Not sure what kind of gift your child’s teacher really wants? Want to avoid giving your child something they are lavishly grateful for only to throw it away the moment they get home from school? You want to avoid the embarrassment of seeing a gift your child gave to another teacher. The following items were listed by actual teachers as some of the things that you REALLY hope to receive.

School is stressful enough for all parties involved in the gift-giving chain without parents or students having to think about the perfect gift to present to said teacher only to present said gift to the teacher that he or she or she doesn’t. I do not want must feign delight. Wow, that phrase was a mouthful!

A common solution that most parents take to finding the perfect item for their child’s teacher is to head over to Pinterest for potential gift suggestions that will get the recipient of said gift excited for the rest of the school year about the coolest thing. great that they received in the classroom. Others head to the world’s number one retailer, Amazon, in search of “teacher gifts.” Most of the time, these methods lead to a den of disappointment and waste of time. So what is the answer? Sites like Instagram can offer valuable insight into what really lights up a teacher’s eyes when it comes to gifts received. Some of these may surprise you, but they all come from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. So without further ado, the good is the bad and the ugly.

The bad and the ugly when it comes to teacher gifts
It may come as a surprise, but one of the most popular gifts given to teachers each year is one of the least favorite gifts teachers receive each year. We are talking about the proverbial cup of coffee. Most teachers with at least a few years behind their backs will be inundated with cups of coffee. The site of another fresh-faced student placing an ill-wrapped cup of coffee on the desk is enough to make any teacher head to the teachers’ lounge in search of the strongest drink they can find. Surprisingly, more than one teacher mentioned that they wouldn’t mind receiving a Starbucks glass cup as a gift.

Teachers, like the rest of us, are becoming more health conscious, so treats like baked goods and sweets, while tempting, were a gift item that teachers discouraged parents or students from giving. . As one teacher put it, “nothing makes my mouth water more than a plate full of chocolate chip cookies or a tray of brownies, but in the end I know they are not good for me, so I end up throwing them away after a few bites.” Other types of baked goods were also discouraged simply because a teacher might not like them due to their dietary preferences.

One final gift item the teachers frowned upon upon receiving were the scented gifts. Not everyone likes the same smells and some scents can cause allergic reactions or make breathing difficult, so unless you are very aware of the fragrances a teacher likes, it is best to stay away from these scented items. .

Now that we’ve removed the bad and the ugly, let’s get down to the good. The gifts that teachers, principals, and administrators really enjoy receiving.

The good when it comes to giving gifts to teachers
One of the top gift suggestions teachers mentioned at least on Instagram was something that many schools don’t allow on their premises. Can you guess what it is? Alcohol! Yes, that is correct. Apparently dealing with students all day is a cry for alcohol. Wine was the most preferred equity mentioned. But be very careful with these kinds of gifts! In reality, giving alcohol to a teacher at school could cost them their job. One way to donate without getting yourself or the teacher in trouble, so to speak, is to gift a gift card to a liquor store, restaurant, or grocery store.

Gift cards always get a passing grade
While you may think of a gift card as an impersonal way to reward a teacher for all their hard work and dedication, the overwhelming majority of teachers said it was the perfect way to show their appreciation. One of the favorite stores to receive a gift card was Target. Online retailer Amazon also topped the list. Local favorites like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts or a spa treatment were also very popular. If you’re not sure which brand of gift card to gift, the ever-popular Visa gift card was a huge success.

How much should you put on a gift card? Surprisingly, the recipients of these cards were delighted if the amount only partially covered their favorite restaurant or merchant account. However, if you want to provide a more substantial amount, consider having more than one main chip. This way the card can be used for more expensive items like a day at the spa, seasonal passes to places like zoos, or even partially fund a summer vacation. Teachers are like everyone else and many just get by. A gift card for any amount will be gratefully accepted.

Things to keep the classroom and teacher sanitized
There’s no way to avoid it. Classrooms can be gross. Especially the younger grades where nose cleaning than touching everything in sight seems to be the norm. Although some teachers surveyed said that even the upper grades could be unpleasant places to work when it comes to germs and personal hygiene. With that said, a good antibacterial hand soap or hand sanitizer was mentioned as welcome gifts for any classroom. One teacher even mentioned that cough drops always seemed to be in short supply during the winter months. And in today’s age of ever-new and changing viruses, keeping classrooms clean and sanitized is even more important.

There you go. A list of some of the gifts that math teachers and teachers in general prefer to receive during holidays, at the beginning or end of the school year, or for any special occasions. However, another gift was often mentioned that will not cost the donor a penny. Teachers still like to receive handwritten letters from their students and parents. I guess a genuine personal gesture of how much someone is appreciated will never go out of style.

I would like to end this by saying THANK YOU teachers for all you do. You are appreciated and valued much more than you think. Your dedication and hard work do not go unnoticed. Thank you very much for being such an important gear in the development of our children’s lives.

Oh, and one more thing, and then I’m out of here. Don’t forget about the support staff who are an important part of making the school work. I mean the custodian, librarian, cafeteria aide, playground supervisors, and bus drivers. They also like to feel valued and know that they are making a difference. A gift, even a small one, will be greatly appreciated.

And don’t forget to get gifts, even small ones, for the other staff members and teachers who help, care for, and take your children off your hands EVERY DAY, like your music and PE teachers, office staff, the principal, cafeteria staff, custodian, librarian, recess supervisors, and last but not least, the bus driver. Everyone needs a little love.