The Best Christmas Teacher Gifts (What Teachers REALLY Want)
The holidays are a time of love and generosity. Show your appreciation for all that teachers give to your kids by giving Christmas gifts for teachers that they actually want. Here are the best Christmas teacher gifts – according to teachers!
Teaching (like parenting) is often a thankless task, so the holidays offer an opportunity to show your kids’ educators just how much you appreciate them.
Unfortunately, buying gifts for teachers can be challenging. When there are 20-30 other families giving gifts, what can you give that is unique and won’t break the budget?
A thoughtful gift is a perfect way to express your gratitude, and it doesn’t have to be big.
What Do Teachers Like For Christmas Gifts?
There are classic teacher gifts (apple motif, caffeine, mugs). But this year, I highly encourage you to think outside the box!
I recommend asking your children about their teacher’s preferences and interests. They can give you some great ideas – or help steer you in the right direction on this list!
I have many teachers in my life, so I asked them about the gifts that they appreciate and can use the most.
Note that coffee mugs and apples didn’t make the cut.
Homemade gifts from the heart really make meaningful gifts, but there are some gifts you can buy that can be equally useful. And we’re sharing with you the top choices!
But, no matter what Christmas gifts for teachers you get, the educator in your life will be grateful for any of these 29 best gifts for teachers at Christmas (all of which are actually teacher-approved!).
The 29+ Best Christmas Teacher Gifts
If you’re stumped on what to give your child’s teacher this holiday season, rest assured that you’re not alone.
Here are my favorite teacher gifts for Christmas to get you started.
1. Donations for Their Class Library
One of the best gifts you can give a teacher is a book donation to their class library.
This gift idea can be used by the entire class, making it a double winner!
If you’re unsure of what books to donate, you can always ask the teacher for their wish list (many have Amazon wishlists ready to share!).
If you’re looking for some great options, check out this list of educational children’s books for kids.
2. Things My Students Said: Classroom Stories Book
It’s a cliche, but it’s true that kids really do say the darndest things. Give your teacher a way to record the funny and unforgettable quotes that they hear on a regular basis.
Or get this adorable version from Etsy (and support a small business).
3. Gift Cards
Gift cards may seem a bit impersonal, but they are by far the preferred Christmas gifts for teachers.
The most common and desired gift cards are to Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks.
Some other ideas for great gift card ideas include local restaurants, bookstores, movie theaters, and spas.
If you want to dress up your gift card a bit, how you wrap it can make it stand out. Presentation is important. Try these ideas:
- Dress it up and make it stand out with one of these printable Gift Card Holders or this “Thanks a Latte” holder.
- Put it in a cute mason jar or water bottle.
- Put it in a small gift bag with another small item and a heartfelt card
4. Personalized Teacher Stamp
This may seem like an insignificant gift, but it’s actually one of the best Christmas teacher gift ideas. This stamp will be useful for years!
Choose from personalized options for grading, classroom library, and many other designs too!
5. Teacher Coloring Planner Or Book
There are times when teachers want to let go of some stress and just color for fun. Any teacher will love escaping with these adult coloring planners or books!
6. Drink Gift Set
Winter is a great time for warm beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, so find out the teacher’s favorite, then find a set to give as a gift.
Finding a set this time of year isn’t hard because there are so many Christmas teacher gifts out there as options. Here are a few to give you an idea!
You can always buy a set, and another option would be to create your own set. For example, you could give a few flavors of coffee and maybe some creamers or other coffee accessories.
For a tea kit, an assortment of tea with a loose-leaf tea steeper might be a nice choice. Or indulge the sweet tooth and create a hot chocolate kit with Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix, marshmallows, and any other treats such as peppermint sticks.
7. School Supplies
Ok, this isn’t the most exciting gift, but it IS helpful since most teachers end up spending their own money on supplies for their classroom.
Some school supply ideas include:
- Sharpies
- Felt tip flair pens
- Dry erase markers
- Post it notes
- Pencils
What this gift lacks in excitement offers an opportunity to you to have fun dressing it up for gift giving. You can really dress these up with a fun presentation too like a gift basket or even just a cute tag. This adorable printable gift tag is perfect for gifting markers or this one is great for flair pens.
8. Gorgeous Hand Soap
Hand soap can be both functional and decorative. You can do single bars for a small gift (or addition to a gift) or you can do a pack of soaps.
A cute printable gift tag makes this an adorable and unique Christmas teacher gift!
9. Christmas Ornaments
Handmade and personalized ornaments can be great gifts during the holidays! Teachers will love putting such a heartfelt give on their trees. This Paper Straw Ornament is a great handmade option.
Or pick from many customizable and cute Christmas Ornaments!
NOTE: Before choosing an ornament, make sure the teacher celebrates Christmas!
10. Motivational Calendar
We all have them: those days when we just don’t feel up to the challenge of the day.
This motivational calendar will not only help your teacher keep track of the date, but it’s also filled with inspirational messages to help them stay positive and motivated throughout the workday.
11. Themed Gift Basket
The possibilities are endless for this idea! You can make them yourself for any theme, or if you’re short on time, you can find some premade gift baskets around different themes.
For example, a movie night or game night gift basket would work for almost any teacher!
12. Spa Day Kit
One of the best Christmas teacher gifts is a relaxing spa day from the comfort of their own home!
This is something that they will definitely appreciate, as it’s a great way to relax and unwind after a long semester. Make one yourself and or pick from some hand-assembled Spa Day Kit options.
13. Blue Light Glasses
Whether you like it or not, screens are a constant companion these days.
The teacher in your life will love these blue light-blocking glasses to help them get better shuteye after a long, busy day staring at screens. Check out the different styles!
14. Personalized Teacher Stationary
I love this Christmas gift idea for teachers! They are always writing notes (think: thank you notes for gifts or end-of-year notes!), so why not give them lovely customized stationary to write their notes?
This may seem like a simple present, but it’s one that many teachers can use and don’t receive.
15. Fun Socks Christmas Teacher Gifts
These come in super handy for crazy clothes day at school! There are so many different options when it comes to fun socks! You can find some for nearly ANY interest!
Check out Happypop Socks and find adorable designs, including some with cheeky slogans.
16. A Hardy Plant
A plant is another great Christmas gift idea for teachers. Not only are they relatively inexpensive, but they also add benefit any classroom by helping to purify the air and bringing a touch of the outdoors in.
However, it’s essential to choose a low-maintenance plant, as teachers often have plenty on their minds and may not remember to water a plant every day.
Small succulents are hardy and easy to find during the holiday season. A Christmas cactus is a great choice because it’s easy to care for and will bloom around the holidays.
17. Spice Mixes
These are often fine even for people with allergies, but just to be safe, make sure that any spice mix you give includes a detailed ingredients list.
There are several options to choose from! Check out the grill master set, Taste of the World set, Heat Lover set, and more!
18. Portable Wireless Speaker
Many teachers play music for the class during work time or free time. Consider a wireless speaker as a Christmas teacher gift to display on their desk.
19. Personalized Notepad
Like parents, teachers have a bazillion things to remember and keep track of. Plus, there’s always that inevitable message that needs to go home to parents. Or a personalized note cube can do the same thing.
20. Teach, Love, Inspire Bracelet
The outside says the words “Teach, Love, Inspire.” The inner side has your child’s name and the teacher’s name. If you’re looking for a truly personal and inspiring Christmas gift for teachers, this one is sweet.
21. Insulated Yeti Tumbler
This is WAY better than a coffee mug, and I haven’t seen many teachers with them yet, so this gift would stand out.
This insulated, no-spill tumbler will keep hot beverages at that perfect temperature for hours so that even if the teacher gets sidetracked, they can still enjoy their favorite hot drink.
22. Hydro Flask Water Bottle
These are seriously the BEST stainless steel insulated water bottles! I have had one for almost a year and love the handle, the size, and the style. It holds hot or cold drinks, and I can attest to keeping them cold for at least 24 hours.
It’s awesome and makes staying hydrated easy, no matter how busy or on the go your teacher is.
23. Storm Glass Barometer Christmas Teacher Gifts
A classic gift for teachers at Christmastime is the never boring snow globe. But here’s a GREAT twist on the now globe that your child’s teacher does not have: a storm glass weather predictor
This is a glass filled with transparent liquid that can change states (ex: trees, feathers, snowflakes, and more) based on the ambient temperature. It’ll make for a perfect decoration and talking piece
24. Because I Had a Teacher Book
We all remember our favorite teacher. This book is perfect for Christmas gifts for teachers, coaches, and mentors. This heartwarming book is a “thank you gift” for great teachers everywhere.
More meaningful books that teachers will appreciate include:
- A Teacher Like You
- Thank You, Teacher from The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Dear Teacher: A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us
25. Personalized Classroom Sign
It’s not unusual for teachers to move rooms or change names when they get married. Welcome students and families, new and old, to the classroom with this cute custom sign.
26. Why You’re the Best Teacher Ever Book
Your child can fill in the prompts inside this book to express just how much they love their teacher—and why. Nothing shows how much a teacher means to you and your child like this fill-in-the-blank journal. This is one they’ll treasure!
27. Personalized Desk Organizer Christmas Teacher Gifts
Instead of adding to your favorite teacher’s cluttered desk, why not help them organize it?
This personalized teacher desk organizer caddy has 5 compartments (which includes 1 removable piece that can make it 4 compartments) to store all those classroom essentials.
28. Personalized Book Mark
These bookmarks are handstamped to create a unique, one of a kind piece that teachers can use in their books at home or to hold the place where they left off in the class story. Here’s a different teacher bookmark style!
29. Personalized Tote Bag
Have you ever seen how much teachers carry back and forth from school? Between papers to grade, planning materials, gifts, and other items, a tote like this one can help ease. theload and keep teachers organizers.
DIY Christmas Teacher Gifts
If DIY gifts are more your thing, then check out these handmade teacher Christmas gift ideas!
- Peppermint handsoap from Happiness is Homemade
- Gingerbread cookies in a jar from Passion for Savings
- Glittery Santa’s belly jar from Crafts by Amanda
- Melted snowman ornament from It All Started With Paint
What NOT To Give Teachers For Christmas
There are great ideas for teacher gifts and there are ideas that are not great for teachers.
Here are a few items to avoid giving your teacher for Christmas:
- Mugs – They already have more teacher-themed mugs than they know what to do with.
- Alcohol – Even wine. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on school grounds. Just let teachers handle their own alcohol preferences.
- Homemade Food – Due to complications with allergies, preferences, and sanitation, stay away from the cookies, cakes, breads, and more. Spice mixes and hot chocolate mixes can be ok as long as a detailed ingredients list is included.
How Much Should I Spend on a Christmas Teacher Gift?
When it comes to how much you should spend, know that most parents spend $20 to $25 on Christmas Gifts for teachers.
Of course, this amount may vary depending on your budget and the number of teachers your child has.
If you’re looking for ways to save money, consider organizing a group gift from all of the students in the class or consider making a homemade gift.
teachers don’t just deserve an A+ for all the hard work they’ve been doing to prepare for their new classes—a good gift can be a great way to show thanks, too.
