Practical Gift Ideas for Early Childhood Educators on Teacher Appreciation Week

by Dr. Emily A. Snowden

Teachers are precious gems. Holding and knowing our children in our absence, they form special bonds that teach them trust and love in the world outside their homes.

Being a teacher who can tend to this responsibility requires very real skills like patience, intelligence, and fluency in intuition. It’s disheartening that in the United States we don’t always value the care work that is performed by people like teachers, nurses, carers of the elderly, veterinary technicians, and “stay-at-home moms.” This issue spans beyond the basics of low pay and often into low respect in general.

Due to a particular fallacy in thought where we tend to believe the younger the child is, the less skilled the teacher is, these issues are often exacerbated for early care and education professionals. We ask these individuals to subsidize the field with low pay (their pay is on average half what infamously underpaid teachers in compulsory schooling receive), lack of access to benefits, and risks like liability. These strains harm and drive out the carers of our youngest children.

However, Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity to surround the caregivers of our children with genuine love and respect. While parents and families can’t fix issues like educator pay disparities, for one week we all intentionally highlight the important and often thankless role teachers play in shaping the future.

It can be hard to express the enormity of the thankfulness that we feel toward the teachers who care for our children. However, to avoid contributing to the stockpile of Starbucks gift cards that your child’s caregiver may have accumulated, here are some other ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Gift Cards for Essentials

Knowing that our teachers deal with pay disparity issues, we can take some stress off their plates by giving them gift cards that cover essentials. Think anywhere you can get groceries and/or household items. For example, Costco.

Sweet or Savory Treats

A homemade or special treat is always a nice way to share the love and sprinkle some sweetness in their lives. Baked goods or things like local honey are great, but so are other “treats” like homemade bread, charcuterie “kits,” or quiche.

Experience or Hobby Materials

If you know your child’s teacher has certain hobbies or interests, it can be great to get them something to support that. This could mean getting yarn for someone who loves to knit, a beach towel for someone who loves to swim, or a gift card for a pedicure.

Plants

While giving a plant as a gift is not for everyone, if you know your child’s teacher has a “green thumb,” a plant can be a beautiful gift that stays with them over time. Think herbs, house plants, or a nice flowering plant. When in doubt, go with a beginner and pet-safe option like a “money tree.”

A Handwritten Card

Please do not ever underestimate the power of simply writing down and sharing your words of appreciation. Don’t know what to write? Try starting with a few adjectives that describe the teacher or a memorable moment you’ve had together (“I will never forget the time when…”).

This is also a great opportunity to involve your child. By asking them what they love about their teacher and then transcribing their words, you can help them learn to vocalize their appreciation for members in their community.