you did feel the need to add to the gift’s “wow” factor, including a small gift certificate, a box of chocolate, or another treat is a nice touch.
Photo gifts make the best teacher presents
My very favorite gifts ever were photo gifts. A very creative class collected wallet-sized school pictures, cutting out everyone’s head. Then they printed out a panoramic image of a group of runners. Finally, they glued all our heads onto the runners and had the finished project framed.
They used my love of running to show their appreciation for a great year! This picture hangs in a place of pride in my home.
Another class printed our class picture onto a coffee mug. While I normally avoid coffee cups for teacher presents, in this case, I make a huge exception. Not only is this thoughtful, but it’s personal and a great way to relive memories of amazing classes.
Photo gifts, in general, are great ways to surprise a special teacher. Frame the class picture or sign a teacher’s copy of the yearbook. Anything that captures the memories of a year with amazing students is perfect.
Gift Certificates make the best teacher presents
Teachers love to shop, sip, and relax. Give a gift that teachers can use outside of school!
Grab gift certificates to local big box stores, like Target, or office supply stores, like Office Max. If you know that a teacher enjoys crafts (Micheals) or home improvement (Home Depot or Lowes), grab a gift certificate to match! Even Amazon gift cards are a great option!
Another option is to give gift certificates for eating and drinking. Local coffee spots, or Starbucks, gift cards are often the perfect way to a teacher’s heart. Or pick a unique restaurant or cool cafe and gift the teacher a meal.
Encourage the teacher to relax with gift cards to a local spa or nail salon. Or help your teacher enjoy a day trip to a local adventure or experience, like a pottery class, wine tasting, or tour.
Flowers make the best teacher presents
It never hurts to say it with flowers! Just make sure your child’s teacher doesn’t have any allergies or detest flowers.
Send a professional bouquet or pick one from your own garden. If the teacher has a green thumb, pick a pretty plant for the classroom or to take home.
Gift baskets make the best teacher presents
For a teacher gift that hits all the right marks, combine a few different elements into a big gift basket. Pick a theme or a few of the teacher’s favorite things. Throw everything in a basket and stick a pretty ribbon on it!
Some of my personal favorite themes are:
- DIY Spa: nail polish, face mask, foot or bath soak, fancy lotion, scented candle
- Beach Bag: canvas bag, sunscreen, hat, book or bookstore gift card, insulated to-go cup
- Back to School: school-year day planner, Ticonderoga pencils, sticky notes, to-go coffee cup, Target gift card
- Movie night: Netflix gift card, gourmet popcorn, nonpareils, beverage store gift card, local pizza place gift card
How are you going to say “thanks” to your child’s teacher?
~Meg
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