Updated for 2025
The pandemic provided parents and guardians with a more hands-on perspective of what a teacher does every day, even though, in reality, it's just a small sample of what teachers do each day.
The first week in May is Teacher Appreciation Week, with that Tuesday traditionally designated as “Teacher Appreciation Day." And while that may be the traditional time to shower your kids' teachers with gifts, you can of course appreciate them all year long!
Awesome Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas
Celebrate your children's teachers with these terrific gift ideas. Whether you use one of these ideas or one of them inspires you to do something similar, we hope you take the time to make your child's teacher(s) feel special this year!
From Food Gifts - both sweet and savory - to crafts you and your child can make together, or ideas for gifts you can purchase - this list has the ultimate ideas for Teacher Appreciation Gifts.
37 Gift Ideas to Let Your Child's Teachers Know How Much You Appreciate Them
Make It Public
Share a thank you or a favorite memory on social media. Now, more than ever, our teachers deserve to be celebrated and recognized for their dedication and professionalism.
Free Printable Teacher Gift Tag: Thanks for Having My Back...Pack with Supplies!
From Where the Smiles Have Been
Let your child's teacher know you appreciate them having your child's back with this printable gift tag and a mini backpack (source inside the post, click the link above). Fill the backpack with things you think the teacher would like — or school supplies you know they could use.
Related: MomsLA Education Guide for Los Angeles
Send an E-Card
Or two. Or three. Try to get the whole class to participate and send e-cards to the teacher throughout the week. And if it’s too hard to coordinate with other students’ families, there’s nothing stopping you and your child from sending the teacher an e-card each day of Teacher Appreciation Week. Check out the cute selection available at 123greetings.com.
Upcycled Denim Storage Bins
From Happiest Camper
Most educators need plenty of storage options in their classrooms. And what better way to help them out than by recycling some denim jeans into these cute storage baskets?
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms (Quick & Easy!)
From Savor the Spoonful
If you're looking for a recipe to make some yummy treats for your kid's teacher, check out this cookie recipe. You only need three ingredients, and it's fast and easy to whip them up in no time — which makes this the perfect foodie gift choice when you're super busy!
Design It in Chalk
Send the kids outside to draw or write thank yous to their teachers. Take pictures and email them to your child’s teachers. It’s a guaranteed way to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Gingerbread Caramel Corn Recipe
From The Forked Spoon
Snacks are almost always accepted with enthusiasm by anyone, and teachers are no exception. Let them know you are thankful for everything they do by presenting them with a jar of caramel corn to munch on.
Crumbl Key Lime Cookie Recipe
From Fat Dad Foodie
There's just something about desserts made with fruit and fruit flavors that evokes thoughts of spring and summer! We think these key lime cookies look amazing!
Make a Donation in Your Teacher’s, or School’s, Name
Times are hard for so many right now. Instead of purchasing another #1 Teacher Mug, why not put that money to better use? Make a donation to a reputable organization on behalf of your child’s school or teacher. Make sure to let your child’s teacher know.
Teacher Gift Hand Sanitizer Printable
From Crystal and Comp
With all of the germs classrooms can harbor, hand sanitizer is something most educators like to keep handy and available. You can pair this printable with a large bottle of hand sanitizer for a welcome and inexpensive thank you.
Homemade Bath Fizzies
From Saving Dollars and Sense
Gift your child's teacher the gift of relaxation with some homemade bath fizzies. These look simple to make, but they do take a few supplies you'll need to get before making them. Put them in a glass jar, add a tag, and tie a ribbon around it for a thoughtful gift.
Create a Class Memory Book
By this time in the school year, especially if your child is in elementary school, there have been many school-wide and class-special events. Compile your photos from these fun days into a special photo memory book. If your photo collection is lacking, contact other parents and ask everyone to send what they have. Use those photos to create a custom photo memory book. Then arrange to have the book given to the teacher. To get you started, Shutterfly and Walgreens are just a few of the places that can create photo books.
Popcorn Themed Teacher Gift
From Mama Cheaps
Why not "pop" into your child's classroom and drop off a quick teacher appreciation gift? This small token of thanks is sure to be enjoyed by just about any teacher in need of a little pick-me-up during the day.
Sunflower Seed Brittle
From Strength & Sunshine
Here's another easy snack that only takes a few ingredients to make. It's a great way to thank a teach with something healthy as well as gluten-free, vegan, and paleo friendly yet still packed with flavor!
Write a Thank You Note
This is the perfect “assignment” for students of any age. You can have younger children dictate to you their favorite thing about their teacher, a classroom activity they enjoy, or a special memory.
Parents can participate as well. As a parent, what have you noticed or observed, but maybe just haven’t thanked a teacher for? I treasure one particular thank you note the mother of a fifth-grade student wrote to me because, after being in my class, she told me her son now liked to read.
Teacher Survival Kit & Free Printable
From Fantabulosity
One great thing about a teacher survival kit is that you can pack it with a variety of different things — a variety of school supplies, a bottle of your child's favorite soda, snacks, and more for a great gift they'll be happy to receive.
Produce a Video Collage
Get in touch with as many of your child’s classmates as possible, and ask each child to record themselves saying something they like about their teacher. Then, ask one tech-savvy parent to compile all the mini-videos into a larger video collage that can be emailed to your child’s teacher.
A Really Simple Homemade Teacher’s Gift (Free Printable)
From Rediscovered Family
Does your child's teacher love plants and flowers? This cute plant and free printable could be just the right gift if they have a green thumb.
Offer Your Help
Take the guesswork out of it. Email your child’s teacher. Tell the teacher how much they are appreciated and how much you’d like to do something special to help them out. Don’t be shy; ask them what they need. Then do it.
How to Make a Pencil Jar Tissue Holder
From Mixed Kreations
With all of the sniffles and colds they see in their classroom, a fun, adorable pencil jar tissue holder might be just what the teacher needs. Plus, when you make this craft you can use a recycled jar, but you'll need a few other ingredients so plan ahead to make sure you have them on hand before getting started.
Purchase a Subscription
Do you know your child’s educator well enough to know if they’d prefer a movie subscription (Netflix), a music subscription (Apple Music), or an audiobook (Audible)? If not, reach out, express your desire to purchase a subscription (also offer magazine and newspaper subscriptions), and ask which one the teacher would prefer.
If you want to purchase an Amazon Prime subscription for your child's teacher, you can do it via our affiliate link.
Adorable DIY Decorative Wood Block Apples
From Sustain My Craft Habit
What a fun way to give an apple to a teacher that won't ever go bad. In fact, we think it's downright darling!
Kids' Artwork Never Goes out of Style
Have your child draw, paint, or create a collage picture for their teacher. Present the framed artwork to the teacher as a thank you.
Air Fryer Roasted Nut Mix {Sweet And Spicy}
From Love and Other Spices
Snacks are a great way to thank a teacher for their hard work all year long. This sweet and spicy mix can be made in your air fryer in almost no time, which makes it a great gift when you don't have time to make something complicated.
Send Them a Meaningful Gift
Now that schools are open, you can drop off a physical gift to your child’s teacher. You can find a variety of Teacher Appreciation Gifts from our Amazon shop (these are all affiliate links.). These great T-shirts, mugs, quotations, and monogrammed bags are just some ideas for gifts to give your favorite teachers!
Classy DIY Mason Jar Luminaries (Farmhouse Gift Idea)
From A Hundred Affections
If you need multiple teacher gifts and don't have a big budget, these luminaries might just save the day. They don't take a lot of supplies or money and they're fast to make!
Host a before-school breakfast
Try to organize a special breakfast for your child's teachers (and include all of the school staff) at least one morning during Teacher Appreciation Week. Check with the school's administration to find out about any restrictions due to health and safety protocols. If food can’t be served buffet-style, think about serving individually wrapped food items like bananas, granola bars, individually wrapped pastries, and small bottles of juice, etc. This can be an event that just your child’s class coordinates or, depending on the size of your child’s school and the level of parent involvement, a different grade level can be responsible for “hosting” the breakfast each morning of Teacher Appreciation Week.
Homemade Lavender Bath Salts Recipe (2 Easy Options)
From HealthyGreenSavvy
For the educator who's stressed, these homemade lavender bath salts might be just what the doctor ordered! They can help with sore muscles and may even improve sleep — plus they're easy to make with only a few ingredients.
Homemade Sugar Scrub ~ Super Easy DIY!
from HealthyGreenSavvy
You can make an extra special and relaxing gift if you pair the bath salts above with this simple sugar scrub. The scrub is just as easy to make as the bath salts and you might already have everything you need on hand.
Surprise them with a sparkle
Pool your resources with those of other parents and pay to have a mobile car wash come to the school to clean the teachers’ cars — exteriors only. What a treat to end the school day before heading for home in a freshly-washed car.
Teacher Pencil Sign DIY: Easy Wood Project for a Teacher Gift!
From Leap of Faith Crafting
Do you have a Cricut machine? Using it, plus a few other supplies, you can create this pencil sign for your kid's teacher. What a cheery way for the teacher to welcome kids into the classroom each day!
Decorate classroom doors
With permission from the school principal, show up late in the afternoon after your child’s teacher has left for the day, or early in the morning before your child’s teacher arrives, and decorate the classroom door. Add photos, thank you notes — which can be as simple as a collection of colorful Post-it notes — and balloons as a very colorful way for teachers to see their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated.
Free Teacher Appreciation Gift Card Holders
From Ruffles & Rain Boots
When all you have time to do is buy a gift card (see our gift card ideas list below) you could dress it up a little by putting it in one of these gift card holders. They're free, and kids can add their own special touches to one to make it a unique gift.
Make This Crayon Wreath for a Fun Teacher Appreciation Wreath!
From Ruffles & Rain Boots
A crayon wreath is another inexpensive but fun gift idea kids can give their teacher for teacher appreciation day. Let the kids help assemble the wreath with either new or slightly used crayons.
Upgrade the teachers’ lounge
Find out what the majority of the educators at your child's school would most like. A new microwave? Toaster oven? Coffee maker? Blender? Work with other parents to purchase these items as a way of expressing your appreciation.
This Mason Jar Snack Gift for Teachers is Done in Just Minutes
From Ruffles & Rain Boots
This snack can be given as a stand-alone gift, or you can make a gift basket that includes this treat, as well as some of the others, mentioned earlier in this post.
Furniture
Does your child’s teacher have a piece of classroom furniture on their wish list? Something they’d love to have, though it’s not exactly necessary? Maybe a new swivel chair? A drying rack for art projects? A seat cushion? Pool your money with other parents to try and make that wish come true.
Teacher Appreciation Alphabet Coasters
From Albion Gould
Using a few supplies you can quickly make these adorable coasters for your child's teachers as a way to thank you for all of their hard work this year. To make them into a lasting memory, have your child add their signature to the back before gifting them.
Pampering
I think we can all agree that our children's hard-working teachers could use some pampering. Is there a local salon or manicure shop near the school? Find out if they offer gift certificates and pick one up. Then you’ll feel doubly good knowing you’re supporting a small business while gifting your child’s teacher with a pampering session of their choice — maybe a mani/pedi or a neck/shoulder massage.
How to Make an Easy Origami Card
From Fluxing Well
Are you looking for a fun project your kids might enjoy? These fun cards will help kids learn more about the art of origami while creating something special for their teacher.
A Month of Treats
Who says Teacher Appreciation only has to last a week? Make a plan with your child’s teacher to drop off lunch each Friday for a month. Or, get their Starbucks order and deliver it yourself each Monday morning for a month.
Blackberry Oatmeal Cookies
From Through the Fibro Fog
Oatmeal cookies are a healthier dessert you can give your child's teacher without feeling guilty about blowing their diet. This version uses fruit, but there are a few other variations in the link too.
Coupons for Future Help
Create some fun coupons writing out promises to help do some of the “less glamorous” tasks required of a teacher. Some ideas include: vacuuming the rug in the library corner, sharpening pencils, or refilling the soap dispensers.
Easy Candied Pecans Recipe
From The Art of Food and Wine
One more snack that's a little better for you than some others is candied pecans. This recipe is easy to make and adjust to your taste.
BONUS: 25 Gift Card Ideas for Teacher Appreciation
Gift Cards are fool-proof. You most likely have your teacher’s email address. Use it to send them an e-gift card — or if you know their mailing address, you can obviously send them the real thing. These gift card ideas are for stores and restaurants we think every teacher will love.
Related: Teacher Appreciation Ideas from Office Depot
1. Amazon - see the list above? If you can't mail your teacher an actual gift, send them an Amazon card and let them pick something out for themselves.
2. Target
3. Starbucks
4. Paper Source
5. Hallmark Stores
6. GameSTOP
7. Whole Foods
8. Ulta Beauty
9. Lowe's
10. Best Buy
11. Google Play
12. Fandango
14. Netflix
15. Uber
16. Doordash
17. iTunes
18. Sephora
19. Uber Eats
20. GrubHub
21. VISA Gift card
22. Chipotle
23. Lakeshore Learning
24. Nordstrom
25. Michael's
Bonus points if you can help support a small, independent, or local business by purchasing a gift card from them.
However you choose to celebrate teachers this year, we're sure they will be grateful! We're all sure grateful for them!
Related: First Day of School Apple for the Teacher
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Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her website WendyKennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).
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