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November 30, 2010 by: Shell

Christmas Gift for Teachers (or anyone hard to buy for)

‘As a former teacher, let me tell you how many “teacher” type gifts I was given. Mugs, ornaments, random knickknacks.Oh, how cute.And useless.

Yes, here is where I sound like an ungrateful brat. But, really, unless the teacher is a first-year newbie, they probably already have all of that stuff. I was gifted with all that sort of thing when I was a student teacher and it was cute then, but after that, notsomuch.

I thought it was really nice any time any of my students thought to give me a gift, though.

And some of my favorite gifts didn’t cost anything, like the parents who arranged to take my lunch duty for a week as a gift for teacher appreciation week or the mom who wrote me a four page handwritten letter thanking me for all that I did for her daughter.

Awwww.

There were really good gifts that cost some serious money, too. Woohoo to spa gift certificates for a whole day of pampering and a beach bag full of everything you could possibly need for a day at the beach. Most of the bigger gifts were from my whole class and if you can organize something like that, go for it!

Now that I’m a parent, I feel the pressure to come up with a good gift for my boys’ teachers.

I don’t have lots of cash to throw around, so I have to figure out how to do something nice for not very much money.

Due to all the germ-madness this year, this is what I came up with:

A Germ-Busting Bucket!

Forgive the craptastic job on the tissue paper- I really need to fix that.

I had three teachers to buy for.
Inside each bucket is:

Lysol sanitizing wipes- $2.92 x 3

Big bottle of GermX instant hand sanitizer- $1.98 x 3

Bottle of Chewable Vitamin C- $2 x 3 (found that bargain at Wally World)

Travel-size kleenx-$.99 for a pack of three

5 bags of Yogi brand tea: Cold Season $4.42 for one box, that I split in 3

On the sparkly tag, I wrote “Miss (insert teacher’s name here)’s Germ-Busting Bucket.”

So, that’s three teacher gifts of something that I think they will actually use, for just over $20 total.

Um, not counting the buckets($2.50 each at Wally World- they have a cute lid with a snowflake on it), tissue paper, and the sparkly tags, which bring my total closer to $30. But, by the time that I was shopping for those items, I had picked up the older two from preschool and had three kids shopping with me, so I went for whatever I saw that I thought was reasonable, instead of shopping around for a better deal. But, still, that means $10 per teacher, which isn’t bad at all!

Feel free to steal this idea for your kids’ teachers!

Click to see the movie-themed basket I made for my boys’ teachers as an end-of-the-year gift.

What are you getting for your children’s teachers?

 

Full of Wonder
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Comments

  1. The Mommyologist says

    November 30, 2010 at 8:26 am

    This is a great gift idea! I will have to think about that one…still not sure what to get my little man's teachers!

  2. Secret Mom Thoughts says

    November 30, 2010 at 8:45 am

    I remember this post. Still a great idea. I may steal it this year.

  3. That One Mom says

    November 30, 2010 at 8:56 am

    That's such a cute idea!

  4. Ma What's 4 dinner says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:02 am

    Oh good one!!! We're making Soup in a Jar for all the teachers this year. This might be next year's though. I'm diggin' it!

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    http://www.mawhats4dinner.com

  5. Oka says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:06 am

    are you doing the same thing this year????

  6. Di says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Shoot – I could use that bucket now as I degermify my whole house getting ready for Jellybean. Who is just going to spend his time germifying it back up!

  7. Evonne says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:58 am

    I remember this post. It's still an awesome idea!

    I'm making ornaments, but I might include some of those things as well.

  8. Kmama says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:59 am

    You are always so creative with your gifts.

    Last year I gave Buddy's kindergarten teacher a gift certificate to a nice restaurant in town. I'll probably do the same again this year. For all the other "secondary" teachers (daycare, before and after care, etc.), I made oreo balls and put them in nice Christmas tins. I might, once again, do the same thing.

  9. Liz says

    November 30, 2010 at 10:08 am

    I know my mom would whole-heartedly agree! She always said she loved gift cards for places like a teacher's store or Target. Even just $5 or 10 is FABULOUS! As years went by and budgets shrunk, teachers had to pay more and more out of pocket to get their room ready. She loves giftcards because she could put it back into the classroom instead of 5 lbs of chocolate and teacher ornaments.

  10. Ashley says

    November 30, 2010 at 10:42 am

    This former teacher loves your idea. Might be stolen. I haven't even thought about Christmas presents yet. Ah geez. My kid has three teachers, too, so the germ-busting bucket might be a fantastic way to go.

  11. Mrs.Mayhem says

    November 30, 2010 at 10:42 am

    That is a really cute idea! I always try to organize a class gift, but if that doesn't work out, I may steal your idea. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Corinne says

    November 30, 2010 at 10:44 am

    great idea. I got ornaments this year for everyone, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas and grandpas. So yes, the boys teacher is getting an ornament too. I went a little ornament crazy this christmas. But I figure it's better then chocolate, which just makes your butt fat.

  13. Go Mommy says

    November 30, 2010 at 10:52 am

    Honestly, were you reading my mind this morning!?!?! Because as I was driving to work I was thinking about what I was going to do about my son's teachers! I was stumped but thanks to you, I have a game plan. What a cute idea!!!

  14. Goodnight moon says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:04 am

    See….I thought I was ahead of the game…but I still need to get both my kids teachers and their helpers Christmas gifts.

    A full day of pampering…gesh! That is some serious mulla!

    We normally bake our favorite bread and put it in a really cute box with ribbon and the kids get them something little.

    Since my son is on the Panda team, I found a really cute panda Christmas ornament.

  15. Joey @ Big Teeth and Clouds says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:19 am

    I bought Sarris chocolates from the school fundraiser (proceeds benefit the PTG, nice right?) and Julia is making handmade ornaments, the Cinnamon ones. It's small but unobtrusive and still conveys our thanks.

  16. The Nice One says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:26 am

    LOVE this idea! I have so many teachers to buy for. This year I got a good deal (pre thanksgiving) on Bath and Body Works stuff. My kids teachers have sinks and the crap the district gives out is gross. So I got some of the nice wintery pumps filled with yum smelling soaps and a lotion hand sanitizer. $7/teacher
    I'll put them in a pretty bag and also add some chocolate covered pretzels.

  17. Katina says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:29 am

    Love the bucket! Glad you were honest about the useless gifts! I'm gonna sign up for duty free lunch today!

  18. Sara says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:30 am

    This is a cute idea. I would actually like one of these for me- just to carry around places to protect myself. I'm one flu away from wearing a surgical mask in public, lol….

  19. erica says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:34 am

    I was JUST looking at things to buy my daughter's teachers… but this is perfect. Totally stealing your idea. But, really, you kinda put it out there, now, didn't you?

  20. Kristin says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:35 am

    This is my first time ever buying teacher gifts! I went with personalized note cards and gift cards. My mom was a teacher, too, so I know what to avoid! 😉

  21. Natalie says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Shell…that is an AWESOME idea! And perfect for moms, too!

  22. MommaKiss says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:47 am

    I always get target or staples gift certificates.

    As a teacher – do you think that's good? I try to write a personalzied thankyou, too.

  23. Stasha says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:51 am

    That is a really great idea for a teacher gift!

    And you could probably get away even cheaper on some of the stuff by going to The Dollar Tree!

  24. {Simply} BC says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:59 am

    That's amazing! We did the popcorn buckets for teacher appreciation week last year, I'm sure my mom will go for doing this for gbaby's teacher this year!

    With my mom being a teacher, we know the feeling. We have a cabinet full of candles that she gets from her students. lol

  25. WicketsMom says

    November 30, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    I've always done a Pampered Chef small batter bowl filled with the 'Batter Bowl Brownie' mix. It's a cute, layered brownie recipe that my son loves to assemble for his teachers.

    This year, he was promoted to a new class (preschool) mid-year and I'm wondering if I should give his teachers from the first half of the year a gift too? They were great, and one of them still works with his class some too.

  26. Masala Chica says

    November 30, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Very cute! I had already planned to give the teachers wine, since anyone who deals with young children should be able to self-medicate at the end of the day 😉

    Great idea, Shell!

  27. Jen says

    November 30, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    What a great idea. 🙂

  28. Heather says

    November 30, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Great idea. I would love to be germ free for Christmas!

  29. Mom2zqb says

    November 30, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    Great idea! I have no idea what we're doing for the teachers this year.

  30. PeaceLoveApplesauce says

    November 30, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Fabulous idea!!

  31. The No Wonder Mom says

    November 30, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    Great idea! I may have to do that for my two older ones' teachers. We usually give them a gift card to an office supply store as well, since so much of teachers' supplies for their classroom comes from their own pockets.
    I'm glad to hear that a personal note is cherished because I gave one to my daughter's teacher at the end of last year, thanking her for all she did to help my daughter.
    Great teachers deserve many, many thanks!!!

  32. Just Another Mom of 2 says

    November 30, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    That is such a great idea!! I love it- so creative, and actually something useful! I did Tea Mugs with teas and the swirly sticks and whatnot wrapped in cellophane for end of year last year.

    Question- in Pre-K he has a main teacher and then they have an Aide to the classroom. Same gifts or different?

  33. Sarah says

    November 30, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Love this theme… Brilliant! I'd love to receive this 🙂

  34. Emmy says

    November 30, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    Oh awesome!!

  35. Grand Pooba says

    November 30, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Shell, that is an awesome idea!

  36. TheBabyMammaChronicles says

    November 30, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Shell, seriously, what a great idea! I love it! I don't have any teachers to buy for yet but we'll definitely have to do something for the soon to be Nanny at the end of the year. My Mom used to always give our teachers gift certificates for restaurants. I used to think that was terrible for some reason, who knows I was a dumb kid, but now I think that must have been a welcome gift. Definitely better than apples and coffee mugs like you mentioned!

  37. MiMi says

    November 30, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    I had no idea what to give them but this is a great idea! They love that cleaning stuff. 🙂

  38. Joy says

    November 30, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    I love this idea! My daughter has two teachers and 2 aids in her preschool class and I have no idea what to get them.

  39. Casey says

    November 30, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    OH my goodness that is cute. I need to get on the roll with teacher's gifts

  40. Eternal Lizdom says

    November 30, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    I'm doing a travel bag with little mini sized travel bottles of things like lotion, scented soaps, hand sanitizer, and other random things. Stuff that is useful but a little fun, too. And I got the cosmetic travel bag thingees at Target on clearance for about $2 a piece!!

  41. Venassa says

    November 30, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    That's such a great idea. I love baskets of goodies as Christmas presents. They're so fun to give and receive.

  42. JDaniel4's Mom says

    November 30, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    This is a wonderful idea! I would have loved getting this as a gift. The ceramic hand with red painted finger nails was my most unique gift.

  43. Rachel says

    November 30, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    I got some cute gifts as a teacher. I think. I don't remember. I may not have any remnants of my disastrous teaching career left. But I do remember the one gift that outshone all the rest:

    A Bob Evans gift card.

    Yes, it's just Bob Evans. Yes, they put enough salt on their dinenrs to choke a horse. But it was practical, consumable, and thoughtful. And I love their breakfast like it's my job. Like I get paid by the hour.

  44. SharleneT says

    November 30, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    Now, that's a practical gift! Good thinking. Anything similar would be an excellent idea, I think — and, a disposable package! You can get too many bags, boxes, and buckets, just like the mugs, etc… I like to wrap my gifts in pretty hand towels or dish towels and tie them with a pretty ribbon… Thank God, those days are over, for me…. Come visit when you can….

  45. Sorta Southern Single Mom says

    November 30, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    OMGracious! THAT'S FABULOUS- I think I might have just given my occupation away in my excitement 🙂 I think I will totally give my own kids' teachers this! I would love about 20 of these!

  46. Babes Mami says

    November 30, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    awesome idea! I'm giving gift baskets of bread, cookies, fudge, mouthfuls and pumpkin butter to the adults because really they have what they want and I hate useless presents!

  47. Typical Suburban Family says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Great idea! I love your movie basket theme too. I've been trying to figure out what to do for teacher gifts as well and just not sure. I have 6 teachers to buy for this year… last year I did a collection from all the parents and bought the teachers each something that I knew they wanted and would love. It was great to be able to give them something useful and something they wanted. What girl doesn't like a new Coach purse?!

  48. Life As I Know It says

    November 30, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    Great ideas! We usually contribute $$ and the class gets a gift card somewhere..Target or bookstore or something like that.

  49. Jill says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Fabulous idea and very thoughtful. Especially since they're around all the snot all day long 😉

    Not at the teacher stage yet fortunately/unfortunately but I'm giving my nanny cash and I dunno yet. Last year I did a gift basket from Whole Foods with lots of goodies (she raids our junk drawer frequently so I have it on good authority that she likes sweets). I feel food/candy/gift baskets/gift cards are universally appreciated. Oh, along with spa treatments! Damn, that's awesome!!

  50. Sandra says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    What a great gift idea Shell!
    But admit it, all that chocolate you got as gifties was the best, right? Right?

  51. Crystal says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    What an absolutely FANTASTIC idea! Seriously-I love this idea. What a practical, useful gift. Not something that will be thrown away later!

    http://survivingandthrivinginmom-dom.blogspot.com

  52. Daisygirl says

    December 1, 2010 at 1:34 am

    I love gifts in cute containers! Super fab my daughters teacher seems to be sick all the time…hmmm what should I get her?

  53. Mommy Needs a Vacation says

    December 1, 2010 at 1:51 am

    What a SUPER FAB idea!!!! Since mine are just in preschool, I usually just do a cute *keeper* plate with christmas cookies on it.

  54. Frugal Vicki says

    December 1, 2010 at 2:54 am

    So, sounds silly I know, but if you wouldn't mind doing a guest post of sorts, I would LOVE to include this as an article in my Macaroni Kid

  55. Uyen says

    December 1, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    Thanks for letting me know. I'm one of "those" moms that will buy the cute "teacher" stuff. This is an awesome idea…thanks for letting me borrow it!

  56. Brie says

    December 1, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Never would have even thought of that! I'll keep it in mind for when I send Sophie off. Ugh, but I don't want to think about that yet!

  57. Amber Page Writes says

    December 1, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    I thought it was a fabulous idea last year, and I still think so. Genius!

  58. amyblam.com says

    December 1, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I always give gift cards; target, barnes and noble, etc. Then they can get whatever they want!

  59. cornflakegirl74 says

    December 2, 2010 at 11:55 am

    What a great idea! LOOOOOVE this 🙂 I have some teacher friends and this is PERFECT!

  60. Life Without Pink says

    December 2, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    OMG I haven't thought about this…I like your idea and might just steal it 🙂

  61. mintifresh says

    December 3, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    I thought it sounded familiar! Yes, I'm one of the originals!! ;D

    I think when you did this last time I had already done my gifts or something but I'm totally doing this this year!!

    PS-I love that your child is most grateful for TV. Me, too, buddy! 😉

  62. Mommyfriend Lori says

    December 5, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    Love it! Super creative, those gifts are the best!

  63. Jessica says

    December 6, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    That is the greatest idea ever, Shell! And, I'm not even teaching yet and I can tell you these are the kind of gifts I will appreciate some day. They're gifts that you *need* as a teacher – practical and will ultimately save me money to have them gifted!

  64. Debra says

    December 12, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    That’s a great idea, and one that I’ll definitely need to put into our teacher giving repertoire. For the past 3 years we’ve been giving the kidlet’s teachers monogrammed Lands End bags that I snatch up when they are on sale and have a promo code…so I can get them around $25 bucks for a medium size bag. Most use it for library books to tote back & forth to school, but they’ve been a big hit with their teachers. However, my younger daughter will start hitting some of the teachers that my son has had, so a new gift idea will be in order!

  65. Leigh Powell Hines (@Hinessightblog) says

    December 12, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Great idea! So needed. I bought a plastic tumbler with a lid to hold an Old Navy giftcard. I hope that is an okay gift. I’ll also fill it with chocolate and the giftcard. It’s what they are getting this year though because it’s bought. Maybe next year, I will do better.

  66. Nicole DeZarn says

    December 12, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    I did snow day in a box one year, Homemade hot cocoa mix, fuzzy socks, bubble bath, and a couple magazines. Also, first day of school–Excedrine, chocolate, starbucks $5.00 gift certificate.
    Consumable and I have been there, Excedrine and caffeine make the first week happen:)

    • Shell says

      December 12, 2011 at 8:13 pm

      Oh, I love snow day in a box! And your first day gift, too!

  67. Jill says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    Thanks for this!!!! I have tried to be thoughtful last year of all the clutter teachers must get gifted. This is a great idea! My son is in a pre school program at a public elementary school, there are two classes of 8 kids each with two teachers, but they combine classes for most of the day every day, so I kind of end up with 4 teacher gifts right there. Then there is the speech therapist (who is amazing!) so that takes it to 5…. And add in his kick butt school bus driver and I am looking at 6! So I am taking this idea this year! Baked goods for the bus driver, germ buckets 🙂 for all 4 teachers and 2 Starbucks giftcards slipped to his primary teachers! 😉

  68. HopefulLeigh says

    December 20, 2012 at 10:29 am

    This is a fantastic idea, Shell! I’m going to pick all of it up to keep on hand for the next time a friend is sick- or worried about getting sick.

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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