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Marissa Schneggenburger

24 Holiday Gift Ideas for ECE Teachers

  • November 23, 2021

A great way to show appreciation for your teachers and ECE staff members this holiday season is through a meaningful gift. If you’re not sure what to give your teachers for the holiday, these 24 gift ideas can help. No matter your budget, you can find a gift that your teachers will use and appreciate. Whether that’s a DIY craft from the children or a small candle from a local business, there’s a range of holiday gift ideas for you.

Now’s the time to start shopping and take advantage of Black Friday deals and support businesses during Small Business Saturday. Here are 24 gift ideas to give your teachers this holiday season. 

1. Subscription Services

A subscription service is the gift that keeps on giving! These can start from $10 and go up from there. Depending on your budget, you can choose how long of a subscription to gift. Here are some popular subscription services:

Book of the Month

Ipsy Makeup Bag

Scentbird Perfume

2. Stickers

Stickers are an adorable and cost-effective gift for teachers. Your staff can place these stickers on water bottles, electronics, notepads, etc. This gives their stuff a more personalized feel.

Here’s a popular site to buy or create stickers:

Redbubble.com

3. Candles

A simple yet classic gift, everyone loves receiving candles. There’s candles available at every pricepoint. Target is a great place to look for cost-effective and quality candles.

4. Lotion or Bath Products

Lotion and bath products are a great way to give your staff the tools to pamper themselves. Your staff will get their use out of these products. Try buying lotion, bath bombs, bubble bath, and more from these businesses:

Target

Bath & Body Works

Lush

5. Fuzzy Socks

You can’t go wrong with fuzzy socks. They’re cozy, comfy and cute! You can also find these at a range of stores like:

Dollar Tree

Walmart

Target

6. Homemade treats

Making a homemade treat like cookies or brownies is easy and cost-effective. This is also a good option if you have a lot of staff members to provide gifts for. Try looking through Pinterest for top dessert recipes. 

7. Gift cards

This is a common and well-received gift. A gift card to Starbucks, Target, Walmart, etc. is sure to be used. This gift is easy and can be customized to your budget.

8. Tea or Coffee

Your teachers most likely take advantage of caffeine. Try gifting specialty teas or coffees to help them save money in the morning and try something new. 

9. Travel Mug

To help your staff carry their tea or coffee, gift them a travel mug. These are a great gift and can be found everywhere. You can also buy these in bulk on Amazon

10. Tumbler

A tumbler, similar to a travel mug, is also a great gift. These can be used and refilled with water or cold drinks throughout the day. Keep your staff hydrated with these tumblers here.

11. Puzzles

Puzzles can be a fun and cute gift idea for teachers. They also double as wall art when completed! Find cost-effective puzzles here.

12. Card games

Card games are fun for people of all ages. Your staff can use card games over the holidays and throughout the year when spending time with their loved ones. Find card games at Walmart, Target, or Amazon.

13. Reusable tote bag

Reusable tote bags are a practical and stylish gift for teachers. They can carry all of their supplies in a customized or well-designed tote. Find them in bulk here.

14. Office supplies

Office supplies are a great and practical gift for teachers. Whether that’s customized pens, new post-it notes, a notepad, etc., your staff will use these gifts. Check out Walmart for deals on office supplies.

15. Lip balms

Lip balms are crucial for any time of year. There’s always gift sets available around the holidays and a range of cost-effective options as well. Check out this lip balm set here. 

16. Small plants

Plants are a unique gift for teachers. Try gifting something like succulents that are easy to take care of and will last. You can buy succulents in packs here. 

17. Favorite Snacks

Gift your teachers their favorite snacks for a practical yet thoughtful gift! Try including gum, mints, favorite candies, chips, etc. This is also an easy and cost-effective option if you have multiple staff members.

18. Dish towels

Dish towels are a practical and useful gift for anyone. You can gift holiday-themed dish towels or just towels for everyday use. These are also commonly sold in packs, allowing you to give them to multiple people.  See this example here. 

19. Wine

A bottle of wine is also a great gift idea for teachers. Again, these range in prices and can be customized to your budget. You can also substitute sparkling water or sodas if you prefer to stay away from wine. 

20. Keychain or lanyard

A keychain or lanyard can be a great gift. These can be customized to each member or branded with your center’s logo. Here’s a website where you can create customized keychains.

21. Throw Blanket

You can’t go wrong with a cozy throw blanket. These are a great gift during the holiday season and colder months. Marshall or TJMaxx often have affordable options. There’s also plenty of options at Kohls, Walmart, and Target.

22. Slippers

Slippers are another great cozy holiday gift. They’re useful and practical for your teachers as well. Any store, like Five Below, has affordable slipper options. 

23. Throw Pillow

Throw pillows are a great way for your teachers to dress up their living space. Buying from Five Below or the Target dollar section is a great way to get cute throw pillows at an affordable price.

24. DIY Crafts from the Kids

Having the children make gifts for their teachers is an easy and sentimental gift idea. Here’s some ideas for kid-made teacher appreciation gifts. 

There you have it – 24 holiday gift ideas for preschool teachers! Keep in mind, you can also reach out to parents to get a larger gift for your teachers. You can also offer gifts like an extra day off of work, and extra break, free lunch, or a holiday party. There’s endless ways to make your teachers feel appreciated this holiday season. 


Kangarootime is the leading all-in-one childcare management software for daycares and preschools. With billing and invoicing capabilities, parent communication and staff management tools and classroom automation, Kangarootime helps childcare centers grow and scale. To learn more about optimizing your center with Kangarootime, visit kangarootime.com

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