The Group Gift
When children are in daycare and preschool they often have a whole host of teachers involved in their care – from the supervisors to the assistants, we don't want to leave anyone out! Instead of blowing the budget on individual gifts, consider these ideas for group gifts that could be shared with the staff and appreciated by everyone.
You can choose whatever you'd like to stuff this art chest with supplies for the class and for the teachers in the coming year. Teachers are masters of preparation, so helping them get a head start on necessities will be much appreciated!
A great way to say 'thank you' and give a healthy treat the whole staff can enjoy. Edible arrangements come in a wide range of styles to suit many budgets, and may be just the perfect addition to the end of year staff celebration.
Perk up the staff room
If the staffroom appliances have seen better days, why not surprise the group with a high quality programmable coffee maker from Cuisinart that is large enough to keep all of the teachers perked up throughout the day?
The Family-Friendly Gift
Many teachers leave the classroom only to find kids still waiting to be entertained all summer in their own homes! Let your child's teacher know you've thought of her whole family with these gifts designed for teachers with their own brood to attend to.
Theme park tickets
Consider day passes to a local theme park like Darien Lake – even a few freebies will help foot the bill for an entire family outing.
Educational DVDs
At some point on a summer road trip, even teachers turn to technology to entertain their children – why not surprise her with a box set from Leapfrog – perfect for kids in the preschool to kindergarten range.
Family dinner out
With a Bon Appetit gift card, your teacher can treat her family to a meal out at one of their family-friendly restaurants like Swiss Chalet or Kelsey's.
The Retirement Gift
Should you take it personally when your child's teacher retires – did your cherub push them over the edge? All kidding aside, teachers in their retirement or empty nester stage require a slightly different gift strategy.
Gardening green thumb
If your teacher spends much of the summer in the garden, consider a quality watering can like this one from Lee Valley Tools. The Haws Watering Jug doubles as a container for a floral display, and has a traditional look with comfortable pouring handle.
Attractions for grown-ups
Maybe your teacher loves to spend time in more grown-up attractions. Consider a season pass to a local Art Gallery like the AGO where she can spend as much or as little time each visit.
The perfect cup of coffee
It's not the been there-done that teacher coffee mug, it's a whole new way to enjoy a single cup of coffee from Melitta. The Ready Set Joe single cup brewer makes the perfect cup, every time, for those looking to really savour their coffee experience.
We hope we've helped you narrow down your teacher gift search – and we'd love to hear from you!
If you're a teacher, what's the best gift you ever received? Our readers would love to know!
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