The Gift Your Kids’ Teacher Really Wants For the Holidays
Hint: it’s not a coffee mug
Lesson learned: Teachers like booze.
Teachers are heroes. They work long hours, don’t make tons of money and are tasked with trying to instill knowledge in our strong-minded offspring. They deserve gifts for the holidays more than anyone. So this year, you should definitely buy your kid’s teacher a scented candle. No, wait: bubble bath. Um…a reindeer mug?
We admit, we really had no idea what teachers secretly want from their students. So we went straight to the source: Bunchlanders who are also teachers. On Twitter and Facebook, you guys dished about your desired student presents. The consensus? Teachers want gifts that will help them unwind. Requests for spa treatments were popular, as were gift cards to coffee shops or bookstores (because what overworked teacher doesn’t like to curl up with a bestseller and a latte?). Also, you guys like liquor. Duly noted. A number of you opted out of receiving gifts in favour of your students donating money to their favourite charity. See, teachers really are heroes.
What to buy your kid’s teacher this year
“I’m not a teacher, but we tend to give restaurant gift certificates.” @phdinparenting
“Gift cards. It’s okay that they’re not a personal gift. Most parents don’t know me personally. Bookstores, coffee shops, anything! Groupons for massages and spa days are the bomb too! Just please, NO MORE BODY LOTION!!!!!! 
” -Caitlin
“Some of the nice ones I’ve received have been a bottle of ice wine, dinner certificate for the Keg, gift cards for Chapters-Indigo [that's Borders or Barnes and Noble to our American readers], movie theatre tickets. I love everything. Boxes of chocolates I can do without, but it’s certainly lovely to be appreciated. One of my fondest gifts was a homemade candle, made by a handicapped girl. Generally, I don’t expect any and would appreciate a hand-written note more than anything!” -Bernadette
“When I was a teacher I wanted a nice bottle of wine or gift certificate to the LCBO or a spa! No Body Shop stuff please! I thought it was always unfair that male teachers got alcohol and female teachers got bath products?!? I also loved when the parents got together and bought one big gift, like a gift certificate to a nice restaurant.” @MySmartHands
“I am not a teacher, but the woman who teaches my youngest deserves a Body Blitz gift certificate and is going to get one!” -Miranda
“Gift certificates, wine, books for classroom library or a cute memory stick.” @boomda181
“All the parents at our school chip in anonymously class by class to create a teacher bonus. It’s very popular.” @jpippert
“Rumor has it the teachers at my daughter’s daycare prefer Shoppers Drug Mart gift cards.” -Rebs
“I teach. Gift cards for Chapters and LCBO (books for relaxing, booze to unwind!). Bottle of wine. No mugs please! No knick-knacks! But if I could choose, I’d ask parents to pool funds and donate money to a good cause like World Vision. If they must spend on me, a day at the spa!” -Trish
“Give teachers a gift that helps cure childhood cancer.” @kristinerudolph
“I give labels, but hey, what would you expect?! Tim Horton is every teacher’s friend too.” @mumby, Mabel’s Labels
“Gift certificates to Timmies, LCBO, Chapters.” @FashionMommies
“I’m not a teacher, but UNICEF Gifts of Magic have always been appreciated.” -Angelique
“I think what teachers really want for Christmas is this. #stillshameless” @KathyBuckworth
“Note from son’s teacher: ‘Please support school fundraising and your fave charity. I always welcome cards, especially if made by kids 
” @foodplaygroup
“I’m a teacher, it’s always nice getting a bottle of wine! And I love Indigo gift cards.” -Erin
“I am a retired teacher. The best gift I ever received was a pretty sewing kit that I kept in my desk drawer. It came in handy!” @SharonCouto
“I would want them to make a donation to the food bank. Or our Christmas Hampers campaign.” -@KateEEnglish
Teacher gift no-nos
- Mugs
- Knick-knacks
- Bath products
- Scented candles
- Body lotion
Teachers and people who know teachers: are there any gift suggestions we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Photo by kpishdadi via Flickr.
3 Comments
I am lucky to be a kindergarten teacher and if I could jump into the discussion of teacher’s gift it would be to say that while group gifts are easy for the parents it really takes the children out of the process. They have nothing to present to their teacher and they don’t understand that their parents gave money. What I love most is when the children sit for a moment with their parent(s) reflect on what they like about school/me, write it down and draw me a picture or make me something. The twinkle in their eyes as they give me their special gift is what I remember and treasure!!
Thanks for that Nadine! You make a great point. My son’s kindergarten
teacher sent thank-you notes for her gifts in the mail addressed to
the kids. Such a sweet thing to do! Especially since she wrote them in
her own time on her vacation. Kids should def. be in on the teacher
gift. I wholeheartedly agree.
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