25 best teacher-approved holiday gifts

Stumped on what to give your kids’ teacher for the holidays? Avoid the mug-and-child-artwork trap with these teacher-approved picks.
By Sara Gaynes Levy Updated Oct. 16, 2024
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The holidays are a busy time of year— so many gifts, so little time. The last thing you want to be stressed about is what to get your kids’ teachers!
But before you default to a mug or candle or something handmade from your child (we heard over and over again— teachers do not want these items), take the extra minute to think through and get them something they’ll actually like, want, and use. (True story: a friend of mine once presented a gift to their child’s teacher and was told “not everyone has the same taste!” Insert grimace emoji. Don’t subject yourself to the same fate.)
Your child’s teacher works so hard, and they deserve to spend the Christmas season luxuriating with a gift that shows them how much they’re appreciated. So follow their lead when it comes to holiday gifts for teachers— you don’t want to be the class parent who presents a gift the teacher takes one look at and stashes away in a drawer forever! I asked teachers: what do you really want as teacher Christmas gifts? And here’s what they said– consider it your shopping list.
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides!

$20
What can we say? We love paper gifts for teachers. This takes the heartfelt card idea to the next level with the addition of the most beautiful display. Made entirely of paper, the Holiday Light Up Candle from Fresh Cut Paper is incredibly detailed with a warm flickering light that adds some festive vibes to their desk or home mantle.

$25
One teacher friend said it made her feel “so special” to get an indulgent mani/pedi from a student. If you have a local favorite, you can grab one from there, but if you don’t know where your teacher likes to get her nails done, or you want to give her some flexibility, pick up a Spafinder gift card. They’re available in amounts from $25 to $500, and can be used at nearly 25,000 spa locations worldwide.

$10
Prepare for a lot of gift card options: it may not seem that exciting to you, but I heard from nearly every teacher I asked that at the end of the day, a gift card is really what they want. They’ll use it, for one thing, and have we mentioned how criminally underpaid teachers are? Yeah. So help them get their caffeine fix. Gift cards are available for between $5 and $100. They will really, truly be grateful.

$68
If you’ve got a middle- or high-school teacher to get a gift for, give them some street cred with their teenage students: this is the must-have bag of the moment. You can get it customized with patches for initials, symbols, and more, from $15 each. (And if you want them to get full credit for owning an SCL bag, you should go for at least one.)

$1
Give them the gift they really want— whatever they want! You’re a mom so you already know you can get literally anything you can think of on Amazon— just imagine what your kid’s teachers can do! You can give any amount from $1 up to $2,000.

$10
Skincare sets are hot gifts this holiday season, but unless you have a very strong knowledge of your teacher’s skin type, stay on the safe side with a Sephora gift card and let them choose their own products. You can get a gift card in amounts from $10 to $250. The littlest luxuries sometimes mean the most!

$79
Every classroom can use more greenery! Any potted plant that’s easy to care for is a great option, but if you’re looking for something a little extra special go with a pineapple plant. They’re resilient and don’t require too much work but offer a fun reward. And if you order it from The Sill, they don’t even have to wait–it arrives with a baby fruit already sprouted!

$200
Okay, okay, hear me out: I know they said no mugs, but this is no ordinary mug. It uses smart technology to keep liquids at a preselected, perfectly-hot temperature for up to 3 hours, or all day if they keep it on the charging pad in their classroom. No more lukewarm coffee after first period?! See, I told you they’d make an exception to the no-mugs thing.

$89
These roses last up to a year— or more!— with no watering or maintenance required (in other words, perfect for teachers who have precious little time!). The roses come in 17 colors and you can get any letter of the alphabet— perfect to give the classroom a little long-lasting charm.

$25
Foodie teachers will love a gift certificate to this gourmet online mecca, which sells expertly packed delicacies from top restaurants all over the country. Gift certificates start at $25 and go up to $1,000. Whether your teacher is craving New York bagels or Barefoot Contessa’s brownies, they can get it on Goldbelly, and they’ll be hungry just thinking about what to choose.

$10 (plus $3.95 processing fee)
When in doubt, a Visa gift card covers it all. Giving a gift card is a little more elegant than giving cash, but the card functions in essentially the same way– wherever Visa is accepted, this gift card is too, meaning your teacher can buy anything their heart desires. Gift cards come in denominations from $10 up to $500, but note that a $3.95 processing fee applies to each card purchased.

$38
If the exhaustion of supporting kids all day isn’t enough to make them pass out cold at bedtime, this can help. Dubbed “the weighted blanket for your eyes,” the Nodpod is an eye mask but better. The bubble-like design features four weighted pods that rest on your eyes and temples, offering light-blocking with a side of gentle pressure. You can even toss it in the freezer for an extra dose of chill or to treat a migraine. It’s basically the adult version of a lovie with function.

$42
Not all candles are created equal. Case in point, the transportive scent stories from Brooklyn-based The New Savant we stumbled upon at Rider, Park Slope’s coolest gift shop. (Psssst! Shopping at boutiques curated by impossibly cool people is the secret to great gift giving.) Each one is delicately crafted to be something you experience right from the couch. The Library in a Forest is exactly the right choice for an educator in need of a little reprieve–like sitting in a leather chair with their favorite book, under sun-dappled pines.

$30
Only healthcare professionals scrub up more than teachers. Give their parched hands a little pampering with our favorite splurgey hand cream–L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. The French cult-favorite is super concentrated and not only moisturizes but also heals dry, cracked skin as well.

$44
Whether they’ve got a regular meditation practice or simply need a between class pick-me-up, this portable trio of stress relievers can make the most of those moments. There’s the Stress Release Oil Blend Roll On which can be applied to the neck, forehead and shoulders or added to a bath or bowl of steaming water to help bring a sense of calm and relaxation, a Stress Relief Inhaler, and a Relax-O-Ring to massage the fingers for a soothing, effective reset. (Seriously, it feels amazing.) And to make it even more giftable, it comes conveniently packaged in a stylish case to keep them safe and organized.

$13
The only people on the planet who might need a daily dose of coffee more than moms is teachers! Sign them up for a one-time or subscription delivery of the finest, most delicious brews from Bean Box. The super curated Coffee Sampler box includes four artfully crafted artisan blends from award-winning roasters. Prices start at $24


























































































