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There’s no one quite like our kids’ teachers. They’ve taken on the task of caring for our little ones while we go to work, keeping them safe, active, and loved.
The work they do is incredible, and they deserve to be appreciated for it. As we all know, it’s not easy taking care of these kids!
Our son has always had loving, kind teachers at his daycare. It makes such a difference for our family; he looks forward to going to school, and I have peace of mind while I’m at work.
That is truly priceless!
I want to make sure they know that they are appreciated, but I don’t always have a lot of money to splurge on expensive gifts. I need to be strategic with my spending, especially because I’m usually buying gifts for multiple teachers.
When to gift
Although we can appreciate our teachers anytime, there are some specific times throughout the year when it’s especially appropriate:
Valentine’s Day (February) – this is a great time to get cute with small tokens of gratitude.
Teacher’s Appreciation Week (May) – teacher’s appreciation week usually falls in the first full week of May, and it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate our child’s teachers for all they do.
Christmas (December) – the holidays are for gift-giving, and there’s no reason our child’s teachers should be left off the list. I usually spend a bit more during the holidays to recognize the hard work they’ve put in throughout the year.
Significant life events – if one of our child’s teachers recently went through a significant life event – had a baby, got married, or got a promotion – I take the opportunity to celebrate them with something small.
Class transitions – when our kids transition out of their old classes and into new ones, it’s a great time to acknowledge their teachers for their efforts and impact.
16 inexpensive teacher appreciation gifts for any occasion
1. A sincere note
Ask any teacher: simple, genuine notes of gratitude are always appreciated. It means so much to let them know how much of a difference they make in our kids’ lives.
Notes of appreciation can be either from our kids or from us as parents. They can include what our children love about their teachers, the specific ways they’ve helped our children grow, or how grateful we are for keeping our little ones safe. You can opt for fill-in-the-blank prompt cards or write your own special note.
Hallmark Teacher Appreciation Card Assortment (8 Cards with Envelopes) (Amazon paid link)
My Teacher is Amazing: Fill in the Blank Book with Prompts (Amazon paid link)
The Teacher Appreciation Book: A Creative Fill-In-The-Blank Venture for Your Favorite Teachers (Amazon paid link)
Things my Students A Teacher’s journal of memorable sayings from Students (Amazon paid link)
Dessie 60 You Make a Difference Inspirational Cards with Envelopes & Matching Seal (Amazon paid link)
Dessie Awesome Cards – 40 Unique Mini Encouragement Cards w/Inspirational Messages (Amazon paid link)
2. Gift cards
I’m a traditional gift-giver and have always felt like gift cards come off as a bit impersonal, but teachers love gift cards. Everyone has their own preferences and tastes, so I get it.
Gift cards for Amazon and Target are always safe bets.
Teachers usually spend a lot of their own money to buy class supplies. Gift cards to craft and hobby stores (Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree) will definitely come in handy.
For the foodies, we can get gift cards for their favorite restaurants or even a food delivery service (Uber Eats, Door Dash) for those busy evenings when they don’t feel like cooking.
And of course, we can’t go wrong with Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards for the coffee drinkers.
3. Small canvas bag
Small canvas bags can be used to stash anything from stationery to snacks, and come in handy for those random small items like keys and lip balm. I like filling these with things like hand lotion, lip balms, snacks etc. for a cute little gift that’s also functional.
There are many pre-designed options available, but we can also find personalized versions online for a nice touch.
Teacher Makeup Bag (Amazon paid link)
Teacher Gift Makeup Bag, 12PCS Canvas (Amazon paid link)
Personalized Canvas Makeup Bag
4. Personalized tote bag
I love tote bags – they are inexpensive and always useful. I use them all the time for odd errands, trips to the grocery store, and carrying all my toddler’s stuff to soccer practice/ swim class/ etc. From a teacher’s perspective, they’re great for holding all the extra supplies that they have to haul around when going to class.
5. Wireless charger
I never really thought about giving wireless chargers as gifts, but that’s what makes them so great – they’re unexpected but always a nice surprise!
Wireless chargers are surprisingly affordable but don’t come off as cheap, and most modern phones can be charged on a wireless charger. Plus, you can really never have enough phone chargers these days!
The ability to personalize some chargers with the receiver’s name is a nice touch, too. I even bought a few for myself that I keep at work and around the house.
Anker 313 Wireless Charger (Pad) (Amazon paid link)
2 Pack Magnetic Wireless Charger 15W Fast Apple Mag-Safe Charger (Amazon paid link)
Personalized Wooden Wireless Charger
6. Cards of affirmation
May is a big month for both appreciating our child’s teachers (Teacher Appreciation week is in the first full week of May) and for mental health awareness (May is mental health awareness month).
It’s a good time to give a little encouragement and show our child’s teachers that we recognize the importance of their mental health and wellbeing. Being the self-care advocate that I am, I personally use affirmation cards regularly and make it a habit to start each day with one before going to work to put me in a good headspace.
We never really know what someone is going through; these cards could make all the difference in their day.
Teacher Affirmation Cards (Amazon paid link)
100 Affirmation Cards for stress Relief, Meditation and Self Care (Amazon paid link)
7. Stationery
We might think that stationery is the last thing teachers want to receive, but some might actually appreciate the additional supplies. Things like flair pens, unique stationery, or personalized items are favorites among the teacher crowd.
Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens
LONGKEY 3PCS Large Crystal Diamond Pen (Amazon paid link)
28 Pcs Flowers Pen Artificial Rose Pens (Amazon paid link)
8. Personalized bookmark
If we know our child’s teachers enjoy reading, personalized bookmarks make a great gift. Pair it with a gift card to a bookstore or a book they’ll enjoy for a special token of gratitude.
Personalized Hand Embroidered Corner Bookmark (Amazon paid link)
9. Initialed glass cup
I gifted some initialed glass cups to my son’s daycare teachers once and got a surprising amount of positive feedback. They make great gifts – they are chic, functional, and visually appealing. There’s also just something really satisfying about drinking from a cup with your name on it.
Coolife Initial Glass Cup, 16 oz (Amazon paid link)
10. Bath bombs
I’m obviously a big advocate for self-care among working moms and women in general, and that includes our child’s teachers. We may not think about it, but many of our daycare teachers have kids of their own and also work tough jobs. They could use a little extra self-care.
Bath bombs are a great way to help facilitate some personal relaxation time in the evenings.
Nagaliving Bath Bombs Gift Set, 20 (Amazon paid link)
LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Gift Set 12 (Amazon paid link)
11. Shower steamers
I’m admittedly not a big bath bomb person, but I love shower steamers. They turn basic showers into wellbeing moments.
Shower steamers are very easy to use and come in many different soothing scents. They make a great gift for hardworking teachers who need a little self-care moment at the end of a long day.
Cleverfy Shower Steamers – Variety Pack of 6 Shower Bombs with Essential Oils (Amazon paid link)
12. Coffee and tea accessories
Coffee and tea are two of the most widely drunk beverages in the world, so there’s a good chance our kid’s teachers fall into one (or both) of those categories.
Coffee and tea sets and accessories (and of course, actual tea and coffee) are usually pretty well-received by our child’s teachers. You might think coffee and tea are overplayed gifts, but the key is to give them something unique beyond the generic “World’s Best Teacher” mug.
DOPUDO Glass Tea Cup with Infuser and Lid (Amazon paid link)
Creano Blooming Tea Sampler (Amazon paid link)
The Honey Jar Plain Honey Sticks (Amazon paid link)
Glass Teapot with Removable Infuser (Amazon paid link)
Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer for Coffee and Tea (Amazon paid link)
13. Personalized whiteboard/ chalkboard eraser set
If you’re looking for something your child’s teachers can make use of in the classroom, a custom whiteboard or chalkboard eraser is a cute idea.
Personalized whiteboard eraser chalkboard eraser with expo marker
Dry Erase Chalkboard Eraser, Custom
14. Succulents and artificial plants
The gift of green is always appreciated, even if it’s fake. Artificial succulents add a little greenery to desk spaces and require no maintenance. Including a message that says “thank you for helping me grow” adds a nice touch.
4 Artificial Succulents in Clear Containers (Amazon paid link)
Thank You for Helping Me Grow Succulent Tags Teacher Appreciation Gifts, 20PCS (Amazon paid link)
15. Pop-up bouquet
Pop-up bouquet cards are way better than regular cards and act as a standalone gift in their own right. Seriously, whoever thought of this is brilliant. They open up into a beautiful and decently-sized ‘bouquet’ of flowers.
Freshcut Paper Pop Up Cards (Amazon paid link)
16. Personalized gifts made from your kid’s artwork
Turning some of the art our kids did in school into a gift for their teacher is a beautiful, full-circle idea that is sure to be appreciated. Mugs, calendars, and cards can all be made using our kids’ artwork. Some of the more popular services include:
- Shutterfly – a printing giant, does pretty much everything
- Zazzle – another printing giant, does pretty much everything
- Artkive – art books, mosaics, cards
- Scribble – art books, gift wrap, calendars
- Print Art Kids – notebooks, notecards, labels, puzzles, postcards, calendars and more
Daycare and preschool teachers work hard, and they play such important roles in our children’s development. We know that they absolutely deserve to be recognized for their work, but sometimes we just don’t have the money to spend on expensive gifts. That’s okay – small tokens of gratitude are perfectly fine too, and they are just as appreciated.
Ultimately, gifting our child’s daycare teachers is not about how much we spend, but about our genuine desire to appreciate them for all they do.
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