Summer’s almost here! Where exactly did this school year go?
If May is as crazy for you as it is for our family . . . there’s a chance that the last day of school will sneak up on you and you’ll soon be scrambling to find gifts for your child’s teacher.
I taught junior high, and while I definitely didn’t expect gifts from kids that age, it was always such a nice surprise when students showed their appreciation at the end of the year.
From my own years as a teacher, and experiences of family members who have been in the education field for years, I’ve seen some wonderful gifts that didn’t end up in a garage sale a few years down the road.
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A Summer Gift Basket
Fill a beach tote with a colorful beach towel, sunscreen, a cute re-usable water bottle, and perhaps a bookstore gift card so she can pick up a great beach read!
2. Gift cards geared toward summer activities.
You can buy gift cards to daily deal sites like Groupon or Living Social. Your teacher will be able to browse through the fun and unique adventures these sites offer for something to do during her much-appreciated time off from school. Be sure to remind her that these sites are great to use for fun activities while on vacation as well!
3. Hobby-focused gifts.
Your child has spent many hours with his teacher over the past school year, and it’s likely that he knows the kinds of things the teacher enjoys doing in her spare time. If she loves to bake, some gourmet baking supplies would make a thoughtful gift. If she’s a rock climber, she might like to have a lightweight water bottle that attaches to her belt. Paying attention to her unique interests will add special meaning to the gift.
4. Restaurant gift cards.
Gift cards make great teacher gifts. They’re consumable, and allow the teacher a little splurge. But sometimes the cost can be overwhelming, especially if a child has several teachers. In this case, you can opt for gift cards for the teacher’s favorite fast food restaurant, or a single movie ticket to help her save on a fun summer day at the movies. Sonic is a great stop for cool treats, and a small amount can often cover a drink run for the teacher and her children.
For a larger giftcard that will pay for the teacher’s entire family to eat at a nice restaurant, consider asking several families in the class to go together on the gift.
A heartfelt “Thank You” is a teacher’s most coveted gift. But when you want to do more, show him/her that you appreciate the hard work put in over the school year by choosing a thoughtful, personal gift.
Nice ideas! For my son’s teacher I have already bought a printed towel, but for my daughter’s I’ll use the idea for the basket.