Teacher, babysitter, friend, etc. Gift Ideas

samon

I was hoping to start of thread of ideas for all those little gifts we like to give to all those who we want to remember for the holidays.  I just feel tapped for ideas and often hear from a former teacher about all those gifts that she use to get that she couldn't use or didn't know what to do with, so I get stressed every year with what to do.  I have several regular teachers, Sunday School teachers, piano teachers and choir directors to buy for (and the list seems to go on). 

Anyway, I have maxed out on my ideas of candles, ornaments, bookmarks, and reed diffusers.  I know there is always the option of gift cards but then I wonder just how much is enough to give....$5, $10, $15 etc.   With the tight economy, I think most of us are struggling with spending this year.  I know some people like to make candy or other baked items.  So, how much do you give..a small plate, one of those small decorated bags they sell or what.  Although, I'm not sure how much time have have for all that baking either.  And I'm also not very crafty so that option is out too.  What do some of you do?

mzmiller99

OK, as a teacher for the past 25 years, I can say, I'm thrilled with special ornaments from my kids.  We have an artificial tree (we're in a rural area and are still allowed to celebrate Christmas) and I love seeing all of the ornaments from Christmases past.

Gift cards - I spend close to $1,500 a year out of my own pocket for my class, and I'm thrilled to get Target, Walmart, Borders, etc. gift cards.  Or, something as mundane as a gas card, or fast food place.  I guess, if you could afford it, $10 would be great!

I love books for my classroom.  I don't know what ages you're talking, but at my level (kindergarten) new books are always welcome.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but, I know what the former teacher means - I'd rather the child make me a card, than spend a buck at the dollar store on something I'll never use. 

I probably haven't helped much, but it's Friday and the kiddos have just left and I'm so brain-dead.

Oh, some classrooms have a room mother who collects a couple dollars from the students and buys a large gift for the teacher.  That way no one has to spend too much.

Good luck.  I'll be  interested to see your responses.

iodine

What great information---and from the teacher's mouth!

I have given vintage hankies filled with lavender and tied with a lace bow.  Ebay has the hankies.

This year I'm giving the greatest soap I've ever used===I don't even need to use lotion after my shower!  and I'd one dry chick in winter.  I'm adding this bag made out of bath puff stuff that helps exfoliate as well as act as a bath puff.

LuAnnH

to stretch a buck for gifts like that, iodine gave a great idea.  when my dil had her baby shower we bought some inexpensive bodywashes.  If you have a outlet store for one of those specialty bath stores (can't think of the name right now) you can buy some small bottles very cheaply.  Get some pretty puffs at walmart, they go as cheap as .99.  Decorate a plain gift bag with some embelishments, ribbon or some holiday stickers.  Even personalize it for the person add tissue paper in the bag with your little gift and you have something nice for about $3.00

smithlme

I work for a large corporation and there are 11 of us in our group. Even if we each only spent $5.00 per person, that's $55.00 for each of us, a total of $605.00. This year, instead of exchanging gifts we've decided to buy for those less fortunate. There are so many people that have very little and we've chosen to give to them.

I've also told my grown kids that I will fill their stockings but I will only buy for the grandkids. For me, it's time the true meaning of the holidays goes back to the basics. It's about the children, family, love and miracles. Each day I continue to live is my miracle...

Linda

abinneb

iodine -

I'm very interested - what kind of soap is it that you love?  I have skin that cracks and bleeds and it is so hard to keep my skin soft and healed.

Thanks!

Amy

samon

Amy, You took the words right out of my mouth.  Please, Iodine, let us know the name of the soap and where we can get it if it's not a your regular national chain stores.

Mzmiller99, it's great to get feedback from one who receives all these gifts.  I had to laugh about your comment about being brain dead.  For Halloween this year I helped in my son's preschool class for the day (only three hours mind you) and when I got home I needed a nap and told my hubby I just would never have the energy to be a preschool teacher.   You have to always be "on" when you are in charge of a class full of kids.

Thanks everyone for your replies.  Linda, great idea what you are doing at work.  LuAnn, I think you have given me a great idea for the piano teacher and choir director.   I get so stressed every year trying to find that "perfect" gift that doesn't stretch my budget, but yet is something the person I'm giving it to will like and can actually use.  At my older child's grade school, the whole school chips in $5 to buy larger gift cards for all the teachers from everyone, but 90% of the kids still bring a separate gift for their own teacher.  I hate to send my child without a gift because the teachers open the gifts (at the students request) in front of the whole class.  This year we have a male teaher so the bath ideas wouldn't work as well.

LuAnnH

My kids use the AXE products and I know they all come out with mens products from soap to shampoo to deodarant, some maybe some little personal item like that for a man.

Anonymous

http://www.teachergifts.com/

They have keychains, scarves, lanyards (teachers have to have id's sometimes), ties, charms, lapel pins, book bags, earrings, bracelets, etc ... so many things that you can get under $25, under $10 even!

dreamwriter

Ok I was operating on another mental level but the Christmas I was in chemo - I had been in chemo almost a year, I made each nurse a scarf (docs got chocolates) and it was put in a gift bag with some cookies (warehouse buy), a christmas ornament (1 of 8 for $1) and a candy cane and a red bow.  There were 22 nurses/staff.  The other staff that were names on a list did not get the scarf but a christmas tea towel (2 for a $1) and the cookies, christmas ornament, candy cane and red bow.

We were well liked in the dept.  We made cakes for Halloween and Christmas

iodine

http://chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/accessories.htm

I don't work for these people!  You can also get sample sizes of the soaps and shea butter creams(LOVE shea butter) if you want to offer less expensive bars of soap---or to add to a basket of other goodies.

I am giving the soaps and bags to men, too.  their skin gets just as dry as ours--my dh and son always complain of that in the winter.

 DH uses bag balm on his cracked, bleeding heels in the winter.  I've found Scholls gel socks(mineral oil) are very comfortable because the toes are not covered.  It holds the heavy duty foot cream in place and prevents it being absorbed by socks.  I usued to use reg. socks and store them in a baggie---don't wash them, that way less of the cream is absorbed into the sock fabric.

abinneb

Thank you so much!  I'm going to the web site! 

florencedonna

I often give a small box of pretty cards.  Then the teachers don't have to spend their own money to buy cards to send thank you cards!  I don't know if they really liked the cards but I love beautiful notecards so I thought maybe the teachers would.

 Staples now has lovely post its with initials and really funky paperclips (ie guitar shaped) and clamps (ie plaid)

Really nice liquid soap?  My sis in law had some that smelled like a pine tree at christmas last year.

 ? really nice kleenex?  I buy my own at my job because they supply really cheap rough tissue.

 with gift cards, a 5 dollar dunkin donuts or starbucks is a nice pick me up in the morning

 donna

PSK07

Back when I was on the board of a non-profit preschool and childcare, we decided to do away with holiday gifts for individual teachers. Instead, the board pledged so much and parents were invited to throw into the kitty whatever they wanted to contribute. The result, when split amongst the staff, was a very nice end of year bonus. I would also bake lots of cookies and take in a box for the staff room.

My sister the teacher loves gift cards for book stores. Even $5 is a nice thought. Some bookstores have teacher discount days, so it goes even further.  She has lots of handmade ornaments, too. No apples though

You can buy discount movie tickets at Costco. One or two tickets with a box of theater candy from Walgreens was a standby.

Canvas grocery bags?  There are some nice, reusable grocery bags available.  Who doesn't need one of those?

JulieC

We used these for my 13-yr old dd's birthday party, but will use them for the piano teachers, etc.  We bought holiday mugs at the local dollar store and put in a package of hot cocoa mix, a candy cane and an assortment of kisses (we used hot cocoa and peppermint).  Cocoa mix could be swapped out for coffee or tea.

Thanks,

Julie

samon

Thanks for all your great ideas.  I will be writing these down for future reference so I don't have to go through the stress of ideas for next year too. 

Margerie

This year I got the teachers each a $10 gift card for our local gourmet market.  I needed to simplify something and this was it!

We also make a big batch of holiday cookies and cranberry bread, so will probably wrap a few of the goodies for them too.  The dollar store here has some very cute tins and I make sure that whatever we make is fine if it needs to be frozen.

karen1956

I really like what my DD's school does. They have an accordian file in the office, with a section for each teacher, including the specials teacher with a card to sign. People can donate how much or how little they can afford  - then a gift card if bought for each teacher with the money collected. The room parent handles getting the gift card - this year I think they are going to get her teacher a gift card to REI as he is an outdoors type of guy. Gift cards have been purchased for the local mall.  I like the idea as I don't have to shop, it is affordable and it allows the teacher to treat themself to something they want/need.  I think the teachers appreciate this as well.  Sometimes my DD wants to get her own gift for her teacher  so we either do the holiday or end of year and get something small - she picks it out - always $5 or less. The gift is from her. Gift we have gotten for teachers (I have 2 grown kids) over the years are notes/holders for the desk, candles, coffee/tea, coffee mugs, books for the classroom, coffee shop gift card.  I generally avoid lotions and the like as I know I have gotten many of these for gifts and often do not used them due to the smell or too greasy (just my preference).