Physical teacher gift?

[blondemoment123]

Weird title, sorry. I'm getting DS's teachers a couple of different gift cards, but DS is adamant about getting them an actual gift also.

I know mugs are out, but what physical gift can we give? I'm hesitant on edible items because I don't know about dietary restrictions or anything.

[mildop]

When my kids were in grade school, I gave them Ticonderoga pencils from Etsy with their (the teacher’s name) name on them along with a gift card.

[VillainV]

I usually get teachers a box of cookies or
chocolates. Sometimes the PTA will put out lists of each teacher’s favorite candy or snack food, so I’ll get that. My husband is a teacher and he loves getting handmade cards, ornaments, or keychains. He also loves fun socks and has gotten a few pairs over the years.

As the wife of a teacher, please no more coffee mugs or yeti tumblers.

[InBetweenDays]

A small succulent or air plant they could keep on their desk?

[m15]

You could do a simple Christmas decoration, fake plant or real plant, some fuzzy socks, hand sanitizer, a pack of good pens...I am a teacher and those would all be welcome. I've done health, wealth, and happiness before by giving a mini hand sanitizer, a little scratch off, and a gift card.

[eb777888]

I volunteered for Secret Santa for one of David's teachers (set up by the PTO) and we do filled baskets. I got some ornaments (I know she celebrates Christmas), gourmet nuts and chocolates (on her favorite things), soy candles, a notebook, gift card, reindeer decorations, candy and a tin of tea. Can you ask for a "favorite things' list for the teacher? That's where I got all of my ideas. If there isn't one, I'd do nice chocolates. I know you said you don't want to do food because of dietary restrictions but I think consumables are the "safest" physical gift other than a gift card, obviously.

[Jalapeñomel]

Hand sanitizer!

Flair pens

I agree and don’t do edible gifts.

[quesyrah]

My son gave his teacher a hot wheels car in first grade. She was a good sport about it lol

[pierogigirl]

Flair pens in good colors
Their favorite pens, if you know what kind
Gloves, if you live where it gets cold

[steamboat185]

Flair pens are definitely a good idea. Every teacher I work with loves flair pens.

[dcn]

I give penzey’s mini gift boxes.

[loira]

My DD gave her teacher a small handmade ornament last year, along with a gift card. It wasn't particularly intricate so I'm hoping it said "I appreciate you enough to make this gift, but also don't feel guilty for chucking it in the recycle bin".

[honeydew1894]

I would love pack of post it notes or Mr. Sketch markers!

[dancingirl21]

I always do gift cards and Lindt chocolate. I figure that’s easily regiftable if they do not like chocolate.

[cricketwife]

Disclaimer - teachers appreciate the thought, etc. etc.

School supplies are practical, but are more a gift for the role, than the person, if that makes sense. But very appreciated. I think edible gifts (as long it doesn’t have to be consumed immediately and are store bought, not handmade) are great. And they are the easiest to regift if you don’t like.

No to plants, mugs, ornaments, water bottles.

[meganew]

Dec 4, 2023 20:11:29 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

My son gave his teacher a hot wheels car in first grade. She was a good sport about it lol

This would be my favorite gift ever.

[sparty04]

In the past I've done theater boxes of candy or mini hand lotions attached to a gift card. This year I'm doing flair pens with a GC but probably candy with a GC for their specials teachers.

Our PTO recently sent out a document with most teacher's Amazon wishlist links. Maybe yours has something like that as well?

[BicycleBride]

I love it when kids are taken to the store and allowed to pick out something small they think I’d like. The kids I work with are preschoolers so YMMV but I get some of the most interesting things that way. One year I got one pen (because I’m always trying to find mine) and a box of graham crackers because I threaten to eat all the graham crackers before we can hand out snack on graham cracker day because that is the height of preschool humor.

[blondemoment123]

Dec 4, 2023 20:11:29 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

My son gave his teacher a hot wheels car in first grade. She was a good sport about it lol

Ha! If I gave DS free reign his teacher would get a monster truck.

[blondemoment123]

I'll read these ideas off to DS tomorrow, thank you!
I had to google since I had no idea what a flair pen was lol.

[candreco]

DS's teacher uses cute/encouraging stamps instead of stickers on hw, so we got her a personalized self-inking one from Etsy that says "Mrs. X likes this" with thumbs up.

[ckay]

My favorite gift was a pack of gum from a first grader. He told me they were going shopping for my gift and he’d know it when he saw it 😂 apparently bubble gum made him think of me. His parents gave me a gift card but I sure loved that pack of gum that he chose for me ❤️

[sugarbear1]

I teach middle school and I would love a hot wheels car!

Honestly, a handwritten note and maybe have your son draw his teacher a picture?

Otherwise, things I've gotten and lived: funny socks or punny t shirts in my subject area, succulents, candy, fancy pens, books (both non fiction related to my subject, or fiction, a favor of the mom).

[jackie011]

I love the idea of your DS choosing a trinket for his teacher! Ever since my son was old enough to choose, we’ve let him select a small item for each of us; DH is getting a Heman Funko Pop guy and I (think) I’m getting a cordless glue gun. I think one year I got a yellow whistle because he really thought I needed that 🤣

[meanie]

My H taught for years and we got really excited for the food gifts! For some reason I was fine eating homemade cookies when I wouldn't touch a potluck.

What about something to go along with the giftcards - if they are to an actual store I like to buy something small from there as well (coffee beans to go with a Dunkin GC for example)

These are some things we have given/received that were a hit -

Nicer lunch tote and matching thermos

Fancy caramels

Lenox plate and mug for Santa when we had our 1st kid

Sports team tie and suspenders (my H wore a tie and suspenders every day)

Fancy coffee beans

Snack box - jerky, chips, dip, salsa, pretzels,  etc

[raleighnc]

My daughter made me order a golden snitch fidget spinner for her 5th grade teacher. Because she really needed it. 🤣 I also ordered a laptop stand that was on her wish list so it would be less weird.

Honestly, something random and small that the kids picks out along with a gift card sounds perfect. The teacher gets a laugh and can give away the hot wheels car at the end of the year and make another kid happy.

My mother once got a bottle of something to protect against the evil eye from a place in our tiny town named Tina's Botanica. We teased her that maybe they thought she was the evil eye and they wanted protection from her, not the other way around. That was definitely a memorable gift. 🤣

[redheadk]

My favorite gifts were always the most random things kids picked themselves. I left full time teaching when I had DD (11) and still have the Galileo thermometer a student picked out for me, a painting one did, a scarf another one knitted (she is now a science teacher herself!), a faux marble apple, and some ornaments (my go-to suggestion when pressed for a request by a child since they can be bought inexpensively or homemade; I taught in a low income school). It doesn't need to be big or particularly meaningful if you'd like to let him just pick something himself.

[shauni27]

Dec 4, 2023 20:11:29 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

My son gave his teacher a hot wheels car in first grade. She was a good sport about it lol

this is great. this thread has now inspired me to let S (6) pick out a small gift for his teachers this year and going forward. I asked him if he wanted to buy H a gift and he goes, "yes, I will get him a beer," lol.

Dec 4, 2023 21:44:25 GMT -5 blondemoment123 said:

I'll read these ideas off to DS tomorrow, thank you!
I had to google since I had no idea what a flair pen was lol.

same lol. But now I want them all.

[W.T.Faulkner]

One more vote for the Flair Pens!

[stemmie]

DS's one teacher said her favorite gift is dry eraser markers. She was a favorite, so we often got something related to her beloved bulldog.

My late MIL taught elementary school; she had a linen closet full of tea towels and a room full of owl-themed tchotchkes.