It’s the beginning of summer, you’re busy enrolling kids in camp, getting the yard cut, the roses pruned, the pool cleaned, the dinner cooked, and…. OH NO! What on earth are you going to get that fabulous teacher who has been helping your child grow all year? Don’t worry we have you covered!
I got in touch with some teachers, and asked them “What do you really want as an end of the year gift from your students? And it turns out, we have been doing it all wrong! Teachers don’t want those teachers nick-knacks, the #1 Teacher Mugs, the Plaques, the medals, the candles. The cold hard truth of the matter is this: they end up in a box in the garage, or worse, a landfill. Believe it or not, if your child’s teacher has kids of their own, it is likely that your well thought out, carefully chosen, hand selected teachers gift is being re-gifted to the teachers of their own kids!
So now where does this leave us? How can we prevent our landfills from filling up with all of the tacky teachers gifts year after year? How can we save our planet one teachers gift at a time? Give the teachers what they really want and deserve!
Here are some more environmentally friendly gifts, that your child’s teacher will actually love to receive!
1. The number one thing that will show your child’s appreciation, is a handmade card. Express the gratitude and appreciation you have for the teacher. They worked hard all year to help your child grow and be successful, actually TELLING them how much you and your child appreciate their help, that means more than any stuffed bear will.
2. Coffee shop gift card. Grabbing a gift-card for Tim Hortons or Starbucks along with a thank-you note is sure to be a well received end-of-year teachers gift. This way whether they are a coffee, tea or no whip skinny caramel macchiato drinker, they will always be satisfied. After all, if you worked with kids all day caffeine would be your best friend too!
3. Spa Gift Certificate. After a long year of marking, planning, and of course teaching, your child’s teacher deserves a day of bliss. Get them a Gift Certificate for a Spa and let them choose a massage to melt away the stress of the school year, or a pedicure to get their toes ready for the summer ahead!
4. A donation in their name. Let them know the appreciation you had for them while they taught your child by paying it forward. Here are some fantastic donation ideas for SickKids :
1. Arts & Craft Supplies $10 – This gift provides therapeutic opportunities for special arts and crafts programs that can help children cope with hospital stays and make sure they get to do some of the school activities they’re missing. Buy Here
2. Books for the Children’s Library at the Family Centre $20 – Story-time and book delivery service, where books are delivered right to the children in their hospital bed, are just a couple of the children’s favourite services you can help support. Buy Here
3. An Opportunity to Clown Around $35 – Happiness and laughter are important for the mind and body. At SickKids, specially-trained therapeutic clowns help to ease tension and offer relief by using spontaneous humour and gentle play to minimize stress during treatments and hospital stays. Buy here
5. Books for the classroom! Most schools have book-fairs during the school year, and you have the opportunity to purchase books as a donation to the classroom, so why not do the same for the end of the year? This gift is sure to be appreciated, and many will benefit from it! You can write your child’s name, and your thanks to the Teacher on the inside of the cover to make this gift personalized!
6. Other various classroom supplies. Whether it be a gift-card to staples, a teachers store, or if you put together a basket with markers and crafts items, this donation would be thoroughly appreciated and sure to be used in the coming year!
This year, and for the years to come, don’t be sucked into the needless consumerism thought process that we need to purchase disposable memorabilia for your child’s teacher; they really don’t want it and neither does the landfill! Show your appreciation with a gift that is sure to be utilized and appreciated!
And if you still aren’t sure what do get, here is a bonus number 7
7. Lcbo gift card. You know it’s what they really want after a long school year. (I know! They told me.)
