Teacher gift ideas that are not another mug
Teachers get a lot of mugs. Here is what they actually keep, from a thoughtful note to a print for the classroom wall, at every budget.
Start with the note
Ask most teachers what they treasure and they say a card or a note, especially one from the child, saying what they liked or learned. If you give nothing else, write that. A line such as "you made me like reading" is worth more than the gift it comes with.
What teachers like
- Something consumable: nice biscuits, tea, hand cream, a good pen.
- A book for the classroom, chosen with the child.
- A plant for the desk or windowsill.
- A gift card for a bookshop or a coffee shop.
- A small framed print for the classroom wall, which will still be there after the school year ends.
What to skip
Skip anything that needs a space to store it. A teacher with 30 children has 30 of everything: mugs, candles, bath sets and "World's Best Teacher" trophies. Perfume is risky too, and anything very personal.
How much to spend
There is no right amount. A card and a small treat is plenty. If you are pooling with other parents, one good gift beats thirty small ones. A print at about £20, or about £46 framed, is a gift that stays.
A print for the wall
Our "Thank You for Helping Me Grow" print says exactly what the card would say, and goes on the wall. For a reading corner or a library, "The Reading Corner" is made for it. If your teacher teaches science, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" is Darwin's last line from On the Origin of Species.
See more ideas: Gifts for readers.
Questions
- What is a good gift for a teacher at Christmas?
- A handwritten note from the child, with something small: a book, a plant, nice biscuits or a framed print for the classroom.
- How much should I spend on a teacher gift?
- There is no set amount. A card with a small treat is plenty, and a print at about £20, or about £46 framed, is a generous gift.