Christmas Gift Guide for Teachers

Do you have little ones [or big ones!] in school? Have you dropped them off at their class every day and wondered, with awe, how any sane person could choose to spend 6 hours a day with as many as 30 kids at a time?

As we get closer to the end of the school year many of us are thinking about how we can thank the teachers who taught our kids. How can we show our appreciation to those who took such good care of our children?

This is my 5th year of being a school mum and each year I am incredibly thankful for the investment the teachers made in my boys’ lives and education. Of course I know that it is their job to educate the students in their class and I also know they are paid to do so. I am very fortunate to say that every teacher I have come across has been fundamental to my sons enjoying their time at school. I feel that I owe them a debt of gratitude for and recognition of their insane brave choice to become a teacher.

The thing is, it’s hard to know what to get a teacher… because they’re not like normal people. You see them EVERY DAY and willingly leave your children with them and even discuss your kids behaviour and development but what do you KNOW about them? Do they even have a life outside of school? My kids nearly have a heart attack when they see one of their teachers out doing normal things like food shopping or something. “Oh my God Mum! It’s Mrs Teacher and she’s got COKE in her trolley!!!” Here is a significant person in your family’s daily life and you probably don’t even know if he/she’s got pets, has allergies, likes hip hop or pop, takes sugar in their coffee or lemon in their beer.

So from my own ‘extensive’ experience coupled with a survey of our online community and some input from some teachers I know, here’s the only Christmas Gift Guide you’ll need for teachers. EVER:

1. A box of special tea or gourmet coffee. You will need to find out if your teacher is a tea or coffee drinker and then package something delicious up for them. You could even present it in a mug or tea-pot [though word on the street is they get A LOT of mugs!]
2. A potted plant. Something that they can either keep on their desk, like a gorgeous succulent, or that they can plant in their garden at home like a rose bush or dwarf lemon tree.
3. Gold Class tickets to the movies. This gift may be a bit pricey but if you’ve ever been, you’ll know it’s AWESOME! Could be a good idea for a class gift.
4. Keepsake Christmas Decorations. Sometimes just a personal card and a unique Christmas decoration for the tree is a perfect thank-you gift. Country Road, House & Garden and speciality gift shops always have a great range of glass or metal ornaments.
5. A gift card. Think of something generic like an itunes voucher or something indulgent like a spa or a manicure/pedicure. Just make sure that any massage voucher is from the ‘right’ kind of massage parlour… you don’t want to be known as ‘THAT mum’! Again, this could be a class gift if out of your price range.
6. Wine/Beer/Gin. Who wouldn’t want to relax with an alcoholic beverage [or several] after a year of taking care of 25 school-aged kids?? A bit of non-weird stalking may be helpful here to find out what their tipple is [and if they even drink!]. A nice idea for male teachers who enjoy a drink is a six pack of boutique beers.
7. A vase. It sounds simple but a vase is something that could be used at home or in the class room. Nothing too big, just enough to fit in the posies of hand-picked flowers I always see other mums bring in.
8. Hand cream. Think something that they wouldn’t indulge in themselves like Crabtree and Evelyn or Jurlique.
9. A magazine subscription. This is the gift that keeps on giving and a favourite choice of mine for many people. If it’s a bit pricey for your budget, it could be a great class gift or you could just get a collection of the latest in a genre [cooking, fashion, fishing, gardening]. Suitable for both male and female teachers.
10. A foodie gift pack. Gourmet jams, sauces or spices is always a great idea particularly during the festive season and is suitable for male and female teachers.

Some other tips you should may like to consider are:

1. Teachers get a lot of chocolate. LOTS. If you’re pressed for time and money, this seems like a great option, especially when Lindt balls are half price at Woolies but WARNING – they could get lost in the noise of all the other boxes or left in the staff room until next year!
2. Your child is special… but that doesn’t mean their teacher wants a framed photo of them. Think about it. There are 2 dozen ‘special’ kids in their class and next year there’ll be another 2 dozen. What are they seriously going to do with a photo of your kid?
3. A hand-crafted gift from a child is an incredibly thoughtful gift… but possibly not very practical. They have just spent ALL YEAR crafting with your child and sending that stuff home. A gorgeous, hand-made card may be just as thoughtful – and easier to store!
4. Scented candles are an absolute fave of mine but proceed with caution… some scents can make the receiver gag or give them a headache so if you’re unsure, stay clear.

And finally, if you are not in a position to contribute to a class gift or buy one yourself, a simple heart-felt card of thanks would be genuinely appreciated.

I’ve even found the perfect quote for you…

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. (Carl Jung)