Suitable Christmas Gifts for Teachers

I just read a great report on what to give and NOT to give to your child's school teacher this year. I want to pass that information on to you now. Remember that most teachers are just basically surviving on their wages so think of that when you are shopping, etc for them.

Several teachers were asked what gifts they usually do NOT prefer. Because of the fact that many teachers leave town right after the last school day before Christmas Vacation and do not return home for 2 or more weeks, they prefer not to have fresh homemade cookies or any other foods that need to be eaten right away. They would love to have homemade sauces, jams, jellies, etc that can be frozen or that are canned so that they can pull them out sometime after Christmas Vacation has ended.

Some parents have given cut flowers to the teachers. Again, those aren't the greatest things if the teacher and her family are going to be out of town for a couple of weeks. Plants would be a great idea, though!

Every year, students bring coffee mugs to their teachers for Christmas. Because of all of the mugs that they receive, this is really not a good idea.

Most teachers, etc enjoy candles. Jarred candles are a great way to say Merry Christmas! But when we do this, we don't give candles with Christmas scents such as Pine, Hollyberry, etc. We give scents that people can use all year.

An idea that works EXTREMELY well for all teachers is for the parents to purchase gift cards or certificates for nearby bookstores, restaurants, coffee shops, discount variety stores such as Walmart, Target, etc. If you want to give your child's teacher a gift certificate worth $20.00 but since you have several kids in the school system, just tuck some money away until closer to Christmas. Then pull out your saved money, split it up for each child's teacher and purchase the certificates just before school ends for vacation. You can usually purchase the certificates at the store, etc or many certificates are available at such places as Walmart.

Some parents have asked the other parents of children in the same classroom to donate money that will be put together to purchase a gift certificate for the teacher to use at a spa that is located close to where the teacher lives. Be creative!

I also recommend that you remember that your child has more than one teacher in his school day. He probably has seperate teachers for Music, Band, Physical Education (Gym), Paraprofessionsals in the clssroom, etc. Give them a gift also if you are able to do this.

Anyway, just some thoughts that you might want to consider this Christmas.

VLE-B