I am a teacher myself, I love gift cards! I write the students name on the back of the card so when I make a trade for coffee, I say thanks Michelle and pray for that child while enjoying the coffee! I also remember asking my son what his teacher liked while shopping the mall with him. He was six and I asked the questions like, does your teacher wear bracelets? He was excited to say, "Yes! She wears colorful rubber band bracelets!" We bought her a bundle of rubber bands for her wrists. I asked, "Does she have an umbrella?" He replied, Well it has rained so much this year so let me pick one out in case she forgets hers." I will always treasure this shopping trip because it was not expensive and he totally focused on her needs and I focused on really LISTENING to my six year old!
As a teacher I can 100% say a big yes to the gift cards! Even 5$ to a coffee shop is so appreciated to go for a tea and a snack. Of course we don't expect anything, but it's also greatly appreciated. :) thanks for sharing this!
Laura Marie I love the gift card idea but I always feel “cheap” when giving a $5 or $10 card. I don’t know why and I try to do more But I’m a single mom with 8 teachers to buy for. 😬 what is the typical gift card amount you receive for Christmas or teacher appreciation?
@@SJ0510 I have received cards from 5 to 25 dollars. I'd say the average is 10 or 15. I don't consider a 5$ card cheap at all. Here in Nova Scotia we have a coffee shop chain called Tim hortons where you can easily get a tea and muffin for 5$. I so appreciate that gesture. I find 25$ quite a bit abd certainly not expected :)
I taught for 8 years. I loved gift cards, but my favorite gift was an ornament and the student wrote on the back why he was thankful for me. I get to read it each year when i put my tree up and am so thankful to remember him and those special students i taught with him❤
Probably the best gift I ever gave a teacher was at the end of my oldest daughter's first-grade year. It was a 3-page handwritten letter about how she had helped my daughter and the love she had shown her, how important her impact on the kids was, and how much I loved and appreciated her. It reduced her to tears. Big, sloppy tears. It was a beautiful moment.
My dad drives school bus and the kids always give him giftcards fo coffee shops and grocery stores and gas. He loves those kids and always says he drives a bus full of the future presidents and politicians and the most precious cargo on the road. He tells them these things which I'm sure some of the kids find it funny. But they just love him. One kid even drew him a picture of him driving a bus and all the kids. He showed me. It was so detailed. Right down to my dads outfit he wears and everyday. He had it framed.😁
I'm a teacher. Around the start of November, I sent a little blurb home in my classroom newsletter that says, "I know many of you very kindly set aside funds to buy a gift for your child's teacher at this time of year. With the spirt of the season in mind, please consider donating that money to a charity of your choice instead of spending it on me. Please have your child write me a note or Christmas card to tell me how they have helped someone in need." One year, I had twins that saved their allowance for a month and used it to purchase socks for a homeless shelter. Their mom took them to the store to buy the socks and then to the shelter to donate them. What a beautiful life lesson for these kids. Trust me, this type of gift is so meaningful. The kids were so proud, their mom cried, I cried....and that is just one example I can give you out of 20+ years of teaching. Teachers really don't need any more coffee cups, candles or lotion, it almost all just goes in a donation box anyway.
Good tips! My husband is a teacher and I'm an SLP in the schools. He gets tons of gift cards every year. LOTS of gift cards. They really help us throughout the year. WE WANT GIFT CARDS! However as an Speech Therapist, I've only gotten 3 gifts in the last 7 years, (I usually have about 45-50 kids each year). If your kid gets special education services, us related service providers (SLP, OT, PT) will be beyond happy to get anything.
OH MY GOODNESS, our 5 year old has a speech therapist and I didn't even think to include her...thank you! And thank you for confirming that gift cards!
Thank you for this reminder. I was thinking whether I should give to therapists of my son's preschool but now I will give gift card to his nurse as well.
Fourth grade teacher here😆 I love when I receive a small gift card from a local business! Local coffee place or bakery, a family-owned chocolate shop or restaurant. It gets me into my community and gives me a reason to try a new place that I can feel good about.
I know several teachers and I don’t think ANY of them would argue with this video😄 it’s true: they pour into the lives of our children several days a week and we just want them to feel loved and appreciated with our breaking the bank! 😜 it’s great to be reminded that “taking the easy way out” with a gift card may be the most appreciated or useful of the gifts they receive
I did a “Facebook” pole to all my friends who are teachers and they said the same thing. If you really want to give a gift to teachers...gift cards is the most appreciated gift. Especially Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Wawa, Chick Fila, food consumable gift cards!
I love giving really nice 3 wick candles for a few reasons, 1-they are a consumable decor item (makes their home look and smell nice but doesn’t take up room or need storage) 2-if the candle isn’t a scent that the teacher likes it is a generic enough gift that it can be regifted very easily and I believe that’s also very helpful during the holiday season, it’s just one less gift you have to buy! 3-candles (if purchased from a decent store/brand) are a quality gift that won’t break the bank! Example...bath and body works has 3 wicks in sale every other week and they are gorgeous quality candles
I'm a teacher, and my favourite thing is to receive a note. I received a note and a picture from a student earlier this year, and I keep it in my teacher bag to pull out when I'm having a bad day. We hear regularly, when we have made parents angry, but we rarely get told when we've made a positive impact on a child or their family. Otherwise, a gift card would suit very well....or earrings. But make sure to take note of preferred colours or metals.
I am a toddler teacher and your friend gave great ideas! I will say that if you have a treat, be careful of food allergies! I have a food allergy and even though I’ll accept gifts even if I can’t eat them, it’s sweet when someone remembers. I love how you tell kids to pay attention to their teachers for gift ideas too!
My kids’ school has a ‘My Favorite Things’ that’s done by each teacher, available in the office. I always get a copy of my kid’s teachers’ page the beginning of the year and try to get them something from their list throughout the year. I love the idea and so glad I’m getting something from their wishlist.
One teacher friend of mine said the best gift she has ever received was a bottle of wine, for all of the love she "pours" into the kids! Haha!! I guess that would fit under "consumables!"
Yes I agree with all these suggestions. I teach high school though so rarely gifts are seen. As an English teacher I love when kids put their thoughts of appreciation in a card. I save them all.
I've worked in preschool for many years. The best yet have been when parents in their honest and beautiful words have told me how much they love what I do for their kid(s). But when it comes to things I loved a Mandalabook and color pencils the most. I've gotten eatable gifts but don't eat gluten. Make sure you check if the teacher is allergic if you are gonna give some sweets or similar. Even though the fact that you've thought of the teacher is more than enough :)
Can you do a video about what you, as a minimalist, put into your kids' stockings? I want to give my kids fun things without filling their tummies with tons of sugar or our house with tons of extra junk! I would love to hear what you do!
Good question! You may have noticed in my last video that we don't do stockings...it wasn't a big part of Tom or my Christmas traditions growing up so it was easy to cut out! There was a year my mom put toothbrushes in them, though and ALWAYS socks!
My mom always put an orange and an apple in our christmas stocking. It fills up the toe nicely. We are also super thrilled to get a pomegranate in the stocking. They are quite novel and interesting. Also nuts with the shells on help fill out a stocking. These food items will also give little hands something to do.
I add an orange, a $1 coin (or 4 quarters) as a base to my daughter's stocking in past years...though this is only her 3rd Christmas. Also we do a couple of healthy treats. This year she is getting underwear, tights, crocheted slippers, a crocheted bracelet and necklace and clothespin dolls, stem popsicle sticks...mostly a lot of handmade things.
One gift I remember giving was a spice set.. I saw it in a magazine and the teacher loved cooking. It came wrapped in a box and had some nice smelling spices.
I’m making gift boxes for my kids teachers. I’ve made a handmade macrame keyring, magnetic bookmarks, organic essence sticks, funky Xmas socks, organic chocolate, $20 liquor store voucher, and organic soap and packs of mini organic dried fruit.
I’m a newly retired teacher. I really love the idea of sending your child on a recon mission to see what their teacher drinks. What a great way to teach them how to think about others! Personally, my day was made when I got a $5 Starbucks card. Given that ANY gift is very touching, I would suggest that you steer away from ornaments and religious items (like a book of daily devotionals, which I once got. And still have, for sentimental reasons, even though it did not resonate with my own faith beliefs at all.). Also, it’s a season when there are a lot of illnesses going around, so I did always kind of prefer commercially wrapped food like chocolate candies to homemade goodies. When my daughter was little, I read that teachers like school supplies and stickers, so I sometimes did that. But when I was a teacher myself, I have to say I enjoyed more frivolous stuff like chocolate or pretty-smelling hand sanitizer. And I’d like to add one more thing. I taught Special Ed, and I had an incentives/treats/prizes box. Friends and family would pass on trinkets to me for my box. If your child’s teacher has a prize box, consider donating little things, or bubblegum, throughout the year (whenever you go on a decluttering spree).
Great ideas! I always felt like gift cards are impersonal BUT I've decided they definitely don't have to be. I would much rather give something someone can use so thank you very much for sharing!
When my son was growing up, the one gift I gave that went over like gangbusters was, I bought these really cute scrapbooks, personalized to each of his teachers. Inside I wrote a note, something to the effect of we don't get to keep anything but our memories. And that was my gift. They were enamored with it. Now these were grade school teachers. I was in college later and turned out, one of my professors became one of my best friends. I learned from her that material gifts just are not that appreciated because they get so many. Because we are friends, I give her good chocolate or maybe a bottle of wine. But I think the one thing she liked the best was a gift card to a really nice restaurant. Pampering. As you said, they don't have a lot of money. Teachers really don't. And, they don't have a lot of time. Really expensive soap or something decadent that they wouldn't normally buy for themselves. They really are on a budget, So even though I'm not in school anymore, we are still friends and I still get her gifts. And I try to make them decadent. Also cards! She loves to get cards.
I know this video is super old but for Christmas my kindergartner gave his teacher and aid both 2 ornaments 1 I made using Scrabble tiles spelling out their names and 1 he made of a gingerbread house. We also made a scrabble name decoration for my nieces teacher but instead of an ornament hanger we glued it inside a picture frame and backed it with some nice scrap book paper
A lot of people probably have a little trouble thinking of gift cards for male teachers ( other than food/ coffee which is still nice) but if you live in a place that really gets snow, a gift card for vehicle washes are a great idea. The men in my life really like to take care of their trucks and keep them clean but spending money on a car wash is not fun and over the long winter it can really add up. A gift card would be especially good for those times when you just wash the truck and have at most one nice day and then it snows and gets all muddy, slushy and dirty again and it's as though you never washed it but you don't want to pay for another wash so soon. So it really is a gift. I would think Tom could relate to this.
The parents of my son’s class are getting together and pooling money to buy gift cards for the teachers. As a recovering teacher myself, I completely agree with gift cards. Handwritten notes from kids and parents are lovely too. If I was given chocolate or cake, I would leave it at school and produce it in the staff room in mid January, when we needed a boost. So that’s appreciated too! I really don’t want to fill somebody else’s house with junk either now I’ve seen the benefits of minimalism.
Absolutely! This former teacher saved the sweet cards, those are the best. Many school offices have the staff fill out a “favorites” sheet, they usually don’t advertise it but if you ask the school office they may have it for gift card ideas.
When I was teaching I loved gift cards! Definitely the best. I was trying to figure out where to get them for my sons teachers and since you said McDonald’s I’m probably going to go with that. They can always get a coffee there. We don’t have many specialty restaurants in our small town. Thanks for your videos!
I'am so obsessed of your videos!! Thank you so much for sharing all those good ideas ,the really helps me and my family🤗🤗🤗 Sorry for the" not so good English" I am french
As a teacher, I agree that a simple letter or card with a personal message means SO much more than anything else would. Teaching is a very "cluttery" job and more stuff is just adding to that. All the ideas were great though!
I get so many knick-knacks! Yes they are cute and I appreciate the thought so much, but I can not keep them in my house. My house would look like a thrift store if I kept all those cute things. If I can, I send them to my cousin in the city to donate so they don't appear in our local thrift store, lol.
I know my daughters teacher visits a cafe near the school most weeks. This has just spurred me on to message them to see if they do gift vouchers we could purchase for Christmas 🎄
I got my kids' teachers a poinsettia plant. Ok but here is the truth...my kids are literally the easiest kids to work with. They are NO trouble at all, get along with everyone, do their work, follow directiins. I sincerely feel that just by raising good kids I am doing my part and dont need to constantly hustle to give gifts to teachers. At our school it started to feel excessive...Christmas, teacher's birthsay, Teacher Appreciation Day. Likewise I dont need the teacher to bend over backwards for the perfect Mothers Day art craft from the child. Reading, writing, math, organized approach, and a nice disposition is really all I expect.
I’m so glad you brought up this topic! I personally cannot do the crafty dollar store gifts that I know will end up donated or trashed. I sent out a questionnaire to all my daughters teachers so I know what will work best for them. 🎄
Charity donations on our behalf are always a lovely gift. Oxfam sells gift cards to buy a goat for a village or train a teacher. I usually request no gifts please, but if you really want, let's help someone who really needs it.
We've donated to Samaritans Purse "to help teach a child to read" and I think we will be doing something similar with Compassion this year. 4th grade hatches baby chicks, and baby chicks for a family is one of the gifts you can sponsor. It gives us the opportunity to support a charity and tie the meaning back to what our teachers do for us. I hope the gesture is appreciated!
We plan to return to homeschooling but will get our teacher’s gift cards and candy with a card and tie it up in a cellophane bag. Everything can be from Dollar Tree but the gift card. Target? Starbucks. Not sure.
I was thinking of giving a target gift card this year. Do you feel like that would be appreciated? Didnt want to take the chance on coffee bc I dont know if they drink it! Figured they can use target for school supplies or themselves!?
@@juliefitzgerald-frangos2211 That is a perfect amount. I even used to get $5 gift cards for Starbucks and that was much appreciated. Most parents knew me pretty well so they did know that I liked coffee.
I would always give teachers things like a freezable meals that she could microwave or cook in a short time for her / his family during the busy holiday season as well as for younger teachers, prize box supplies, stickers, pencils & subject related items with a personalized card from my student.
Patty Gioffre so many people are on special diets these days, food is too hard, gift cards to Walmart or Target or Amazon work better for me...my kiddos are now past this stage ❄️
@@ruthlloyd1163 thanks Ruth. They all always loved getting the meals. They said it was a big help to be able to provide their own family a hot homemade meal while being crazy busy with lesson plans, grading papers, tests, holiday shopping, etc.
I’m here because my girlfriend got her daughter’s elementary teacher at $20 gift card, a teachers ornament, a Christmas card and a little box of candy but was wondering if he might think she is hitting on him. He’s a divorced fellow, that keeps her VERY in the know with the smallest even playground details so wasn’t sure if she outdid herself. Lol really though.
I know I always appreciate consumable 'body care ' products. Soaps, hand lotions, body butters, room spray. The only thing you need to know is if they are allergic or sensitive to perfume scents. That is why I would buy/ want only products scented with natural essential oils and that are natural products without harmful chemical ingredients. Not cheap drug store brands. Essential oils are a wonderful gift as well along the same lines.
I would like this present. I got an African Violet from a parent once. I'm an SLP, but I think I'm pretty representative. She was a notoriously difficult parent. Surprised the heck out of me. I had it for 3 years.
My niece, cousin, aunt, another cousin, close friend, mother in law, husband’s aunt, husband’s cousins are ALL teachers. I have asked them all and their answers: 1. nothing is fine. They don’t expect a gift. 2. Gift cards to bookstore, office supplies store, coffee shop, dollar store. 3. Pinterest type gift. NO MUGS. So it’s pretty much the same as your video said.
All of my inlaws are teachers and had boxs of "gifts" laying around in their basement (mugs, notepads , lotions etc) gift cards are the way to go! I choose NOT to participate in the group gift bc it was a basket of crap ! We gave a giftcard and a small plant
People dislike clutter in their homes yet they gift teachers with clutter and handmade gifts from their children which eventually get thrown away. ALL teachers need extra cash and the closest they can get apart from cash are gift cards. Hear hear hear ye all.
It is ridiculous to assume that all teachers want the same thing. I certainly do NOT want school supplies for Christmas! Since I do not drink coffee, I do not want coffee mugs or coffee shop gift cards. Christmas ornaments are nice, but only if they go along with my style. Some students know what I like, and others don’t (nothing wrong with this). If you have more than one child, you should realize that they like different things. It is the same with everyone. So not lump everyone into one category by assuming a shared career choice means they want the same presents. Try to notice things a person likes, and shop for a present with that in mind.
I am a teacher myself, I love gift cards! I write the students name on the back of the card so when I make a trade for coffee, I say thanks Michelle and pray for that child while enjoying the coffee! I also remember asking my son what his teacher liked while shopping the mall with him. He was six and I asked the questions like, does your teacher wear bracelets? He was excited to say, "Yes! She wears colorful rubber band bracelets!" We bought her a bundle of rubber bands for her wrists. I asked, "Does she have an umbrella?" He replied, Well it has rained so much this year so let me pick one out in case she forgets hers." I will always treasure this shopping trip because it was not expensive and he totally focused on her needs and I focused on really LISTENING to my six year old!
Hi, what amount is appropriate to give with gift cards? Or what is the amount usually given? Also, is wine appropriate?😅❤
As a teacher I can 100% say a big yes to the gift cards! Even 5$ to a coffee shop is so appreciated to go for a tea and a snack. Of course we don't expect anything, but it's also greatly appreciated. :) thanks for sharing this!
Laura Marie I love the gift card idea but I always feel “cheap” when giving a $5 or $10 card. I don’t know why and I try to do more But I’m a single mom with 8 teachers to buy for. 😬 what is the typical gift card amount you receive for Christmas or teacher appreciation?
@@SJ0510 I have received cards from 5 to 25 dollars. I'd say the average is 10 or 15. I don't consider a 5$ card cheap at all. Here in Nova Scotia we have a coffee shop chain called Tim hortons where you can easily get a tea and muffin for 5$. I so appreciate that gesture. I find 25$ quite a bit abd certainly not expected :)
Thank you for the reply!
Beth said $5 is a frequent amount in MN!!
Sarah Jane thank you for asking! I feel the same with gift cards and I never know what is a good amount!
I taught for 8 years. I loved gift cards, but my favorite gift was an ornament and the student wrote on the back why he was thankful for me. I get to read it each year when i put my tree up and am so thankful to remember him and those special students i taught with him❤
LOVE this!!
Probably the best gift I ever gave a teacher was at the end of my oldest daughter's first-grade year. It was a 3-page handwritten letter about how she had helped my daughter and the love she had shown her, how important her impact on the kids was, and how much I loved and appreciated her. It reduced her to tears. Big, sloppy tears. It was a beautiful moment.
LOVE this!!!
The best ideas I think
My dad drives school bus and the kids always give him giftcards fo coffee shops and grocery stores and gas. He loves those kids and always says he drives a bus full of the future presidents and politicians and the most precious cargo on the road. He tells them these things which I'm sure some of the kids find it funny. But they just love him. One kid even drew him a picture of him driving a bus and all the kids. He showed me. It was so detailed. Right down to my dads outfit he wears and everyday. He had it framed.😁
💕
This is SO cool! Your dad sounds like a great guy!!! :)
I'm a teacher. Around the start of November, I sent a little blurb home in my classroom newsletter that says, "I know many of you very kindly set aside funds to buy a gift for your child's teacher at this time of year. With the spirt of the season in mind, please consider donating that money to a charity of your choice instead of spending it on me. Please have your child write me a note or Christmas card to tell me how they have helped someone in need." One year, I had twins that saved their allowance for a month and used it to purchase socks for a homeless shelter. Their mom took them to the store to buy the socks and then to the shelter to donate them. What a beautiful life lesson for these kids. Trust me, this type of gift is so meaningful. The kids were so proud, their mom cried, I cried....and that is just one example I can give you out of 20+ years of teaching. Teachers really don't need any more coffee cups, candles or lotion, it almost all just goes in a donation box anyway.
Good tips! My husband is a teacher and I'm an SLP in the schools. He gets tons of gift cards every year. LOTS of gift cards. They really help us throughout the year. WE WANT GIFT CARDS!
However as an Speech Therapist, I've only gotten 3 gifts in the last 7 years, (I usually have about 45-50 kids each year). If your kid gets special education services, us related service providers (SLP, OT, PT) will be beyond happy to get anything.
OH MY GOODNESS, our 5 year old has a speech therapist and I didn't even think to include her...thank you! And thank you for confirming that gift cards!
What would be the best gift to special education teacher? I volunteer sometimes and think the teachers there are just amazing
Thank you for this reminder. I was thinking whether I should give to therapists of my son's preschool but now I will give gift card to his nurse as well.
Thanks for the reminder, even on an old post! My son is in speech.
I taught 6th grade for almost ten years! I loved everything she suggested. My favorite gifts were dunkn donuts gift cards!
Oh that's interesting! Love that you approve ;)
Yes! I am a teacher. Gift cards are SO appreciated. We can use them. Sweet thoughtful notes by you that show your appreciation are wonderful.
Fourth grade teacher here😆 I love when I receive a small gift card from a local business! Local coffee place or bakery, a family-owned chocolate shop or restaurant. It gets me into my community and gives me a reason to try a new place that I can feel good about.
As a former teacher, yes on the gift cards. And although I love treats, i got so many I had to give them to family and friends each year.
True. Every woman I know is watching her diet and figure.
I know several teachers and I don’t think ANY of them would argue with this video😄 it’s true: they pour into the lives of our children several days a week and we just want them to feel loved and appreciated with our breaking the bank! 😜 it’s great to be reminded that “taking the easy way out” with a gift card may be the most appreciated or useful of the gifts they receive
I did a “Facebook” pole to all my friends who are teachers and they said the same thing. If you really want to give a gift to teachers...gift cards is the most appreciated gift. Especially Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Wawa, Chick Fila, food consumable gift cards!
I would throw away the gift cards for coffee places. It is possible I would give them to the homeless, but STOP assuming every teachers drinks coffee!
@@leighsutherland6222 so you would throw away someone's money? Just regift it. Very ungrateful
I have kept all the Christmas cards that kids have given me. I pack them with the Christmas stuff and read them every Christmas. They are treasured.
I love giving really nice 3 wick candles for a few reasons, 1-they are a consumable decor item (makes their home look and smell nice but doesn’t take up room or need storage) 2-if the candle isn’t a scent that the teacher likes it is a generic enough gift that it can be regifted very easily and I believe that’s also very helpful during the holiday season, it’s just one less gift you have to buy! 3-candles (if purchased from a decent store/brand) are a quality gift that won’t break the bank! Example...bath and body works has 3 wicks in sale every other week and they are gorgeous quality candles
I'm a teacher, and my favourite thing is to receive a note. I received a note and a picture from a student earlier this year, and I keep it in my teacher bag to pull out when I'm having a bad day. We hear regularly, when we have made parents angry, but we rarely get told when we've made a positive impact on a child or their family.
Otherwise, a gift card would suit very well....or earrings. But make sure to take note of preferred colours or metals.
Love this, Thank YOU!!! :)
I am a toddler teacher and your friend gave great ideas! I will say that if you have a treat, be careful of food allergies! I have a food allergy and even though I’ll accept gifts even if I can’t eat them, it’s sweet when someone remembers. I love how you tell kids to pay attention to their teachers for gift ideas too!
My kids’ school has a ‘My Favorite Things’ that’s done by each teacher, available in the office. I always get a copy of my kid’s teachers’ page the beginning of the year and try to get them something from their list throughout the year. I love the idea and so glad I’m getting something from their wishlist.
Love this! I need to check if our teachers do this!!
As a teacher myself, I 100% agree with the teacher inteviewed for this video!! She is spot on.
One teacher friend of mine said the best gift she has ever received was a bottle of wine, for all of the love she "pours" into the kids! Haha!! I guess that would fit under "consumables!"
LOVE this!!
Gave a teacher a rose bush one year for end of year and she still has it in her yard! So sweet! Always thinks of us as it blooms💕
Yes I agree with all these suggestions. I teach high school though so rarely gifts are seen. As an English teacher I love when kids put their thoughts of appreciation in a card. I save them all.
I've worked in preschool for many years. The best yet have been when parents in their honest and beautiful words have told me how much they love what I do for their kid(s). But when it comes to things I loved a Mandalabook and color pencils the most. I've gotten eatable gifts but don't eat gluten. Make sure you check if the teacher is allergic if you are gonna give some sweets or similar. Even though the fact that you've thought of the teacher is more than enough :)
Teachers want rest and not seeing students for as long as possible 😁
Haha!
Hahaha, love this!
Not my teacher tho
But that's funny ASF😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I have young kiddos so they have a teacher and assistances so we also include them! This year we’re going with coffee gift cards and cookies!
Can you do a video about what you, as a minimalist, put into your kids' stockings? I want to give my kids fun things without filling their tummies with tons of sugar or our house with tons of extra junk! I would love to hear what you do!
Good question! You may have noticed in my last video that we don't do stockings...it wasn't a big part of Tom or my Christmas traditions growing up so it was easy to cut out! There was a year my mom put toothbrushes in them, though and ALWAYS socks!
My mom always put an orange and an apple in our christmas stocking. It fills up the toe nicely. We are also super thrilled to get a pomegranate in the stocking. They are quite novel and interesting. Also nuts with the shells on help fill out a stocking. These food items will also give little hands something to do.
I add an orange, a $1 coin (or 4 quarters) as a base to my daughter's stocking in past years...though this is only her 3rd Christmas.
Also we do a couple of healthy treats. This year she is getting underwear, tights, crocheted slippers, a crocheted bracelet and necklace and clothespin dolls, stem popsicle sticks...mostly a lot of handmade things.
One gift I remember giving was a spice set.. I saw it in a magazine and the teacher loved cooking. It came wrapped in a box and had some nice smelling spices.
I taught preschool for 7 yrs and i so agree with these suggestions!
Oh good! Glad teachers are chiming in!!!
I’m making gift boxes for my kids teachers. I’ve made a handmade macrame keyring, magnetic bookmarks, organic essence sticks, funky Xmas socks, organic chocolate, $20 liquor store voucher, and organic soap and packs of mini organic dried fruit.
I’m a newly retired teacher. I really love the idea of sending your child on a recon mission to see what their teacher drinks. What a great way to teach them how to think about others! Personally, my day was made when I got a $5 Starbucks card. Given that ANY gift is very touching, I would suggest that you steer away from ornaments and religious items (like a book of daily devotionals, which I once got. And still have, for sentimental reasons, even though it did not resonate with my own faith beliefs at all.). Also, it’s a season when there are a lot of illnesses going around, so I did always kind of prefer commercially wrapped food like chocolate candies to homemade goodies. When my daughter was little, I read that teachers like school supplies and stickers, so I sometimes did that. But when I was a teacher myself, I have to say I enjoyed more frivolous stuff like chocolate or pretty-smelling hand sanitizer. And I’d like to add one more thing. I taught Special Ed, and I had an incentives/treats/prizes box. Friends and family would pass on trinkets to me for my box. If your child’s teacher has a prize box, consider donating little things, or bubblegum, throughout the year (whenever you go on a decluttering spree).
This is super helpful, thank YOU!!!
Great ideas! I always felt like gift cards are impersonal BUT I've decided they definitely don't have to be. I would much rather give something someone can use so thank you very much for sharing!
I agree with you! But it was fun to read the comments from all of the teachers who chimed in, they definitely like gift cards!
When my son was growing up, the one gift I gave that went over like gangbusters was, I bought these really cute scrapbooks, personalized to each of his teachers. Inside I wrote a note, something to the effect of we don't get to keep anything but our memories. And that was my gift. They were enamored with it. Now these were grade school teachers.
I was in college later and turned out, one of my professors became one of my best friends. I learned from her that material gifts just are not that appreciated because they get so many. Because we are friends, I give her good chocolate or maybe a bottle of wine. But I think the one thing she liked the best was a gift card to a really nice restaurant. Pampering. As you said, they don't have a lot of money. Teachers really don't. And, they don't have a lot of time. Really expensive soap or something decadent that they wouldn't normally buy for themselves. They really are on a budget, So even though I'm not in school anymore, we are still friends and I still get her gifts. And I try to make them decadent. Also cards! She loves to get cards.
I know this video is super old but for Christmas my kindergartner gave his teacher and aid both 2 ornaments 1 I made using Scrabble tiles spelling out their names and 1 he made of a gingerbread house. We also made a scrabble name decoration for my nieces teacher but instead of an ornament hanger we glued it inside a picture frame and backed it with some nice scrap book paper
A lot of people probably have a little trouble thinking of gift cards for male teachers ( other than food/ coffee which is still nice) but if you live in a place that really gets snow, a gift card for vehicle washes are a great idea. The men in my life really like to take care of their trucks and keep them clean but spending money on a car wash is not fun and over the long winter it can really add up. A gift card would be especially good for those times when you just wash the truck and have at most one nice day and then it snows and gets all muddy, slushy and dirty again and it's as though you never washed it but you don't want to pay for another wash so soon. So it really is a gift. I would think Tom could relate to this.
The parents of my son’s class are getting together and pooling money to buy gift cards for the teachers. As a recovering teacher myself, I completely agree with gift cards. Handwritten notes from kids and parents are lovely too. If I was given chocolate or cake, I would leave it at school and produce it in the staff room in mid January, when we needed a boost. So that’s appreciated too!
I really don’t want to fill somebody else’s house with junk either now I’ve seen the benefits of minimalism.
SO glad to hear this!!!
Love getting sharpies!
Absolutely! This former teacher saved the sweet cards, those are the best. Many school offices have the staff fill out a “favorites” sheet, they usually don’t advertise it but if you ask the school office they may have it for gift card ideas.
As a teacher I agree 💯-% gift cards 😊
When I was teaching I loved gift cards! Definitely the best. I was trying to figure out where to get them for my sons teachers and since you said McDonald’s I’m probably going to go with that. They can always get a coffee there. We don’t have many specialty restaurants in our small town. Thanks for your videos!
I'am so obsessed of your videos!!
Thank you so much for sharing all those good ideas ,the really helps me and my family🤗🤗🤗
Sorry for the" not so good English" I am french
Your English is great, no apologies need! And Thank YOU!!! :)
As a teacher, I agree that a simple letter or card with a personal message means SO much more than anything else would. Teaching is a very "cluttery" job and more stuff is just adding to that. All the ideas were great though!
I get so many knick-knacks! Yes they are cute and I appreciate the thought so much, but I can not keep them in my house. My house would look like a thrift store if I kept all those cute things. If I can, I send them to my cousin in the city to donate so they don't appear in our local thrift store, lol.
As a former teacher and mother, I vote for a gift card attached to a large bottle of hand sanitizer and a bundle of tissue boxes.
Love this idea!!
I call this my winter survival gift…
I know my daughters teacher visits a cafe near the school most weeks. This has just spurred me on to message them to see if they do gift vouchers we could purchase for Christmas 🎄
I got my kids' teachers a poinsettia plant. Ok but here is the truth...my kids are literally the easiest kids to work with. They are NO trouble at all, get along with everyone, do their work, follow directiins. I sincerely feel that just by raising good kids I am doing my part and dont need to constantly hustle to give gifts to teachers. At our school it started to feel excessive...Christmas, teacher's birthsay, Teacher Appreciation Day. Likewise I dont need the teacher to bend over backwards for the perfect Mothers Day art craft from the child. Reading, writing, math, organized approach, and a nice disposition is really all I expect.
I don't expect anything. I am crazy about school supplies!
I’m so glad you brought up this topic! I personally cannot do the crafty dollar store gifts that I know will end up donated or trashed. I sent out a questionnaire to all my daughters teachers so I know what will work best for them. 🎄
LOVE this!!
Charity donations on our behalf are always a lovely gift. Oxfam sells gift cards to buy a goat for a village or train a teacher. I usually request no gifts please, but if you really want, let's help someone who really needs it.
That is an awesome idea!!!
Your videos are always on point 😃💪🏻
Thank YOU!!! :)
This is great! I love your channel. Teachers are hard to shop for.
We've donated to Samaritans Purse "to help teach a child to read" and I think we will be doing something similar with Compassion this year. 4th grade hatches baby chicks, and baby chicks for a family is one of the gifts you can sponsor. It gives us the opportunity to support a charity and tie the meaning back to what our teachers do for us. I hope the gesture is appreciated!
This sounds awesome!!!
We plan to return to homeschooling but will get our teacher’s gift cards and candy with a card and tie it up in a cellophane bag. Everything can be from Dollar Tree but the gift card. Target? Starbucks. Not sure.
HikeGardenTravel there’s a Starbucks inside our Target --just a thought
I think both would be be appreciated!!!
Great tips. Simple & effective, just what we like!
Thank you sooo much. I am going crazy trying to look for ideas. And there you are.! Guess a gift card it is. Happy Holidays!
I love Your channel more and more.
I was thinking of giving a target gift card this year. Do you feel like that would be appreciated? Didnt want to take the chance on coffee bc I dont know if they drink it! Figured they can use target for school supplies or themselves!?
I taught Preschool for many years and YES.... a Target card would be appreciated. That was one of my favorites.
Great! it's for my daughters preschool teachers! There are 2, so I might only keep it to 10 a piece, but that feels so cheap :(
@@juliefitzgerald-frangos2211 That is a perfect amount. I even used to get $5 gift cards for Starbucks and that was much appreciated. Most parents knew me pretty well so they did know that I liked coffee.
Target is a go. And $10 is sufficient. It really is the thought that counts and a gift card of any sort/amount is the best!
Yesssss!!! Loooove Target!! But I never buy school stuff with gift cards. I treat MYSELF, lol!! 😜
I would always give teachers things like a freezable meals that she could microwave or cook in a short time for her / his family during the busy holiday season as well as for younger teachers, prize box supplies, stickers, pencils & subject related items with a personalized card from my student.
Patty Gioffre so many people are on special diets these days, food is too hard, gift cards to Walmart or Target or Amazon work better for me...my kiddos are now past this stage ❄️
@@ruthlloyd1163 I always asked ahead of time if they had any allergies or if they had a favorite food.
Patty Gioffre brilliant!!!
@@ruthlloyd1163 thanks Ruth. They all always loved getting the meals. They said it was a big help to be able to provide their own family a hot homemade meal while being crazy busy with lesson plans, grading papers, tests, holiday shopping, etc.
OH, who wouldn't love this!!!
Gift cards are awesome, but honestly my favorite gifts from students are letters or notes from them.
My math teacher truely wants have free day. No students. No music. No sounds. Just empy warm room with coffe :)
Gift car at a local car wash , because they don’t have time to wash it.lol.....
As a teacher myself, this is pretty accurate! (:
I’m here because my girlfriend got her daughter’s elementary teacher at $20 gift card, a teachers ornament, a Christmas card and a little box of candy but was wondering if he might think she is hitting on him. He’s a divorced fellow, that keeps her VERY in the know with the smallest even playground details so wasn’t sure if she outdid herself. Lol really though.
My teacher enjoys.... COFFEE. I’m so smart...
I know I always appreciate consumable 'body care ' products. Soaps, hand lotions, body butters, room spray. The only thing you need to know is if they are allergic or sensitive to perfume scents. That is why I would buy/ want only products scented with natural essential oils and that are natural products without harmful chemical ingredients. Not cheap drug store brands. Essential oils are a wonderful gift as well along the same lines.
great tips!
Love your channel
💕
Haha I am gonna get my teachers a $10 gift card and chocolate uwu
I found potted amaryllis plants at Walmart for $5. I think those will be fun teacher gifts that last for a while!
Any teachers out there? Does that sound like something you would want?
LOVE this idea!!!
I would like this present. I got an African Violet from a parent once. I'm an SLP, but I think I'm pretty representative. She was a notoriously difficult parent. Surprised the heck out of me. I had it for 3 years.
Thx
Wine!!!!!!!! So she can relax! After dealing with all this adorable kids, cuz they can be a handful imaging dealing with 20 little ones🤕
Nice
My niece, cousin, aunt, another cousin, close friend, mother in law, husband’s aunt, husband’s cousins are ALL teachers. I have asked them all and their answers:
1. nothing is fine. They don’t expect a gift.
2. Gift cards to bookstore, office supplies store, coffee shop, dollar store.
3. Pinterest type gift.
NO MUGS.
So it’s pretty much the same as your video said.
a) You have A LOT of teachers in your life, that's awesome! b) SO glad to hear that they agree!!!
🛑Other ideas🛑
●candles
●nude nail polish
●Hair care kit-shampoo+conditioner +hair mask
●face mask kit
●delicious chocolates
●winter kit accessories (hat+scarf +gloves)*for cold climates. Pick a simple color or pattern.
What about an echo dot?
For Teacher Appreciation day, we have sometimes given a donation in our teacher's names. This can also work for the holidays!
I've given gift cards to a local ice cream shop at the end of the year. Who doesn't like ice cream?!😁
Chocolates?? Cheesecake??
Good question! Beth said the break room at school is always FULL of sweets during the holidays and so she doesn't usually need more!
Good chocolate, wine.
All of my inlaws are teachers and had boxs of "gifts" laying around in their basement (mugs, notepads , lotions etc) gift cards are the way to go! I choose NOT to participate in the group gift bc it was a basket of crap ! We gave a giftcard and a small plant
What about Target gift card
What about chorus teachers?
What about logo gift cards?
What about wine?
People dislike clutter in their homes yet they gift teachers with clutter and handmade gifts from their children which eventually get thrown away. ALL teachers need extra cash and the closest they can get apart from cash are gift cards. Hear hear hear ye all.
What about teachers teaching specials? Gift cards?
My teacher: my present is for all of you to be quiet good and smart
Me at home: playing buddyfight well saying bad stuff bout my teacher
Gas card it is :)
Bringing wine to school and give it to teacher isn’t a good idea right ?
teachers just want cash... think about their salary ;)
It is ridiculous to assume that all teachers want the same thing. I certainly do NOT want school supplies for Christmas! Since I do not drink coffee, I do not want coffee mugs or coffee shop gift cards. Christmas ornaments are nice, but only if they go along with my style. Some students know what I like, and others don’t (nothing wrong with this). If you have more than one child, you should realize that they like different things. It is the same with everyone. So not lump everyone into one category by assuming a shared career choice means they want the same presents. Try to notice things a person likes, and shop for a present with that in mind.
All teacher wont is good work from ther student dont you agree
Nice