Inexpensive Christmas Gifts for Teachers
Gift Ideas for a Child's Teacher to Fit Every Budget
Oct 29, 2009
During the holiday season, the list of teachers that might appreciate a small gift seems endless. Schoolteachers, soccer coaches, piano teachers, preschool teachers and Cub Scout leaders have all enriched children's lives in so many ways and deserve to be remembered during the holiday season. Even so, most everyone is on a budget these days and gift giving needs to be done as inexpensively as possible. Many of these inexpensive gift ideas are suitable for male or female teachers.
Homemade Gifts
Homemade gifts can be a very inexpensive option. Depending on the location, there may be flowers, fruits or vegetables growing, even during the winter months, and a beautiful bouquet of homegrown flowers or a pretty basket filled with fruit and vegetables is a very welcome gift for many teachers. Use colored cello and tissue paper to enhance the basket or flowers. A homegrown plant can be transplanted into a pot decorated by the child with paint or stickers. Add a label saying "Thanks for helping me grow!"
For those that cook or bake, there are many simple recipes online for homemade fudge, chocolate dipped pretzels, cookies, muffins or even a small cake. Be sure to include a note of appreciation and thanks for the teacher’s hard work.
Have children make homemade Christmas cards. Use items around the house such as card stock, lace, ribbon, craft paper, tissue and glue. The homemade Christmas card can go a long way to making a teacher feeling special and valued.
Another homemade option is to put together a themed gift basket. Themes involving food are always a hit. A breakfast themed basket might include pancake or waffle mix, syrup, coffee and fruit. A dinner themed basket might include wine, bread and items for a pasta or pizza dinner.
Store Bought Gifts
Try to find out throughout the year what hobbies and interests the teacher may have. It makes gift giving a lot easier. Choose a piece of equipment or items related to the hobby or interest. Books are always a great choice for a teacher; one that relates to a hobby or interest is a good choice, or look for an inspirational teaching type book. Add a personalized book marker to make the gift even more personal. Magazine subscriptions are also a great gift that will keep on giving month after month throughout the year.
Have the child decorate a plain tote bag and then fill it with school supplies such as pens, markers, hand sanitizer, binders, files, stickers, bookplates, supplies for a school pet, a calendar, construction paper, glue, personalized stationary and paper clips. Buy extra supplies at those back to school sales to keep expenses low.
Supervising on the playground during winter can be cold, so an extra supply of hats, gloves, scarves, an umbrella and hand lotion to be kept in the classroom is a great gift idea. For those purchasing a gift card for a teacher; favorites include Starbucks, a bookstore, a teacher supply store, a mall gift card or for online shopping, an Amazon gift card.
Many teachers have a ton of trinkets and Christmas ornaments from their students, so the better way to go this year would be with a consumable gift such as Earl Grey tea, flavored coffee, candles or chocolates. For the teacher who has everything and wants nothing, consider a donation in his or her name to a children's or educational charity or donate a book to the school or classroom library.
Many parents band together during the holiday season to buy one gift from the whole class. Each child’s small donation helps to purchase one larger gift such as tickets to the theater, a sports event, an expensive restaurant or an elegant piece of jewelry.
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