Any Nursery School Teachers out there?

[Mickey527]

My grandson "graduates" from pre school on Thursday and I would like to get the teachers a small gift. I know, last minute, I have one day to shop.
He has one main teacher and 3 teachers who spend a little time with the class so I have to get something better for the main teacher.
I thought about Yankee Candles but it just looked so cheap giving them a candle. I would like something that is inexpensive but not small, if you know what I mean. One candle just doesn't look like enough to me even if the candle is over $15.
I have a friend who teaches middle school and she suggested a gift certificate for AC Moore but these teachers don't buy supplies for the school, the owner does.
They also don't drink Dunkin Donuts or any coffee so that is out.
The school won't let the kids bring in anything that is not 100% juice or junk food and the teachers eat the same (while they are in class).
any last minute ideas?

 

[Bren's Mom]

How about a Target or Walmart gift card? Or a local place that does take out (like Panera Bread or a nice pizza place) that they can get dinner on the way home from.

 

[tinker&belle]

When I was still teaching I loved gift cards to Barnes and Noble or Borders. I could buy books for the classroom if I needed to or could buy a book for myself. I also liked Target gift cards too. Whenever I give gift cards to my DD's teacher I include a picture she drew and her most recent photo or a picture of her and the teacher together. I loved getting kids hand drawn pictures with captions.

 

[ktlm]

I'm not a teacher, but we have found that Target gift certificates seem to be a huge hit with the teachers here.

 

[dakuhn]

I am the director of a childcare center and my teachers always love gift cards to stores or restaurants (even $5 is appreciated) and a nice note. That's what I love the most too!

 

[treehugnmama]

I am no longer a nursery school teacher but when I was I would say gift cards as well. I appreciated anything (nice hand written cards were the best) but you get so many trinkety things that you can't possibly display.

 

[disneymom3]

Most preschool teachers aren't paid that great so anything they can use to splurge on themselves is good. I love to get gc to Barnes and Noble or Borders. All of my friends who are also preschool teachers seem obsessed with books too. Or a restaurant card to somewhere reasonable would be fun like Applebee's Chilli's, Fridays etc.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I second the book gift cards, and give them with hand made bookmarks - you can put a poem on them (just google teacher poems), a photo of your grandson, or have him decorate them. Just cut them out of sturdy paper, punch a hole in the top, and tie a ribbon through it.

 

[mamaLori05]

Gift certificate to the movies, a hair salon, or a local mall are always winners with any teacher!! PLEASE PLEASE NO TRINKETS!! Oh, and Xmas ornaments are always fun too, expecially if the child writes his/her name on it somewhere.

 

[tadamom]

I teach preschool and I love to get gift certificates.....mind you if I didn't get anything, I would be totally okay with that. However, if someone wants to buy something -- gift cards are always appreciated! If they don't drink coffee, then Target would be a great one and the one that my own kids loved the best this year was one to Cold Stone Creamery. That gift card was gone the same day!

 

[hffmnheidi]

I work with two year olds and I know I would love a gift card to anywhere where I can pick out something for myself. I have received cards to Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble, and Bath and Body Works. One person can only use so many candles and notepads! And in my opinion, candles are not a good idea because there are many scents that people don't care for or won't use candles.

By the way, daycare teachers do spend a lot of their own money on books and supplies for the classroom because a lot of centers have cut back on supplies and books in this economy and teachers are expected to pick up the slack.

What about sending an Edible Arrangement for the whole daycare to enjoy?

 

[zoemurr]

to the teacher saying something you enjoyed, and a quote from your DGS. "I loved it when you built blocks with me..." or something and a photo of him. Let him decorate it and sign his name. Those are the things that teachers save.

A $5 GC to Target, grocery store, or Brueggers/Panera (I love that I can stop and get a quick lunch as a treat from someone else) are appreciated too.

Last year I got $60 to Starbucks and I'm not much of a coffee drinker, and I'm really trying to cut down on sweets. I also got tons of flowers which are nice but don't last at my house. Unfortunately candles and other trinkets just pile up and end up in the garage sale.

The hand made cards are the things that we drag around and show off to everyone.

 

[Gotta Love Eeyore]

I have to agree with the PP. When I taught preschool, I LOVED the handmade cards and pictures that the kids made themselves. I also still have a Christmas ornament that I received from one of my babies 6 years ago that still hangs on my tree.

 

[daisyduck123]

I thought about Yankee Candles but it just looked so cheap giving them a candle. I would like something that is inexpensive but not small, if you know what I mean. One candle just doesn't look like enough to me even if the candle is over $15.

Yes, please don't go with the candle.
Speaking as a 1st grade teacher myself, most of us do not want them and would rather have even a $5.00 gift card instead of a $20.00 candle (that I end up selling in my annual garage sale for 50 cents).

I suggest a gift card:
Borders
Target
gas
Barnes & Noble