If you are new here, you should know I Stan a teacher, coach, leader, instructor, etc. I am team, “If you love and nurture my babies”, you get a token of appreciation.
You should also know that a themed gift and custom gift tag make my heart sing. They truly delight me.
So, all of my OG friends would not be shocked to know I did exactly that for all of the teachers/leaders, etc in our lives. Here’s how!
For context, I watch lots of manicure and pedicure videos for design inspiration and it occurred to me that people really don’t care for their appendages as they should. Not on my watch! Armed creativity and a mission, I grabbed some cute 5-piece pedicure sets. I also grabbed some apple cases from Target in the Bullseye Playground. I couldn’t resist grabbing notepads, pens and binder clips. Did I mention I also love practical gifts?
Then, I went to work. Using my cricut, I was able to easily personalize them. I also used the cricut to cut some adorable cards.
I grabbed some yarn and ribbon to attach the gift tag and add some flare.
For me, your favorite enneagram 6 and planner, Today kicks off the most wonderful time of year! Yes! Break out those lights, stocking and garland and get you holiday calendar in order! I was chatting some of you who are IG friends with me and gift guides were a need this year. I get it, I need help too.
So, today and for the next 11 days, I’ve got some sustainable, no junk, limited parent involvement gift ideas with all budgets in mind. All of these gifts can be given to and from multiple people. Sometimes, a gift is better when it can be shared. Let’s go!
Our teachers, and yes, our homeschool mamas, work incredibly hard and deserve, well, all the things. For the sake of our time and budgets, I’ll keep this one brief but pertinent. Note* Stay tuned for day 2 if books are a favorite thing of your teachers! These also work for our therapists too!
*Note* An awesome way to involve your little one is to have them make an ornament or gift tag!
Their Favorite Things- Seriously, get them what they love and adore and if you don’t know, ask. You can get a questionnaire here!
Cozy Throw Blanket– Cable knit, chenille, microfleece- wrap it in a bow and a bag and boom! Paired with a nice note, coziest gift ever!
Gourmet/Speciality Coffee- If coffee makes their heart sing and brains activate, introduce them to a niche, special or gourmet brand like Black Nerd Coffee.
Gift Card to Their Favorite Retailer– Again, if you don’t know, ask.
Essential Oils– Some staple oils such as lavender, peppermint and stress away are great gifts! Ensure they do not have any harmful additives or toxins. This is what we use.
Quality Stationary- Feel free to personalize it, throw in a 2022 calender and add some great pens!
In case you missed it! It’s almost teacher appreciation week. Honestly, if 2020 showed us anything it’s that our teachers, of all respects, need all the appreciation. I mean, sheesh.
As a homeschool teacher, I, without shame or guilt, take it upon myself to appreciate myself because, well, I deserve it. Not in a self-righteous way but in a self-care way. I do a whole lot and some stationery, nail polish and flowers help recognize that just a little. This year, I want to take it up a notch. Not just for me but for my homeschool mama friends and for my kids’ teachers at a local homeschool program. So, I thought we could work together and share some teacher gift ideas from DIY to only buy! Here we go!
Flowers: Friends, after you ensure there are no allergies, flowers brighten any person’s day. Even Scrooge and the grinch wouldn’t smite you for a tulip! You can make a bouquet, buy a couple or even craft flowers from yarn!
Stationary: Find me a teacher that doesn’t need or want proper pens, sharpies, note pads, personalized stationery, or planners and I’ll kiss your feet. (No, I won’t, but you get the gist.) Here’s what you should know, you can go wrong with this. A pack of pens from the Dollar Tree is great for the raffle ticket table, it is not great for teacher gifts. Don’t do it. Add the flair pens, the multi-color sharpie packs and fancy highlighters to your target order.
Food: This can be tricky but if you know your teacher well enough to know what they do or don’t eat, a catered lunch is sublime!!! Let them know they are all that, and a bag of chips quite literally by getting them a whole combo, extra side and a drink.
Gift cards: I know lots of people frown upon these-lots of people except moms and teachers. Why? Because we know how to use them!!! I know lots of people fret with the amount of a gift card, but as a former teacher and now homeschool mom, it is the thought that counts. Truly. I know so many still aren’t even on their feet so buying anything that isn’t essential is out of the question and I completely understand so…
A handwritten note or letter: While this can accompany any of the above, it can also walk a mile on its own. From you and/or your child, an expression of gratitude and appreciation is really heart-moving and honestly not heard enough. Feel free to have your child draw a picture too.
I could go on and on here but I’ll wrap up this blog post with one last sentiment: it isn’t how much you spend or even if you spend anything, it really is about taking the time to appreciate an educator for all they do and set apart something just for them.
