Something Personal

I love a nice smelling candle or body lotion, but I can only use them so fast and there are only a couple scents that I really enjoy—berry and vanilla. Sadly, any gift I received that smelled like apple or peach automatically went in the garage sale pile when I got home. If you want to purchase a personal item such as body and bath lotions or candles, ask the teacher for scents she prefers.

Other personal gift choices to consider? Gift certificates! While this might not sound personal, a teacher will value being able to purchase something she likes or needs, or enjoy a special moment for herself.

"I have always enjoyed getting gift certificates. I am able to get something for myself that I really want," says Kathleen Gormley, a special education teacher in Hamilton, Ohio. Consider certificates to a bath and body shop, movie theater, restaurant, or salon. Ten dollars in a local restaurant gift certificate can pay for a nice lunch with friends while on break.

Adrienne Fowler of Monroe, Connecticut, a teacher herself, says that she has found that her children's teachers have really enjoyed receiving a movie/dinner gift pack. She says that several restaurants offer special deals for this type of package and notes that discount theater tickets can be purchased at some warehouse clubs. If this sounds a little pricey, remember, going in with other classroom parents will increase the value of the gift without the need to spend exorbitantly.

If your teacher is a sports fanatic, give a pair of sports tickets. Even if it's to the local high school or minor league team, it's a night out that he or she doesn't have to pay for.

Other Gift Ideas

Consider holiday ornaments—especially the homemade kind. An ornament may sound like a knick knack item, but it doesn't clutter the house since it's packed away and brought out with a specific purpose every holiday season. My mother sent all of the ornaments I had made through my school years with me once I moved out and did the same for my brothers; however, she has a full tree of ornaments at Christmas. Each one was made by or given to her by a student. My mother enjoys remembering each student and his or her respective class as she pulls out her ornaments at the holidays.

Finally, give cards. After receiving all those holiday gifts most teachers, especially elementary teachers, spend their holiday writing thank-you notes. Find a lovely set of thank you, blank, or occasion cards. You can even have your child "stamp" a set. He will be thought of each time a note is written home or a thank you is sent from his teacher.

Teachers dedicate much of their time and talent toward developing and enriching the lives of our students—why not show your appreciation with a gift your child's teacher will really enjoy? Taking into consideration the above suggestions when thinking about gift-giving will greatly reduce the likelihood that your child's gift will end up in next summer's garage sale!

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