Teacher Approved: What Gifts Your Teachers Want (And What They Don’t)
The start of every school year brings a buzz of palpable energy and excitement that you and your partner, kids, and all the other families (and especially) all the teachers can feel.
You can't help but giggle at all the "littles" balancing their oversized backpacks and squealing at the drop-off line or exploding from bright yellow buses. There they are, proudly delivering "World's Best Teacher" coffee mugs (the modern-day apple) and a cute little gift bag of delicious, adorably iced school cookies to their teachers.
On second thought, maybe that new school year buzz is partly from the sugar high experienced from all of those sweet treats!
We know a few teachers. And thankfully, they've let us speak on their behalf during this back-to-school season. First, they told us that they wouldn't lie - they love the slew of chocolates, cookies, and sweet teacher treats that find their way to their desk (and yes, hips) that first week of school.
But! Because we love these teacher friends and customers so much, we decided to up the ante this year with a list of what teachers really want and need. Now, we're not saying to lighten up on the sugary goods - we're saying grab those carbs AND take it a step further!
While we wholeheartedly support sending some sweet sugar vibes to your kid's teachers this year, we'd like to add a few other gift ideas that pair well with those coveted sweet treats!
In other words: Yes! Feed your kids' teachers #allthesweets, but also - feed and fuel their work, excitement, and motivation for the school year with a few of these ideas.
The Classic - A Gift Card
One of the best gifts to complement those baked goods? A gift card! Go above and beyond the box of school cookies by affixing a gift card in a thoughtful card.
Teachers appreciate gift cards to help them stock their craft arsenal, splurge on some new books for the classroom, and maybe even get a few books for themselves! Get a gift card to:
Your local craft store
Amazon
Your local office supply store
Your favorite local place for pedicures, manicures, massages, or even movie tickets. Teachers need to rest and recharge, too!
DoorDash or UberEats - so they can get lunch delivered on extra hectic days!
Use wherever and on whatever (the generic Visa or Mastercard gift cards serve this purpose perfectly).
Pro tip: ask your child's teacher if they have or can create an Amazon wish list! This way, you have their exact wish list on hand and can purchase it directly for them!
The Practical - Stock Supplies
This idea may not sound Pinterest-worthy, but they're sure to make your kids' teachers swoon. Send gift baskets full of:
Paper - construction paper, white paper, lined notebook paper, paper galore!
Cleaning supplies
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray
Dustbusters and quick cleaning items to have on-hand
Markers and dry-erase markers
Pens, pencils, and other art and craft supplies
Your child's teacher will be glad to have a stockpile of just-what-they-need supplies to last them well into the school year.
The Fun - Cutesy Gifts
If you can't suppress the urge to flex your mad Pinterest SKILLZ, try picking up a school-themed cookie or two and coupling them with one of these other pin-worthy ideas:
Stuff a monogrammed mug.
Make a gift basket.
Stuff a stylish backpack.
Personalize a teacher tote bag.
Create a school supply cake !
Who said practical gifts had to be boring? Not us! Practical gifts - like cleaning supplies and paper goods can be a fun source of encouragement when the packaging is on point.
The Get-Involved - An Extra Hand
Not everything needs to have a dollar attached! Getting involved is a gift in and of itself! Volunteering to help your kids' teachers might be the most priceless gift they get all year (especially those with younger students). Ask them what they need! They'll tell you!
Maybe they want help:
Preparing the classroom before the start of school.
Sharpening pencils, organizing books, unpacking, and organizing school supplies.
Disinfecting desks and chairs, making copies, preparing arts and crafts.
Reading during the reading hour or serving as a volunteer aid to help keep littles quiet during their teaching time.
Organizing folders at the end of the day and getting students to the pick-up line.
The No-No List - Things to Avoid
While any gift is precious because of the thought behind it - and it truly is the thought that counts - some items are on many of our teacher friends "no-no" lists, such as:
Desk decor and other trinkets - these tend to create unnecessary clutter.
Bath soaps and colognes.
Candles, unless you KNOW they love them (and then, by all means...)
Want to know what they want (or don't want)? Again - ASK! Reach out to your child's teacher ahead of time to see what items they prefer not to receive!
The options for sweetening up your kids' teachers are endless, and we know it makes them feel seen and loved when you make an effort to show them how much you care.
We love supporting teachers, too, which is why we offer special goodies like our school cookies and other sweet treats. Check us out online, or even better, stop in at the Bakehouse and let us help you spoil them!