It’s always a nice idea to thank your child’s teacher with a gift—after all, they are an important part of their life on a day-to-day basis. But many parents struggle with how much to spend, especially during the holiday season where budgets are tighter than usual.
The great news is that from an etiquette perspective, less is more. A standard rule is to spend between $5 and $20…which can add up quickly if your child has multiple teachers—or if you have multiple kids!
Here are 10 thoughtful holiday gifts sure to please any teacher on your list, without breaking your budget. Be sure to add a handwritten card from your child to personalize each one.
1. A Gift Card
Whether to Starbucks or Barnes & Noble (or favorite local shops), a $10 or $20 gift card they can use to buy themselves a cup of coffee or something they want is always a welcomed gift. You can also get them a gift card to Target for classroom for supplies.
2. Chocolate
A necessary snack any time of day, a desk drawer sized box of Vosges truffles ($15) is a luxe way to give teachers a sweet treat.
3. A Desk Plant
Coffee mugs and water bottles are often thought of as go-to’s for teachers, but end up collecting dust or getting regifted. Instead, opt for something green, like a watermelon peperomia plant ($15). It will thrive in low-light and needs little water, so no green thumbs are required.
4. Personalized Note Pads
A handwritten message always feels more personal than an email…and teachers love getting notes from their students. A school-themed pad ($11) for jotting down ideas—personalized with their name—is a sweet way to let your teacher make their notes feel personal.
5. A Box Of Tea
The perfect afternoon pick-me-up, a box of holiday flavored teas from the Republic of Tea ($15) goes great with homemade cookies.
6. Free Groceries
This one is technically a gift card too, but $20 towards groceries at Whole Foods or Fresh Direct will please any teacher with extra mouths to feed during the holidays.
7. Reusable Hand Warmers
Staying warm outdoors in winter is no easy task, especially for school-related sporting events. Reusable hand warmers ($8) will be a welcome gift for teachers who spend time outdoors cheering on their students.
8. An Engraved Bookmark
The Christmas/New Year’s holiday break is the perfect time for teachers to catch up on reading books for fun. Show your love and appreciation during downtime with a personalized bookmark ($9), in one of four shades of leather.
9. A Label Maker
Your teacher’s desk or closets are probably filled with bins of supplies, which might be hard to find quickly. A Bluetooth-compatible label maker ($10) offers an easy, durable way to note what’s inside—no handwriting required.
10. Cash
Always the right color and size, slipping your child’s teacher a monetary gift is an easy way to give them the freedom to treat themselves to anything they want. Be sure to package it in a cute money holder for extra seasonal cheer.
