Teacher Appreciation Gift?

[Jen117]

My daycare is having Teacher Appreciation day and usually parents/child give the teacher a gift. I am at a loss this year as to what to get. My oldest is 3 1/2 and has 2 teachers and my youngest is just under 1 year and has 3 teachers. At first I thought to make a quilted wall hanging for their room, but I would have to have it done by next friday and I will be gone this weekend. Most parents give candy or flowers, so I would like something different. But I have 5 teachers and don't want to spend a huge amount. Anyone have any ideas???

I also thought about a disposable camera and a photo album or scrapbook, but I would get one for each class, not teacher.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!

 

[soccerchick]

I always have this problem with secretary's day. We have 8 in our school, 6 of whom I deal with. I try to do $10 each. This year I'm doing little bags with Tastefully Simple products in it.

How much do you want to spend? A gift cert. is always nice. A $5 one from Starbucks will buy a drink and snack. You could also do a $5 one from Blockbuster and add a microwave popcorn bag or two to it. With the weather getting warm you could get one from an ice cream shop. The thought is what counts, and without spending much, you are giving them a little "me" treat opportunity.

 

[bananiem]

I used to work in a childcare center. I LOVED gettting gift certificates to teacher supply stores. I used stickers alot so if somebody got me a stash of stickers I would've loved that too. Gift certificates to department stores, video stores, restaurants and book stores were always appreciated. Well, anything we got was appreciated! I would caution you against anything with an apple on it. Or another coffee mug.
I really liked getting handwritten notes from the parents saying how nice it was to go to work and know that Junior was happy and well taken care of... Or pictures that the kids drew of me.
I like the idea of something for the room. Perhaps new puzzles or books? Oh, I used to like getting a puppet with a coordinating book but that gets pricey.

 

[mommytotwo]

When I had worked at a preschool, I had gotten several different gifts, but the one that stands out in my mnd the most and I had enjoyed was a cookie in a jar. It had the dry cookie mixture in the jar, and attached with it was the recipe and a wooden spoon to use when making the cookies. You could also attach a message from your child onto the recipe.

 

[clh2]

Back when DD was in daycare, we tried to avoid buying a present for each of the teachers. On occasions such as this - we would offer to get lunch for all of the staff at the daycare center. Subs worked out great!

 

[Jen117]

I like the $5 gift certificate idea and the movie pack idea. Now that I think about it, I could do something different for the babyland teachers since there are more in that room. My 3 year olds teachers are great. I bet the younger teacher would love the movie idea. Now I am thinking of good places to get certificates from. Ideally, I don't want to spend more than $30 total since I already pay an arm and a leg for 2 kids in daycare.

At Christmas time, I made each teacher a goody bag with homemade candy and a bottle of real maple syrup from my in-laws farm.

Thanks for the ideas. If anyone else has any, keep them coming!!

 

[WDWMom]

A neat group gift for the baby teachers would be some scented soap and lotion for the room. Since they are changing diapers often and washing their hands, this would be a great gift.

 

[poconoboatniks]

To go along with soap idea. We gave my kids' teachers antibacterial soap(no water kind) and moisturize. Bath and Body has some that aren't too fruity or too flowery.

Pocono

 

[Jen117]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I will keep this in mind for future gifts. As I was walking around Michaels at lunch today (picking up something for my daughter)... I came across the foam picture frames. I am going to have my girls glue foam cutouts to them and personalize the teachers name on them. I think they will turn out great, and they are from the kids.

Again, thanks for the ideas!

 

[Thumpersmom]

I was just thinking of this the other day. I worked in the classroom last year and the teacher loved Disney so I could buy stuff I loved. I sent something in every day and the last day was a movie pass & popcorn bucket. This year I do not know the teacher as well. She prefers the parents to not help out.....I bought some classroom items from the office supply store. Push pins, stand-up stapler, hole punch, paperclips and stickers. I have yet to decide if I will send something everyday or just at the end of the week.

 

[Kapp]

NEVER get an apple or "old school house" themed gift. You may think this is cute but so does most of the other kids in the class and the classes in years before! Gift certificiates to resturants, nail salons, etc. are greatly appreciated by teachers as well as gift cards to book stores, teacher supply stores, etc. Baked goods, Christmas ornaments (that are not "teacher" themed), movie certificates are other great items. These are some of the things my wife appreciarted and that we give to our childrens' teachers.

 

[WDWMom]

Another gift we have done it made homemade thank you cards.


Take card stock and cut in half and fold to make a small card.
Use a stamp pad to ink your child's hand and then have them stamp their hand on the front of the card.
Then I take a "thank you" and stamp it in the palm.
Get envelopes and wrap 8 or so with a ribbon and pretty paper.

Great gift that does not cost much, made by the kids and everyone needs.

 

[ILOVEPOOH1]

I give the same gift each year to teacher's. I go to my local video rental store... pick up a bucket of microwave popcorn (unpopped), fill it with tissue paper and fill it with a video rental gift card and "movie theatre" type boxes of candy (junior mints, milk duds, nonpariels, twizzlers etc.)

It's always a hit. Most teachers love the idea of having a "movie night" at home with their loved ones. And it beats the #1 Teacher mugs that they'll get many of.