35 Best and Affordable Teacher Appreciation Ideas
Teacher Appreciation Day is quickly approaching and it feels like another one of those inflated celebrations that, in some school districts, has gone from one simple day to an entire week. It’s tough, there’s always an obligation, birthday, holiday, anniversary, etc. that needs a gift, thoughtful effort or attention. But let’s face it, most teachers are undervalued and have a large impact on our children's lives, so why not show our appreciation? It easily sneaks up on us and we often fall short due to time or lack of ideas, however, Sophisticated Standards has you covered! Whether you’re a planner or the last minute throw-it-together parent we have plenty of ideas to make sure your child’s teacher feels the love and appreciation they well deserve!
How do you choose the perfect gift? Take notice, look at them, talk to them and look at their surroundings. Does the teacher wear a charm bracelet? Does he or she come in with their favorite coffee each morning? Do they have an old lunch box or worn out shoes? You don’t have to be best friends with your child’s teacher to notice the basics about them, especially given the fact that they are making daily impressions in your child’s development.
So what do you get a teacher - the classic coffee mug? The impersonal lotions, not even knowing if they like the scent? You can go that route, but have you ever thought about the fact that a simple offer of appreciation can make a world of difference in someone? We had experiences with both the mediocre and the phenomenal teachers and without fail, we have always found that a little gratitude goes a long way!
Here’s a list of 26 affordable ideas for you to consider this year:
All jokes aside, a coffee mug! But not any ordinary mug, be practical. Get them a thermos, tumbler or something portable. More importantly, give them the coffee to go with it. Grab a gift card to your local coffee shop or even buy them a bag of their favorite coffee beans.
Lotions… you can go this route, but if you do, ask them if they have a favorite scent first. Maybe even throw in a bath or shaving set.
Perfume or cologne.
A spa gift card - these days, you can get a Groupon pretty cheap too!
Classic candles. If you don’t know the flavor, vanilla bean is usually a safe bet.
A restaurant gift card to his or her favorite location.
Their favorite sporting event ticket.
A new lunch box or hot/cold tupperware.
Bring them breakfast the day of.
Bring them lunch the day of.
Deliver some flowers.
A favorite potted plant or flower for their desk.
Deliver a fruit or bread basket.
A reasonable piece of jewelry or charm.
A new tie or casual cufflinks.
New office supplies or organizers for their classroom or desk.
Their favorite quote in a frame or on a poster for the classroom.
A “Best Teacher”, “Teacher of The Year” or “Most Dedicated” award.
Replenish their school supplies or give a gift card to purchase new ones. Remember, most teachers have to pay for extras out of their own pocket - especially in public schools.
Umbrella, raincoat or rain boots - do you ever see the teacher walk into school from the rain without one?
A new bag, backpack or briefcase.
An adult coloring book or puzzle book for breaks.
Teachers survival kit filled with Tylenol, pencils, pens, sticky-notes, gum, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, Tide-to-Go pen, wet wipes, etc.
Chocolate covered espresso beans with a note. Sample message, “A pinch of energy for when my child drains all of yours!”
Their favorite candy with a cute message on it. Example, buy some bubble gum and print a sticker that says, “Thanks for your dedication to my child. You blow me away!”
When all else fails, a Target gift card… Because who doesn’t love Target!
You don’t need to spend serious money to show a teacher that you care. Sometimes the handmade gifts from your kids mean more to them than you will ever know. And more importantly, teachers often just want you to notice the dedication it takes to invest in your child.
Check out these 8 kid-made-easy ideas to create at home:
A picture frame. You can go for something generic, but it would be cherished more if it was handmade. Whether your child creates crafts in preschool, takes art in middle school, or has high school shop class, they can make the frame.
Make a candle with your kiddo.
A handmade thank you card designed by your child.
Have your child pick some flowers from the yard, put them in a hand decorated vase or press them onto a card.
Make a piece of jewelry with beads or sting.
Make an award - create a medal or ribbon for “#1 Teacher” Teacher of the Year”, or “Most Dedicated Teacher”.
Maybe your child had a favorite project or experience they created at school - you can re-create or document it for them. For example, build a solar system with styrofoam for the science teacher or make a cd of your child playing piano for the music teacher.
What if there is more than one teacher? Well, we could go on all day because the ideas are endless, but make it easy on yourself and order the staff some pizza or bring them coffee and donuts!
Gift giving is a love language, and arguably one of the more commonly known ones at that. The more personalized gift the better, but what truly matters is showing appreciation, in any form. Keep in mind, you can never go wrong with a simple hand written thank you card.
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