Looking for teacher appreciation gifts for the favorite teachers in your life? Whether you’re looking for a holiday gift, something for teacher appreciation week, or an end-of-the-school-year celebration gift, our readers came through with some thoughtful gifts and great ideas.
Want to Buy Your Child’s Teacher an Awesome Gift and Skip the Reading? Choose from these gift ideas!
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Teacher Gift Giving
How do you show your appreciation to the person who helps shape your child’s days? It can be tricky! Budgets vary, and many families are shopping for more than one teacher. So we asked real Upstate SC teachers what they love—and what they’d be happy to skip. Here’s what they said…
Gift Cards for Teachers
DO: Give Gift Cards They’ll Actually Use
- Amazon is the universal go-to. One teacher told us she used hers before the school day even ended.
- Target, Hobby Lobby, and big box stores are also popular picks.
- Local favorites: Maple Street Biscuit Company, Bridge City Coffee, and other Greenville shops offer e-gift cards if you’re in a last-minute pinch.
- Restaurants or Experiences: Email the teacher (or class parent) to find out their favorite spots. A gift card to a favorite dinner place or a Greenville History Tour Chef’s Table is a creative group gift idea!
- Spa or Salon Gift Cards: Several teachers mentioned how much they appreciate a self-care experience.
“Gift cards, lip balm or lotion to keep in the classroom, picture frames—these are my go-tos.” – Local Teacher
Local Gifts are a DO! Greenville Local Restaurants and Businesses with E-Gift Cards
If your child is a virtual student or maybe you remembered to buy a teacher gift at the last possible moment, check out our List of Local Gift Cards That You Can E-mail Your Child’s Teacher. Bonus: you’ll get to support a local business!
You can also gift your teacher an experience! These Local Experience Gifts for Greenville, SC will give them the opportunity to venture out and explore the city.
DON’T: Give Office or School Supplies as a Gift
Yes, teachers need them. But giving sticky notes, paper clips, or dry-erase markers doesn’t feel like a personal thank you. Instead…
DO check their class Amazon wish list and contribute outside of gift-giving holidays.
Coffee Gifts For Teachers
Caffeine is a Definite DO!
DO: Fuel Their Day with Coffee (and Maybe Chocolate!)
- Coffee pods, local beans, or a travel tumbler with a gift card tucked inside = teacher joy.
- Coffee concentrate to keep in the classroom for those long afternoons.
- Local Coffee Subscriptions like Bridge City Coffee’s monthly service.
- Fun Add-ons: Gourmet syrups, reusable pod cartridges, or even a cute sampler set.
“Coffee gift cards were always my favorite.” – Local teacher
“Coffee + chocolate = the winning combo.” – Kidding Around Reader
DON’T: Buy Another Coffee Mug
Trust us. They have dozens. Unless it’s hand-decorated by your child, skip it.
Add these coffee gifts to your cart now, and make your teacher gift-giving easier this year!
- Help your child’s teacher fix the perfect cup of coffee with this Coffee Syrups Gift Set.
- Take your teacher on a trip around the world with this coffee sampler in a cute book package.
- Not sure what flavor of coffee your child’s teacher loves the most? This Gourmet Ground Coffee Variety Pack is the perfect gift with 8 different flavors.
Homemade Gifts Ideas and Kits for Teachers
DO: Let Your Child Make Something Meaningful
Teachers love homemade ornaments, cards, and crafts—especially if your child made it just for them.
- Local studios like Color Clay Cafe or Hearts of Clay offer easy, affordable options.
- DIY kits like a homemade card set or ornament craft make it simple.
- A decorated tote bag or even a sewn one (yes, we’ve seen it done!) makes a unique keepsake.
“I still have a little handprint ornament from a student 20 years ago—it hangs by my desk.” – Local teacher
The best gifts are those that students make or pick out themselves. It makes them proud to show their teacher something they have done for them. My advice to parents : let the kids pick.
MichaelaA handmade card or personal note from the parent about how I have helped their child in some way
WhitneyDON’T: Stress If You’re Not Crafty
Homemade doesn’t have to mean hard. A heartfelt note or a small ornament your child picked out still means a lot.
- Help your kids make terrific homemade cards for their teachers with this Alex DIY Homemade Card Kit.
- Maybe even have your child decorate an adorable tote bag for your teacher! You can even have your kid sew one together with this easy tote bag tutorial, what teacher wouldn’t love that?
- Make beautiful ornaments for your teacher with this homemade ornament kit.
Perfect Teacher Christmas Gifts: Ornaments!
Holiday Ornaments Are a DO!
DO: Give Ornaments with Meaning
- Ornaments are small, budget-friendly, and memory-filled.
- Look for personalized ornaments that include your child’s name or the year.
- Consider gifting a set of 5 to cover multiple teachers affordably.
DON’T: Worry About It Being Too Small
Teachers often put up extra trees just for student ornaments! This is a great “something small” that really adds up.
Jamie M. gave me a tiny homemade elf my first year of teaching, and I still use it to decorate with every year. Christmas ornaments are great mementos too. They allow me to revisit a special person or time, every year at Christmas.
MaryI love an ornament that’s personalized to remember the student. I still have one from one of my students who is now 21! I also love a handwritten note! Of course gift cards are fun and all teachers love bags of all kinds!
Amy D.- This pack of 5 Teacher Ornaments is a very economical way to give all your child’s teachers a little holiday cheer.
- The Personalized Teacher Ornament is perfect for any teacher of any subject or any grade. Personalized gifts of any kind are always a good idea.
Chocolate and Sweet Gifts for Teachers
DO: Bring the Sweet Stuff!
- Hot cocoa bombs are always a hit.
- Homemade cookies or brownies? Yes, please (as long as you know the teacher doesn’t have allergies).
- Local sweets from LaRue Fine Chocolates, Kilwins, or Swamp Rabbit Cafe.
- A cute jar of chocolate-covered espresso beans = chocolate + caffeine bonus.
A few years ago, a student brought me a jar of chocolate covered coffee beans. The child had beautifully decorated the jar and they filled it with my favorite chocolate snack! That was probably the most memorable gift I ever received. It was something the child had helped to make, something they knew I loved PLUS and extra kick of caffeine on mornings I needed it.
DanDON’T: Forget to Add a Note
If you’re gifting a treat, a quick “Thanks for all you do!” tag from your child adds that personal touch.
I had twin girls from Louisiana. They gave me hot sauce and Cajun foods, chips, cookies, ornaments and hot peppers. Even the card they gave me was Cajun!
Amy W.Here are a couple of delicious treats your child’s teacher will love!
- These Chocolate Covered Cookies Gift Box would be a delicious treat for your child’s teacher.
- Have a teacher who doesn’t like chocolate? Give the gift of something sweet with these Sea Salt Caramels.
Pampering Gifts for Teachers
DO: Give the Gift of Relaxation
- Group gift idea: Parents can split the cost of a Drift Float Spa session or massage.
- Small self-care items: Fuzzy socks, a soft blanket, lip balm, hand cream, or Bag Balm (yes, teachers love this stuff—one reader said hers lasted all year!)
- Add a little luxury to their day with a DIY at-home spa kit.
“Gift cards, lotion, cozy socks—anything that helps us relax is always appreciated.” – Local Teacher
DON’T: Assume Teachers Expect Big Gifts
Many said they don’t expect anything fancy—just something thoughtful and personal.
DO Proceed With Caution: Alcohol-Based Gifts
DO: Know Your Audience
Some teachers do appreciate a bottle of wine or a fun cocktail-themed gift—but only give these if you know it’s welcome.
- One teacher shared she received a bottle of wine and a recipe book and still uses the book a decade later!
- Another got a tequila shot set with a funny note—and yes, she laughed.
DON’T: Assume All Teachers Drink
Unless you know their preferences, it’s safer to stick to chocolate or coffee.
Support the Classroom (but not with school supplies!)
DO: Personalize Their Gift
- A monogrammed sweatshirt, notepad, or garden flag with their name.
- Picture frames or photo gifts from class parties.
- Something related to their hobbies (Clemson fans, we see you!).
“A fuzzy blanket, a personal note, and something that reminds me of the student—those are my favorites.” – Dana
DON’T: Wrap Up a Box of Pencils
Help stock the classroom, sure—but do it as a separate act of kindness, not in place of a gift.
The Best Gift of All: Your Support
Even if you can’t spend money, your help and encouragement matter. One parent once planned the class party from start to finish—and the teacher said it was the best gift they got all year. A simple note or kind email can go a long way.
DO: Include a Card or Note
Many teachers said a handwritten card or thoughtful message meant more than anything else.
I hope this helps you decide what to do to show your appreciation to this special person in your child’s life. It truly is a labor of love and something your child has made with love is never a bad idea.
Do you have more suggestions for things that make great (or not-so-great) teachers’ gifts? Let us know in the comments!
During the week of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, my son’s teacher casually mentioned that “Oh the places you’ll go” was one of her favorite books. I went on Etsy and purchased a print of a quote from the book. I’ve mod podged it onto canvas and added a matching bow to hang it from! It was her gift for Teacher of the Year!
What a great idea, Kelly!
Never underestimate the power of a heartfelt thank you. Write a thank you card to your child’s teacher and write a letter of commendation/appreciation about said teacher to the principal. You have no idea how much this means to a teacher!
Yes!!! I have a binder specifically for these! The spine says “Reasons To Keep Teaching”…. you know, for those days we all have where we wonder why we keep on. lol
I feel like this would be especially well received this year.
Please no homemade food. I taught jr. high and high school, so I didn’t usually get gifts. My dad taught jr. high for 35 years. Occasionally, he’d get some homemade food. He was always grateful, but he only ate it if he knew the parent and knew they had made it. Believe it or not, there are some teenagers who think it’s funny to bring a teacher ex lax cookies.
Personally, I loved any gift I got even if it wasn’t “individualized”. I actually still have a pencil holder made from a tin can and construction paper that one of my seventh-graders gave me. I could tell that he made it himself with the materials he had available. It’s the most special gift I’ve ever recieved.
I totally think that one WAS personalized, Amber! It was personalized because it was made especially for YOU by what that kid had to offer you. Anything a kid made is always awesome regardless of the materials!
Unless it’s a stuffed animal that smells like a catbox…. then it’s not necessarily awesome. lol 😉
I’d add, don’t forget the “other” teachers your children might have. Like a previous poster mentioned, most of the time it’s the home room teachers and sometimes related arts teachers but also remember the resource teachers, speech therapists, challenge teachers of your child received instruction from one of these kinds of teachers!
For sure!!! They spend HOURS in the fall and spring staying til 6 doing IEP meetings and making sure our kids get the accommodations they need!!!
I am not a teacher but have been a room parent for over 25 yrs and I can say a teachers job is far more appreciated than most parents think. These people take care of our children keep order amongst them enough to teach them each and every day. Being in the classroom a lot I realize just how much they truly do for our students. Many of them have little to no support from parents, children always short on supplies, and work extra time before and after school to ensure our students get the maximum of resources they can get for their students. I say a few gifts a year is worth every penny. Don’t have much to spend spend 5 dollars on a gift card from starbucks so she he can have a cup of coffee or tea. Get with other parents and each put in 5 dollars and buy her/him a little bigger gift card to amazon or just a visa debit or something. A ticket to the movies or redbox with popcorn and candy and drinks in a nice basket. They do way more for our children they deserve way more. Spend one day doing their job and you will be glad you didn’t go into teaching. Related arts teachers, office staff librarians all work together to give my kids the education needed to be successful adults. Little things go a long way to these people.
I bought a popcorn box w/red and white stripes and filled it with Theatre size candy (her favorites) put a microwave popcorn bag and got her a gift certificate for the movies.