Gift Ideas for Pre-school teachers?

[cats7494]

My daughter's pre-school year ends next week and we would like to get or make presents for the two teachers. One is female and one is male.
What do you suggest? What have you done for your children's teachers?

 

[daisyduck123]

Gift cards

This way, the teachers can buy what they prefer.

(1st grade teacher - 20 years now)

 

[mtemm]

gift cards. book store, target, movies, restaurants, etc.

 

[WestCOT]

an apple

 

[laracroft]

I took a basket and filled it with pencils, pens, highlighters, encouraging stickers, a planner (for next year)hand sanitizer, chocolates, some tea from Epcot (Twinnings) and a tea cup. I got all the stuff except the tea, planner and chocolates from the Dollar Store. I wrote a personal letter to her in a thank you card. It cost me around $20 and she can use the supplies for her next years class.

 

[cats7494]

I took a basket and filled it with pencils, pens, highlighters, encouraging stickers, a planner (for next year)hand sanitizer, chocolates, some tea from Epcot (Twinnings) and a tea cup. I got all the stuff except the tea, planner and chocolates from the Dollar Store. I wrote a personal letter to her in a thank you card. It cost me around $20 and she can use the supplies for her next years class.

I totally love this idea!

 

[goofy4tink]

When my dd was at the age for teacher gift giving, we would buy a few boxes of thank-you note cards (suitable for sending to children), and some stamps.
I have some good friends that are preschool teachers and they say that thankyou note cards are a wonderful idea. Saves them a ton of time, and money for stamps as well. You could also stick in a gift card or two for a coffee or donut shop.

 

[marcyinPA]

Preschool teacher here...I teach 2's at a private church-run preschool.

I personally have no use for pens, pencils, highlighters, planner, post it notes, etc. These things are all purchased for us by our director and are in ample supply. I also really have no use for gift cards to a teacher store, as we are given a nice amount of petty cash every year, and we are also allowed to place orders for supplies that the preschool doesn't already buy.

Our preschool ended Friday. I received a lot of gift cards, which I LOVE. We live on a strict budget, and gift cards allow me to treat myself! One of my little ones gave me a nice plant, and in it were five $10 gift cards to Target, Sonic, Wawa, Home Depot, and Panera. The gift cards were stuck in little handmade envelopes that looked like flowers. It was very cute, and very generous!! My co-teacher received the same.

I also received a $30 gift card to a local movie theater and some candy to go with it. I will be able to take my kids to a movie this summer!!

I think I got four or five candles this year, which when added to my stash from Christmas and previous years, gives me a complete shelf of candles in my pantry closet.

And then, I got a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses and a lovely thank you card.

I love the families at our school!!! They have a way about making teachers feel very appreciated!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

How thougtful of you to ask for suggestions.

When my dd was at the age for teacher gift giving, we would buy a few boxes of thank-you note cards (suitable for sending to children), and some stamps.
I have some good friends that are preschool teachers and they say that thankyou note cards are a wonderful idea. Saves them a ton of time, and money for stamps as well. You could also stick in a gift card or two for a coffee or donut shop.

As a retired preschooler teacher and After School Director this was one of my favorite gifts - not everyone would think of it so that made it especially nice and very useful all year!

Preschool teacher here...I teach 2's at a private church-run preschool.

I personally have no use for pens, pencils, highlighters, planner, post it notes, etc. These things are all purchased for us by our director and are in ample supply. I also really have no use for gift cards to a teacher store, as we are given a nice amount of petty cash every year, and we are also allowed to place orders for supplies that the preschool doesn't already buy.

Would have to agree that the above items for a preschool teacher would not be of much use for most of us. Although I would say for many teachers the gift card to an Educational Supply store would be welcome...not all of us had everything supplied or a comfy budget. Said stores do tend to be expensive and it is not a very personal gift. Many teachers enjoy gifts that have nothing to do with teaching or the classroom.

Every teacher I know, no matter what level she teaches, always enjoy gift cards, no matter how small. These are fun and useful.

Every year I would have a parent who had a large family and/or perhaps on a tight budget, who would bring flowers tied with a pretty ribbon, with a lovely thank you note and wallet size photo of their child - it meant so much to me because I knew they did not have much money and yet went out of their way to say thank you.

But please know, what meant the most was always a nicely written thank you card. I still have these in a box, tied with a ribbon, after 30 yrs.

 

[disfan07]

I worked preschool camp and preschool daycare last year.

GIFT CARDS!!!!

I had 60 different kids over the summer (4 camp sessions, 2 different classes...2s in the morning, 3s in the afternoon) I ended the summer with $350 in Traget Gift cards, $40 in starbucks gift cards and $200 in mall gift cards.

I had 20 kids during the school year and I ended the school year with $200 in target gift cards, $100 in mall gift cards and $30 in starbucks gift cards.

They all got used.

All of these came with personalized thank you cards and pictures from the kids which a year later, I still have all of them.

 

[RangerPooh]

Another Pre-K teacher here, I too don't realy have a use for highlighters, post-its, etc, but they are thoughtful. Our program is funded through the local school district so our budget for next years spending on supplies was cut, which means gift cards for supplies (teacher stores, Staples, TRU) would come in very handy. But personal GC would also be welcomed. While our school year doesn't end for two more weeks I did have a student whose last day was today, and the gift that we (all 4 teachers) received were spiritual based. While is was very thoughtful none of us are religious, so you might want to avoid that kind of thing.

Did your teacher send out a donation/supply list at the beginning of the year? This might give you some ideas on what to give the "classroom" if you want to give somethingt hat can be used next year. In our classroom we go through hand sanitizer, hand soap, snacks, cleaning wipes, beginner pencils, etc like there is no tomorrow.

 

[scjo68]

I am a preschool teacher, and just received a ton of end of year gifts (and I gave gift cards to B&N to my ds 3 teachers) and I am truly touched and grateful for all of them. Gift cards are always nice. Some of my parents went together and did a basket of items and Kohls gift card.

A couple of parents gave me plants (one was a very nice orchid) and I really appreciate that so much. However, I have a notoriously "black thumb", so my family found it hilarious that I now have all these plants.

I agree with Minnie and Nana, that a nice thank you card, picture of the child or picture by the child mean the most. We are in a generally affluent area, but like all areas, we have been hit by the economy. I had a couple of students on scholarship, and in fact they both recently lost their homes. One of the moms mentioned she had a gift for me but would need to get it to me later. I felt so bad, and I told them that having her child in my class was the best gift ever.

I think it is so sweet when parents gift us gifts, but I hate if they feel they have to. I nice note is worth a mint!

 

[*JoGo*]

Another preschool teacher...
I LOVE gift cards, even if it's just $5 to dunkin donuts. It doesn't take up space and won't go to waste.

I also got a handful of plants... all dead already. Sorry! I try!

I do like the Thank You note idea. I recently had to buy Thank You's... again. I like to keep some on hand at the school.

I don't need supplies, or teacher items. They're cute, but when I'm at home, I don't like to be reminded of work. I also do not have a desk at work.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

When Netflix wasn't the dvd-renter-of-choice, we used to give out metal tins with a blockbuster gift card, a pack of microwave popcorn, a soda, and some candy ("a movie basket").

Now we usually give chocolate.

 

[aprilgail2]

Preschool teacher here...I teach 2's at a private church-run preschool.

I personally have no use for pens, pencils, highlighters, planner, post it notes, etc. These things are all purchased for us by our director and are in ample supply. I also really have no use for gift cards to a teacher store, as we are given a nice amount of petty cash every year, and we are also allowed to place orders for supplies that the preschool doesn't already buy.

I would never give a gift of school supplies to a teacher- that is not really a gift for THEM- its supplies to use in the classroom- doesn't seem like a gift for the teacher themselves to me. I usually get a gift card for my daughters teacher. I know she loves starbucks and she likes going to the movies so I got her a 25.00 starbucks gift card and a 25.00 movie theater gift card for my daughter to give her when school ends. I am also the class mom so I took up a collection and am getting her a 100.00 visa gift card from 20 of the 24 kids in the class.

 

[BobbinWeez]

As a preschool teacher I've gotten every kind of gift from thank your with photos to a Vera Bradley clutch. I have to say that gift cards are a great idea. I honestly cannot use another candle or bottle of lotion! I truly appreciate the fact that families want to buy me a gift but if you want to spend your money make a donation to a charity in my name.
I do also like the idea of a supplies basket. In my mind you can never have too many pens, post-it's, or highlighters! Those things are so useful it's great!

 

[Teacher03]

Yesterday was the last day of school, and I received many gift cards along with a few flowers, candy, and a CUTE disney umbrella! The gift cards are so appreciated. I teach in a catholic school, so the income isn't great, my husband was laid off unexpectedly half of last year, and we have two in college. So what I guess I'm saying is I really like the gift cards. It allows me to buy the little extras, have a date night with my husband, etc. without the guilt of spending money. But all gifts are appreciated.

 

[SusanWasHere]

Another teacher here voting for gift cards! I have more lotion, candles, picture frames, etc. than I could ever use in a lifetime. And honestly - I think those things are more of a personal preference. I don't like lotions or candles that smell like flowers - I like fruity. So when I get stuff that is too perfumy, I feel bad knowing it's a total waste of someone's money that meant well.

And even with gift cards - the Visa ones are the best! I have been given Dunkin' Donuts cards numerous times. But I don't even drink coffee - and would prefer not to eat $30 worth of doughnuts (I would love to - but shouldn't lol). I got one for Nordstrom for $50 once. This is not a store in my price range and was at that store for over an hour trying to find something under $50 bc I couldn't see adding $20 of my own money in for a $70 t-shirt! I ended up getting socks!! 5 pairs! It seemed like such a horrendous waste of money - and I didn't even need socks. So honestly, a nice Visa gift card is the best! I use mine at Disney, Target, wherever I want. And love them!!!