This is the first holiday season I’ve had to worry about what to give Stephen’s teachers. We’re not much of a gift-giving family since we don’t make a big deal out of holidays. But this will be the year we start.

This year, Stephen has more of a clue about Santa Claus (even though he thinks Santa is a little scary) and is anticipating his gifts. And there have already been more than a few gift-giving occasions during his first three months in school - souvenirs from our travels, teachers’ day, and now Christmas.

What kinds of presents do teachers receive?

  • Handmade gifts by the children: a picture, a note of appreciation, even baked goods
  • Homemade items such as wreathes, stationary, and dessert
  • Things they can use in the classroom: pencils, markers, papers, books for the classroom library, push-pins, chalk, charts, etc.
  • Gift certificates for books, records, and coffee/tea as much as a hundred dollars or more
  • Electronic gadgets and equipment
  • Jewelry
  • Expensive perfume and blouses
  • Sets of Calphalon pans, dish towels and spatulas from Williams-Sonoma
  • Concert tickets
  • Two weeks at a Jackson Hole, Wyo., vacation rental
  • A week at a family’s Maine wilderness camp

In contrast, I’ve given coin purses from Japan wrapped in construction paper Stephen decorated, chocolates, jumbo bag of pipe cleaners, and instant coffee and tea from Singapore. Not exactly up to par.

All the teachers seem to agree on the things they DON’T like: mugs, candles, soaps, other bath and body products, and anything with the teaching theme like apples, pencils, etc. Sucks for me because I was going to give L’Occitane gift sets.

So help me out here:

  • If you have ever been a teacher, what were your favorite presents?
  • What did you give teachers when you were a kid?
  • And if you have school-age children, what will you be giving their teachers?

Update: I decided to give hair accessories because both teachers have very long, beautiful hair.