Gift Guide #9: The Hard-to-Shop-For Crowd (You Know Who You Are)

The answer I found (after Googling…because, as a teacher and an American, I had no clue why, either!) that seems the most plausible: apples are harvested in the fall, the standard school schedule begins in the fall. Apples are portable, inexpensive, and a sweet treat. Easy gift for a teacher! No one really knows the exact origin of the connection, but I love apples (just tried a Kiku this week…not as good as a Pink Lady!)

hi! i’m also shopping for my nieces who are the same age group (10 and 13). I felt like the juniper home gift guide had some great stuff for that age group. my nieces are starting to get into clothes, accessories, etc. I gave the 10 year old Guts by Rania Telgemeier and some earrings for her bday and she seemed to like them. Good luck!

A Sephora gift card is my go-to for any woman over 10. There is a store in Maui, but she can order online too. She can buy a cool lipstick she saw on Instagram or nail polish or perfume or bath stuff or sunscreen. It will make her feel grown-up to have access to something fancy.

Hydroflask water bottles.

I once got my niece a pair of earrings. You could also get a necklace with a bit more of a ‘mature’ look, so she can wear it for years to come.
I got my then 10-year old niece butterfly earrings, but I can imagine her not wanting to wear those when she’s 16 and up.

I’ve started gifting the teens and tweens in my life a 100 pack of gel pens…this has been very well received!

Whoops, I see the pages are reusable. That’s good.

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for posting this.

That is so sweet! Your sister must be an awesome teacher for him to do that.

As someone who has worked in MANY public service jobs (including a school library) and has rarely received any sort of gift (holiday, end-of-year, teacher appreciation day, whatever) I would be THRILLED to receive a handwritten note. I would never assume that anyone I serve owed me anything other than a nice thank you. Sure, a gift is nice… do you do the same for others in your life who are “grossly underpaid” for the work they do? Janitors, librarians, after school providers, and coaches all come to mind, along with other classified staff at schools (and kudos if you already do!!! To be clear, I appreciate how much teachers work and think they should be paid accordingly, along with all other public service workers).

Hi LG, thanks for saying that! My daughter is 3 years old and has just started kindergarten, and we were wondering what gifts to give to her teachers! I wasn’t sure about gift cards, thinking that a teacher may take it as diminishing (especially if it’s a small amount), maybe, or not heartfelt enough? Am I wrong? May I ask what’s the best gift you’ve ever received from a student?

My teen and tween are never underwhelmed by the drawings their little brother gifts them – disheartening to know some educators don’t appreciate my child’s thoughtful gesture or don’t think it is enough.

As a teacher, I agree with you 100%

My impression from this post was that a note is in addition to a gift? As a daughter of a teacher, my mom adored getting thank you notes from her students — words she didn’t hear enough imho! And totally agreed on the mugs, lol, and candles! Our house was overflowing with mugs and candles. As a parent myself now, I give a card and some cash.

Teacher here (and I was interviewed for a past CofJ article on teacher gifts). I think the handwritten note is great for a few reasons.

1. Teaching is a really thankless job. I LOVE hearing from my kids and parents about how they enjoy my class, my jokes, whatever. I had a long teaching day this week and someone sent me an email with a very specific thank you for me. I got teary-eyed and sent it to my husband.

2. Not everyone can afford gifts for all of the teachers. My students have 7 teachers. Multiply that by 2-3 for siblings and you’re looking at 20-30 gifts. Even at $5 a gift card, that’s a lot of money. A card lets me know that I was thought of this time of year and some time and effort was put into a note.

I work in a low-income neighborhood school and would never expect these families, who already financially-strapped, to spend money on gifts.
As others have noted here, Cup of Jo often recommends written-heartfelt notes for a variety of people in our lives, not just educators.

Just want to say to all the people not understanding why a teacher doesn’t want a drawing and why a tangible gift is appropriate … BECAUSE like the OP said teachers are grossly underpaid. Everywhere. No, if I were a teacher I wouldn’t want your child’s artwork. I would see enough of your child’s artwork through out the school year to receive it in lieu of a gift. Sure it’s sweet gesture coming from a child but if an adults involved, than the adult should know it shouldn’t replace a real tangible present. That’s great if you enjoy receiving children’s artwork but you probably have all your basic needs covered and a well paid job or a partner in a well paid job.

I love my niece and nephew’s artwork but my sister completely understands when I can’t hold onto all of it. But from a kid I’m not even related to though? No, I don’t want that as a present (and I’m not even a teacher). And yes, I do do presents for the people who provide services in my life. Sometimes they get presents when my family members do not. It can be something like a giftcard for a coffee shop. As a child I remember giving the bus driver a present, the janitor, the piano teacher and that attitude has continued into my adulthood. I give presents to regular delivery drivers (Woolrich socks have always gone down well) and folks like my dance teachers.

I always give my kids’ teacher amazon gift cards with the hopes they’ll get something nice for themselves! I always ask if there is any supplies that is needed for the classroom in hopes that their teachers will say yes!
My MIL was a teacher and I know how much teachers spend on supplies from their own pocket.

A reply to Jane. Many states do not have teachers’ unions, so those teachers can’t strike. While my foreign language department had a budget for basic supplies, sometimes I saw something I wanted just for myself and my class, so I bought it. In recent years, there’s been an educators’ deduction up to $250 on the Form 1040, and you have to save your receipts. I know it’s a hard concept to understand for those who were never teachers.

Another reply to Jane. Also a teacher and I spend $500-1000/year on my classroom. I have a small school budget (around $100) to spend each year. Beyond that, I typically buy things myself because a) presenting an idea to the principal and getting it approved could take months, or I could go out and spend $5 and use the thing in my lesson tomorrow. Or, b) there just simply isn’t room in the budget for that great new resource and I know before I ask the answer will be no. I see how much those resources will improve my students’ learning and so I feel it is worth it for them

I have 3 kids in preschool/daycare, kindergarten, and elementary. Besides schools, the older two attend swimming class, music class, mandarin class, marching band and a religion club (very common in Asia whatever your religion might be).
Our family don’t celebrate christmas (we’re moslems) but come the holiday (christmas/raya/vesakh day/galungan/lunar new year) I always thought about their teachers/coaches who celebrate, and so we ALWAYS give them something. We never do birthday presents as it is forbidden by their school, but for whatever holiday it is, my children will make a handmade card for all their teachers, and I will hand them that along with some cash. I know that for some people it might be awkward, impersonal, even considering rude in some cultures (believe me I thought of that too) but never in years I don’t receive heartfelt messages/thank you notes saying how grateful they are for such a toughtful ‘gift’. If I knew that said teacher/coach well and I knew exactly what they want for the holiday, then I give them that (usually make ups and skincares, or jewelry). For the janitors, drivers, cleaning services and people who make my life easier, I also give cash. I know that sounds like a lot of money to spend, and I’m not super loaded either (but it helps that people surround me celebrate different holiday so that cost being shared in a span of a year). I also said beforehand to all teachers not to feel obligated to keep their cards, they can recycled them or toss them and I won’t be offended. I think what’s important in holiday gift giving is the spirit, and I always believe it’s the thought that count, too.

As for me and my family, we agreed on a no gift giving policy, but if an extended family insists to give us or my kids gifts (or cash) then that’s okay too.

I’m a speech therapist that works with patients with dementia. That is such a great idea. Thank you!

So true about the gift cards! People think they’re an impersonal gift, but they make so much more sense for teachers. Same goes for your mail carrier/UPS driver/etc. A Starbucks (or local coffee shop gift card) is always appreciated during the cold winter months!

Trader Joes sell the same brand – Rabitos Royale. But nab them quick because they only stock them for a short time and they sell out. I first bought them in 2017 as gifts in November and when I came back mid December, the store was out!