Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
It's nearly the end of term, and in the midst of sports days, summer fetes, and holiday planning, figuring out what to give your child’s class teacher can be a bit of a conundrum. You appreciate everything they’ve done for your child, so you want to get them something meaningful and personal, but you don’t necessarily know much about their personal life.
I used to live with a teacher, and at the end of term, she would come home with bags of chocolates, mugs, and keepsakes and put them in the box room, where they remained for the rest of the year. Most of them remained untouched because she simply didn't have the space for them.
I do not claim to be any kind of gift guru, (far from it!) but I am a mum of 2, so I thought I would share some gift ideas I've seen that are both thoughtful and practical and have been well-received - and won’t get stashed away in a box room, never to be seen again!
POOL YOUR RESOURCES
First of all, instead of each parent buying individual gifts, consider pooling your resources with the other parents to purchase one or two special gifts for both your class teacher and teaching assistants without breaking the bank.
You can do a collection via a website such as Collctiv to gather donations from those who want to contribute - that way no one is having to chase people for money. It helps to agree on an amount, but this way everyone can contribute what they want without feeling pressured. All you need to do is share a custom payment link.
They even have a handy blog article with top tips on collecting for teacher's gifts including a template message for you to send with the payment link.
CONSUMABLE GIFT IDEAS
So, with that box room in mind, one idea is to opt for consumable gifts that won't add to the clutter. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
1. Flowers: A beautiful bouquet of flowers is a classic choice. It's a simple yet lovely way to make your teacher feel special and appreciated. Obviously your local florist is the sensible option here but if you don't have one, the Real Flower Company provide sustainable UK grown roses in recycled packaging.
Photo from The Real Flower Company
2. Handcrafted Soap: Everyone uses soap, and a beautiful bar of artisan soap, together with a handmade soap dish or face cloth, makes a luxurious gift and encourages your teacher to indulge in a little pampering away from the hustle and bustle of school. Here at Barton Soapworks we can also gift wrap your soap for you.
Lavender Fields Soap + Beech Soap Dish
3. Alcohol: If you have managed to glean your teacher's favourite tipple, a bottle of wine, gin, or their preferred spirit along with a personalised glass can make a thoughtful gift. These teacher glasses are a fun idea:
SWEET TREATS
Does your teacher have a sweet tooth? Your child may know the answer to this question! If so, consider these delightful treats:
1. Cupcake Bouquet: You can give flowers and cakes in one gift with these amazing cupcakes by Biancabbakes. These stunning edible bouquets are a unique and delicious gift that anyone would be delighted to receive.
2. Teacher-themed Biscuits: The Biscuiteers create stunning teacher-themed biscuit gifts that are almost too adorable to eat. Check out this cute selection:
Thank you Teacher by Biscuiteers
PRACTICAL PERSONALISED GIFTS
If you want something that will last a little longer, how about a more practical and useful item? These ideas can all be personalised to make them special:
Personalised Apron: My son’s Year 1 teacher loved baking and ran a baking club after school, so at the end of the year, we gave her an apron with a picture he drew of her embroidered on it. She absolutely loved this and used it whenever she baked in school.
Personalised Apron by OliveandPip on Etsy
2. Foldaway Shopping Bag or Tea Towel: A handy foldaway shopping bag or a tea towel with your child's picture printed on it can be a useful and personalised gift, perfect for everyday use.
3. Personalised Sweatshirt: For sporty teachers, a personalised sweatshirt can be a great gift. You can put all the kids' names in the year number. If it’s not appropriate, instead of "LEAVERS," put the year group or school name. You can even get the school logo embroidered on the front at your regular school uniform shop!
4. Stationery: If your teacher has a penchant for paper and pens, consider gifting them something practical like a personalised notepad or pen pot or a set of nice pens to sit on their desk.
Notebook by Emily Tyson on Etsy
5. A hanging decoration: Okay, this is not such a practical or useful option, but a hanging decoration can be stored with the Christmas decorations and hung on the tree each year - and it's going to make your Teacher smile every year!
Tree Ornament by Chase Casterline on Etsy
GIFT VOUCHERS
One final idea is a gift voucher, which could be for any store, of course, but I wanted to mention Joanie Clothing. They are very popular with teachers and feature quirky fabric designs like dinosaurs, maths symbols, fossils, and more. They’ve recently collaborated on a collection with the Natural History Museum. A voucher for a ‘Teacher Dress’ will be a hit for the style-conscious teachers out there - and their pupils!
AN EXTRA THANK YOU!
Finally, if your class does decide to pool resources, then whoever is brave enough to volunteer to take on this endeavor deserves a HUGE thank you themselves for managing the money, browsing, ordering, wrapping, and delivering the presents!
So, as the term comes to a close, I hope these ideas will help you find the right gift to express gratitude to all those special teachers who have made a difference in our children's lives.
What did I miss? Add your ideas below!