5 Teacher Gift Basket Ideas to Express Appreciation

When that fateful day arrives, and we send our children off to school, we put our trust in someone else for their care and training. Fortunately, most school teachers are passionate about passing on knowledge and want to see the next generation thrive. Besides their government compensation for their work, it is nice to give a gift as a personal thank you to show your appreciation and what better way than with a gift basket.

Gift baskets are fun and full of adventure and intrigue because they have multiple presents to open up. When considering your children’s teacher, what should you put in?

First, start with the vessel. There are many options when picking a vessel for your gifts to be housed, and you can go with a standard wicker basket and customize it to your theme if you have one. Your basket can also serve as a container for other uses after it is opened, so it will live on in your teacher’s life.

A metal container can be an outside planter for fresh spring flowers and bulbs. Wicker can double as a picnic basket, and a wooden crate makes the perfect magazine holder. They can even reuse their basket in their classroom for supplies on their desk. Choose the vessel you think would fit perfectly in your teacher’s life.

Here are some great teacher gift basket ideas to get you started.

Idea #1: New Teaching Year Gifts

Think about what your teacher could use for a gift basket to start the new school year. They are jumping into a class full of young strangers and need to implement their plan quickly to be successful. Here are some essentials to aid in that endeavour.

Idea #2: Office Supplies

These are great ideas, and while the school may supply most of the standard office supplies, you can help by including more of those and other handy gear. These include:

  • Sticky notes
  • Card stock
  • Coloured printer paper
  • Ink gel pens
  • Dry erase markers
  • Coloured chalk
  • Glue sticks
  • Pens and pencils
  • Notebooks
  • Highlighters
  • Sharpies

Any little items that help their work are much appreciated.

Idea #3: Survival Gear

Beyond the office staff, a teacher may need some items to help them get through the day in one piece. Wrangling kids can be tough, and any boost to their work life will go a long way.

Teaching survival gear:

  • Oversized Coffee: Mug You can get a colourful design or an inspirational quote on the mug and get it personalized with their name if you want.
  • Disinfectant Wipes and Gel: Teachers come in constant contact with door handles, drawer handles and tonnes of teaching items that are shared with the class. They must constantly disinfect their hands, so they don’t get sick.
  • Breath Spray: It’s not always easy to keep your breath fresh when you are a teacher, so a handy mint spray is perfect for a busy educator.
  • Gum & Mints: These also help freshen breath and moisten the palette, especially with all the talking teachers do.
  • Headache Relief: A headache can sneak up on you so having a bottle of ibuprofen or Tylenol comes in handy.
  • New Insoles: You’d be surprised how fast your feet can hurt from standing on them all day. Pick a slender set that fits in most shoes to provide cushiony support.

Idea #4: Summer Basket

If you are looking to give a gift basket to your teacher at the end of the school year, think about adding items unrelated to school. This is when a teacher gets their holidays, and the last thing they need is a reminder of their job.

Make this basket about relaxation or travel, so it fits with their summer break. Summer basket ideas include:

  • Movie tickets
  • Amazon gift card
  • Chocolate truffles
  • Starbucks gift card
  • Scented candles
  • New flip flops
  • Beach towel
  • Cheap, colourful sunglasses

These are the items that they will take along for their holidays, and whether they head to Europe or the couch, they will love your thoughtfulness.

Idea #5: Pampering Basket

Another great gift basket theme for your teacher is a pampering basket. Both men and women teachers love to relax on their weekends, and giving them some items to help out will energize them for the new week ahead.

Include gifts like body scrubs, bath bombs, essential oils and homemade bar soap. Thick warm socks, a plush blanket and a good book, will give them an escape into another world for a few hours. Snacks are always appreciated; an adult colouring book will help them creatively colour their way back to a peaceful vibe.

Taking care of our teachers is important and letting them know how vital they are is part of building a loving community. Use these ideas to build your gift basket for that special teacher in your and your kids’ lives.