I know many teachers personally (my sister is one of them) and they don’t expect gifts at the end of the year, but the gesture is certainly appreciated, especially a heartfelt card or note. I appreciate the work teachers do with my kids, and each year the kids and I like to give a token gift. Last year we made bird wreath Christmas Tree decorations with a card written by the kids.
I asked the teachers in the Be A Fun Mum Facebook Community about the gifts they like best (you can through over 300 comments here). I’ve boiled it down here to the top 5 and other favourites.. What stood out to me was that it’s the personal gifts — personal notes and handmade cards — that mean the most to the majority of teachers.
TOP 5 Teachers Approved Gifts
1. Personalised handwritten card/letter/drawing
2. Christmas tree decoration
3. Wine
4. Stationery supplies: stickers, sharpies, stamps, sticky notes, storage boxes
5. Homemade food
Note: This was popular amongst teachers, however some teachers had homemade food items on the strongly PLEASE NO list too, so be aware of that. Perhaps include a small note saying the items were made in an hygienic environment.
FOOD/DRINK
- Wine/Champagne/Alcohol/Soft Drink
- Gourmet coffee/Tea
Here’s a fun idea on how to dress up soft drink or other beverages: Reindeer Bottles
HOMEMADE
- Personalised handwritten:
- Card: here are card ideas kids can make: Homemade Christmas Cards (for Kids)
- Letter/drawing
- Bookmark
- Pencil Case (here a tutorial)
- Letter to their head of department with praise for the particular teacher
- Food:
- Shortbread
- Biscuits/cookies
- Peppermint bark
- Rocky Road
- Fudge
- Choc balls
- Rum balls
- White Christmas
- Cookie mix in a jar (recipe here)
- Chutney
- Jam
- Brandied fruit
- Homemade pesto in baking dish
- Christmas decoration (you can find a list of handmade decorations here: Handmade Christmas Tree Decorations)
- Fresh fruit basket
- Pot plant/plant seeds
- Pamper package jar with all the essentials for a mani/pedi
- Teacher survival kit
- Christmas wrapping paper + tape + fun poem on card (check out the tutorial here)
Since November you’ve been shopping,
barely sleeping, hardly stopping.
Now it’s late you’re in a scrape, out of paper, out of tape.
Hope this wrap helps save the day!
Have a Happy Holiday!
- Artwork:
I made these graphics for free at Tagxedo
PURCHASED
- Christmas tree decoration
- Personalised:
- Stamp/stickers (for labelling resources)
- Keyring
- Pen (engraved)
- Perfume
- Cookbook
- Dictionary
- Book
- Diary/planner
- Funky necklace/bangle/earrings (e.g. purchased from markets or handmade)
- Scarf
- Vase
- Pot plant/plant seeds
- Thermal coffee mug
- Whistle + ball (Coach/P.E. teacher)
- Scratchies/lottery tickets
- Stationery supplies – stickers, sharpies, stamps, sticky notes, storage boxes
STATIONERY SUPPLIES/PACK IDEAS
Below are some ideas on stationery packs to give to teachers.
Giving them can be as easy as tying pens, pencils, sharpies & highlighters up in ribbon.
Or place all the times in a gift box.
A set of mini drawers is a fun ideas too!
VOUCHERS
- Coffee
- Bottle shop
- iTunes
- Books
GROUP GIFTS
One of the parents can coorindate to collect funds to contribute to a group present.
- Vouchers:
- Movies/Gold Class
- Massage
- Local restaurant/café
- Manicure/pedicure/facial
- Local artist
- Experience gifts (eg RedBalloon)
- Shopping centre gift card
- Photo canvas of the students
- Watch
- Jewellery
- Handbag/Luggage
DONATIONS
Books/toys for disadvantaged children & donations to children-based charities (below are some of the mentioned charities):
- Oxfam Unwrapped (www.unwrapped.oxfam.org.au)
- Tear Australia’s “Useful Gifts” (www.usefulgifts.org)
- The Pyjama Foundation (www.thepyjamafoundation.com)
- Variety (www.variety.org.au)
- World Vision (www.worldvision.com.au)
- Barnados Australia (www.barnardos.org.au)
- Save The Children Australia (www.savethechildren.org.au)
- Unicef (www.unicef.org.au)
- Starlight Children’s Foundation (http://www.starlight.org.au)
- Camp Quality (www.campquality.org.au)
PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE
- Mugs
- Lotions/hand cream
- Soaps
- Candles
- Chocolates (boxes)
- Teacher appreciation gifts (they get so many of these!)
- Homemade food items (please be conscious that some teachers prefer not to consume homemade foodstuffs, particularly if made by the children)
There you go! A heaps of teacher approved gift ideas and tips!
6 Comments
Rachel
November 17, 2014 at 9:25 amWell done Kelly. Lotsa fab ideas for any budget. At GroupPrezzie many classes are collecting for their end of year teacher gift. So if your class is considering this please check us out at http://www.groupprezzie.com.au and please apply promo code fun14 for reduced fees.
Deez Nutz
June 26, 2015 at 10:32 amDeez nutz
Michele
October 22, 2015 at 12:39 pmI have used group prezzie since my 10 year old daughter started school. It is a win win. The teachers love getting a present from the whole class and as the organiser I haven’t had to chase parents around the playground for money. It couldn’t be easier. We all live such busy lives now (especially during the holiday season) group prezzies helps make life easier!
tracy
November 18, 2014 at 10:58 pmThere is also IPhone app for that (What to get my boyfriend), its very nice. It asks you questions about relationship and his character and in the end it gives you suggestions, of course you can set the budget and also his birthday reminder. There is a bunch of pretty cool (also DIY) ideas.
Look out Christmas…I’m running at ya! | Shauna 'Round the Corner
December 2, 2014 at 8:39 pm[…] ideas check out these links that I think are great. One is for school/preschool teachers from Be a Fun Mum and the other is for kids – gifts that don’t lead to more toy clutter from Frugal Fun […]
Tierney
October 8, 2015 at 5:40 pmI’ve kept all the special cards and have them on my wall. 🙂 Teachers want to make a real difference.