Holiday Gift Guide – Teachers
2022 Holiday Gift Giving, Part 3: Gifting Your Child’s Teachers
In addition to being a fun time of celebration, the end-of-year holidays provide an opportunity to pause and show appreciation and love for the ones around us. If you are the parent of a school-aged child, you may be looking for a way to show gratitude to your child’s teacher for all the ways they’ve supported and strengthened their students through the semester.
If you don’t know where to start in your search for the perfect gift for your child’s teacher, we’ve put together a list of some gift options for teachers that will benefit their classrooms.
First, the absolutely best gift for any teacher is a personal thank you note expressing your appreciation for all their hard work – teachers put a lot into their classrooms and it’s nice to be reminded that that work doesn’t go unseen! Include specific details of what the teacher has done during the school year or things your child has said about them to make your note really warm their hearts.
If you’re looking for a material way to show your appreciation, another great option is to give your child’s teachers something that will support the work they’re doing in their classrooms. Teachers often spend money from their own pockets to equip their classrooms with necessary supplies (prior to 2020, a teacher on average spent $500 of their own money on stocking their classrooms each school year, according to the National Education Association[PS1] ). If you know there’s something that your child’s teacher has been struggling to supply, help alleviate the strain on their budget by gifting them that item. If you aren’t sure what’s needed, it’s never a bad idea to ask what would be helpful. Or, think about what this teacher’s talent and interests are and find a gift that will benefit their classroom for years to come.
Here are some ideas for gifting your child’s teacher with classroom materials and tools that support their work:
For the teacher who helps children open up:
- Feeling Heads – Multicultural ($20.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/feeling-heads/ Feeling Heads are soft stress balls which have different faces on them depicting emotions. They offer a great alternative to 3D emotion cards. They also make for a great conversation starter/ice breaker for kids and adults. A great classroom activity or icebreaker is to toss these soft head-shaped balls around and have kids discuss each feeling.
- Photo Conversation Cards Set ($32.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/photo-conversation-cards/ Sometimes we all need a little help understanding the nuances of social interactions. The Photo Conversation Cards help children learn how to understand and handle the daily social situations and improve oral language skills. Comes with 90 photo cards depicting social stories around topics such as meeting and greeting people, safety and following rules, and understanding emotions. Teacher’s Guide included.
- Interactive Edgar – An Emotion Puppet Kit ($54.99) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/interactive-edgar-an-emotion-puppet-kit/ He’s a brightly colored friendly monster with a silly, but gentle face, designed to help encourage children to share their feelings. Edgar has a bright green pouch fastened safely to his body that holds 12 colorful emotion faces printed on tear-resistant stock. Children can explore different emotions like happiness, sadness, fear, and disgust.
For the teacher who incorporates physical learning:
- Body Stepping Stones Exercise Cards ($30.19) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/body-stepping-stones-exercise-cards/ Balance, exercise, and movement become fun and inspiring with help from this simple but beautiful collection of exercise prompt cards. Arrange the plastic stone sheets on the floor. Each child steps on one stone. Hold up the photos and ask children to recreate the poses. Three challenge levels and instructions for using the stones to play games. Includes warm up activities and sample exercise routines.
- Champion Sports Agility Ladder ($50.00) -https://diversityintoys.com/product/champion-sports-agility-ladder/ Featuring adjustable slats, the Champion Sports Economy Agility Ladder is customizable for a variety of workouts and to accommodate the various skill-sets of users and athletes alike. This agility ladder improves coordination, foot speed, agility and balance as you run through the spaces. Designed for use indoors and outside.
For the fidget-friendly teacher:
- Colored Sensory Rice – 1 lb. ($10.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/colored-rice-1-lb/ Engage the senses with this brightly colored, fabulously textured rice! Kids will love the texture and be delighted by the already mixed together bright colors. Create beautiful works of art by creating an image with glue and sprinkling the different colors of rice over the glue to add color and texture. Great for creative art projects or Sensory Integration Therapy.
- Munchables Pencil Toppers – Rainbow Blockz ($19.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/munchables-pencil-toppers-rainbow-blockz/ Munchables Chew Blockz Pencil Toppers are ideal for helping protect teeth from damage caused by children chewing on their pencils and pens. This fun design features LEGO-like studs on the front and smaller nubs on the reverse for added sensory input. These chewable pencil toppers are appropriate for mild-moderate chewers and fits standard #2 writing instruments. Great as a classroom reward or goodie.
- Manimo Weighted Animal ($56.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/manimo-weighted-animal-blue-lizard/ Manimo weighted sensory stuffed animals are loving companion pets! Manimo Weighted Animals act as a comforting companions for children who benefit from weighted sensory input or deep touch pressure. The weighted Lizard can be worn around the neck or on thighs for a warming, calming effect. Excellent accessory to help promote self-regulation and decrease childhood anxiety.
For the science teacher:
- Animal Track Rubbing Plates – Pack of 16 ($13.19) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/animal-track-rubbing-plates-pack-of-16/ Animal Track Rubbing Plates offer a creative way for children to learn about animals and their tracks. This hands-on product enhances learning concepts with easy-to-use activities. Add texture to artwork by placing paper over a plate and rubbing with a crayon, marker or pencil to make the design emerge, or use with other materials for multidimensional projects. Additional Rubbing Plates Sets are available in other patterns found in the natural world.
- Solar System Puzzle($15.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/solar-system-puzzle/ Have a space lover on your holiday list? This Solar System puzzle will send them into orbit! This puzzle is full of facts about the planets, their moons, and the science behind space travel.
- Scents Sort Match-Up Kit ($49.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/scents-sort-match-up-kit/ Discover a world of wonderful, rich scents, perfect for a lesson on humans’ five sense. Match up the 30 scent filled cups with beautifully illustrated picture cards. The self-sealing cups are perfect for storage. The scents will last for years, ensuring multiple uses!
- What’s Inside Me Doll ($83.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/whats-inside-me-doll-2/ Introduce students to the basic organs and systems of the human body with this soft interactive doll. Unbutton the doll’s chest to explore the organs inside the human body. Match the different organs to different body systems. Squeeze the heart, lungs and stomach to hear different sounds!
For the teacher who is thoughtful about diversity in the classroom:
- Play Foods of the World Play Stones Set ($26.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/play-foods-of-the-world/ Get ready for a global food adventure! These fascinating food stones are an ideal multicultural resource, helping children to engage in creative play while they learn more about different cultures’ culinary heritage. Durable for use indoors and outdoors year-round.
- Friends with Disabilities Play Figures – Set of 6 Figurines ($32.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/friends-with-disablilities/ Help your child or classroom learn about disabilities, safety, and community through creative play with this Friends with Disabilities plastic figurine set. This set of 5 multiracial figures features characters with various physical and developmental disabilities. The chunky plastic figures are sized for small hands to grasp. The plastic is easy to wipe down or clean with soap and water.
- Crayola Colors of the World – Class Pack (480 Crayons) ($45.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/colors-of-the-world-class-pack-480-crayons/ The Crayola Colors of the World Bulk Crayon Set contains 480 crayons in sets of 24 specially formulated colors. These skin tone crayons are an exciting addition to your crayon collection, making coloring pages and drawings even more detailed and realistic. These subtle shades are curated to better represent the diversity of our world.
- Melissa & Doug Multigenerational Multicultural Family Puzzle Set ($79.00) – https://diversityintoys.com/product/multigenerational-multicultural-family-puzzle-set/ This set of 6 puzzles will excite all children when they piece together family portraits depicting families from around the world.
That wraps up our 2022 Holiday Gift Giving Guide. We hope this series was useful in helping you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones! Our warmest wishes to all – have a wonderful holiday and stay safe, pleasant, and positive.
Read: 2022 Holiday Gift Giving, Part 1: A Gift Guide for Children of All Types
Read: 2022 Holiday Gift Giving, Part 2: A Gift Guide for Children by Age, Skill Level, or Adaptive Need
https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/out-pocket-spending-school-supplies-adds-strain-educators#:~:text=Well%20over%2090%20percent%20of,be%20considerably%20higher%20this%20year. [PS1]