9 Heartfelt Christmas Gift Ideas for Preschool Teachers
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'Tis the season to appreciate amazing, hard-working preschool teachers! We asked our CityMoms community, including fellow teachers, for suggestions on the best preschool teacher gifts for Christmas and were inundated with tons of good ideas. In fact, DYK many preschools create and distribute "Favorite Things" lists for easy gifting on holidays and birthdays? Preschool Director and CityMom Shiloh suggests, "Just ask directors, we’re happy to share what our teachers love!"
(Note: These gift ideas work for kindergarten teachers, daycare teachers, middle school, high school teachers - anyone! For the purpose of this piece though, we're simply labeling it as preschool teacher gifts.)
Even if you don't have a list, we've got oodles of preschool teacher gifts and ideas for you to consider. Let's dig in...
9 Preschool Teacher Christmas Gift Ideas…
1. Gift cards
This probably comes as no surprise, but CityMom Victoria summed it up best: "I’m gonna come right out and say it: give them the cash or a gift card for a place they like!" And many other CityMoms echoed this reco. While Visa gift cards or an Amazon gift card are an easy go-to, some schools also keep a list of teacher's favorite stores or places.
Suggestion: Pop onto the Target website to grab a Target gift card or browse other retailer cards. They often run promotions of 10% off gift card purchases or other sales!
2. Personalized Appreciation Gift or Handwritten Note
Consider a custom gift with the teacher's name or a special message to show your appreciation. CityMom Shannon says "As a preschool teacher, I love the notes that kids either write themselves or draw and parents write what they say. I display them in my classroom." So yes, let the kiddos get out those craft supplies and get creative on a few teacher appreciation gifts.
3. Jewelry
Hear us out: We didn't expect this suggestion but it turned out to be a very popular answer, especially for female teachers. CityMom Aly noted, "I always ask their favorite color and get them a Kendra Scott necklace!" Mara on Instagram also offered "My daughter's former preschool teacher always used to compliment me on my favorite earrings so I bought her a set. We bumped into her a few years later and she was wearing them." So maybe pearl necklaces aren't in the cards, but take a peek at what kind of jewelry your child's teacher wears and consider something they'll like.
Suggestion: This sweet Kendra Scott necklace from the Target collection
Have older kids?
Here's a great list of stocking stuffers for college students (or teens!)
More Preschool Teacher Christmas Gift Ideas…
4. Coffee mug
Our community was definitely divided over this suggestion. Some said your child's teacher probably already has (like so many of us do!) a million coffee mugs at home. Do they really need another? But others - including this author! - love a fun, non-teacher-related mug with a favorite tea or hot chocolate mix tucked in.
Suggestions: My favorite go-to for an elevated coffee mug is Anthropologie.This Yogi Blend Egyptian Licorice tea is absolute dynamite, and the perfect dupe to the more expensive designer Aveda tea product.
5. Water bottle
Similar to the coffee mug reco, this suggestion went back and forth but then Carah settled it by saying, "When I was a prek teacher, I had some parents very much spoil me! I had one parent get me a Stanley mug that I use to this day!"
Suggestions: Target always has a good selection of Stanley cups on their website, or peek their Owala offerings.
6. Baked goods
Now first a caution: If you want to go this route, make sure to ask after any food allergies. But a great idea for a teacher gift that many CityMoms recommended were baked goods from home. Megan said "I always make homemade marshmallows, put them in a cute jar, and add a few things from their favorites (list)." And Aly added "I love to bake so I sometimes throw in sourdough with olive oil from a local place and my cinnamon rolls."
These suggestions not striking your fancy?
We also wrote this: New Gift Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week
More Preschool Teacher Christmas Gift Ideas…
7. Classroom supplies
"I know this sounds weird but Christmas is around the time of year that the few school supplies we use are running low." said Maribel on Instagram. "Last year one of my parents asked me for a list of what I was out of, and went and bought them. It was such a relief to not have to spend my own money on them!"
8. Christmas ornament
My mom was an elementary school teacher for years, but started in a preschool. One of her favorite gifts was an ornament a students gave her that we hung every year on our Christmas tree. It was such a cute idea for a personal gift, and helped bookmark a fun year for my mom, which many years later acted as a reminder of the long way she had come in her teaching career.
Suggestions: Grab some DIY glass ornament bulbs from Michaels to fill or Crayola Model Magic for handprint ornaments
9. Arrange a group gift
You'll always get the biggest bang for your buck when you go in with others. Consider teaming up together to provide a large gift card amount to the teacher's favorite restaurant, or, as Victoria noted in our first suggestions, go all-in on cold hard cash.
Wait, don't go! We promised to share a few things to avoid from your teacher holiday gift list:
Anything fragrant like candles, perfume, or lotion - CityMom Kimberly reminds us everyone has different scent sensitivities and these are "insta headache territory for me"
"Nothing with an apple on it" says CityMom - and former teacher - Christine
Victoria noted "they’re going to get more socks, lip balms, lotions, and candles than they could ever use" so avoid those if possible
And finally, Shiloh adds "Plants and flowers are lovely" but that they also mean work for the teacher.
