The Top 14 Best Christmas Gifts For Teachers (UPDATED 2023)

Do you know a teacher who deserves a special thank-you?

Great teachers are like gold-dust, and if you're lucky enough to have one (or several) in your life, then you'll want to make sure you let them know just how much you appreciate their efforts. 

We know it can be tough coming up with gift ideas for teachers, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Let's take a look....

Takeaways

• Homemade gifts are a great way to show your appreciation for your teacher's hard work.
• There are a lot of different gift ideas that are perfect for teachers.
• Candles are a great way to cosy up a teacher's Christmas break.
• Christmas is a time for giving, and what better way to show your appreciation for your child's teacher than by giving them a thoughtful and unique gift.

1. Desktop Timer

Timers can be a teacher's best friends. They help keep things running smoothly and on schedule.

A desktop timer is a great gift for any teacher, especially one who likes to be organised.

It can be used for so many different things – timing tests, keeping track of class time, and more.

They are even super-useful for getting the chores done at home to help keep things short and focused.

If you couple with using a planner, this is a great way to show your teacher how much you appreciate them staying on top of things!

2. Daily Planner

In some respects, this could be viewed as a bit of a chicken/egg situation: a love of teaching or a love of planning and organising?

Most teachers LOVE to do both, which is why a daily planner is the perfect gift for them.

It'll help them keep track of their schedules, to-do lists, and anything else they need to remember on a daily basis.

There is nothing more satisfying than opening up a new planner at the start of a new year and seeing all those blank pages, just waiting to be filled!

3. Stationery

Who doesn't remember the joy of getting to pick out new school supplies (well, the fun ones, anyway)?

There's just something about starting the (school) year off with a brand new set of pens, pencils, and markers.

A teacher can never have too much stationery, so this is always a safe bet when it comes to finding gifts for them.

4. Stainless Steel Coffee Mug

Not everyone is going to be a "morning person" - that's what coffee is for, no?

Stainless steel coffee mugs are perfect for teachers who not only need that extra caffeine hit to get them through the day but also need the coffee to stay hot for as long as possible.

This is a gift that will definitely be used and appreciated on a daily basis.

5. Coffee Syrups

Anything coffee related make great presents for teachers. If teachers are having a bad, the first thing they turn to is coffee.

These flavour syrups are a great way to add a little something extra to their cup of joe.

They come in a variety of different flavors, so there's sure to be one (or several) that your teacher will love. 

Certain coffee shops (who shall remain nameless) have a lot to answer for..!

Gifting coffee syrups could be a great little present for someone who already frequents these establishments - give a little extra "pep" to their step!

6. Portable Speakers

Gone are the days when decent speakers meant lugging around a GIANT boombox.

Nowadays, there are some great portable speakers on the market that are small enough to fit in a backpack or purse, yet still pack a punch when it comes to sound quality.

This is a perfect gift for teachers who love music and want to be able to enjoy it wherever they are.

7. Flavoured Salts

Christmas is a time for indulgence and what better way than with some delicious flavoured salts?

There are all sorts of flavours to choose from, so you're sure to find one (or even several) that your teacher will love.

(These also make a great stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift).

If you and your child wanted to go the extra mile, why not try to make some of your own flavoured salts? It's easier than you might think and your teacher will be impressed at the effort you've gone to.

Displayed in nice little glass containers or paper bags with the obligatory Christmas ribbon tied around, it a bit of a no-brainer for food-related gifts that (in most cases) dodge common allergens/food intolerances.

8. Homemade Sweets

As a child, one of our family's festive traditions was to make our own sweets (little marzipan snowmen, chocolate-dipped nuts, etc. - you get the idea) during the last few days before the big day...

You could do the same with your child and their teacher. It's a great way to get them into the Christmas spirit and there's always something extra-special about receiving a homemade gift.

9. Personalised Gift Cards

I can almost hear some of you rolling your eyes because gift cards are right up there with vouchers and, eugh... cash as the most impersonal presents of all time, however, hear me out.

If you choose the right gift card and put a little thought into it, it can actually be quite a thoughtful present.

For example, if you know your teacher is a fan of books, you could get them a gift card to their favourite bookshop. Or, if they're always talking about how they need a new handbag/wallet/pair of shoes, you could get them a gift card to a store that sell those items.

The key is to make sure it's something they'll actually use and appreciate, rather than just letting it gather dust in a drawer somewhere.

10. Portable Travel Utensils with Case

There is nothing more soul-destroying than the cold sweat you feel sitting down to lunch, only to realise that there's nothing but knives left in the work-kitchen utensil drawer and you brought... SOUP!

A lot of teachers work through their lunch breaks and never even make it to the kitchen, so presenting them with travel utensils in their own case is a stroke of genius...

11. Growing Kits

This is a great gift for teachers who are passionate about gardening or who simply love to watch things grow.

With options like herb gardens and tree-growing kits, you're bound to find a present for your teacher that they will love.

12. Candles

Candles are often associated with the Scandinavian term "hygge", especially in the run-up to Christmas - roughly translated, hygge is "a feeling of cosiness and comfort" and what could be more perfect for a teacher who is spending their Christmas break marking exams?

There are all sorts of different candles on the market, from scented to unscented, so, you're sure to find one that your teacher will fall in love with.

13. Bath Salts

Bath salts are another great way of getting the kids involved in gift-giving. They're relatively inexpensive and easy to make, plus they look great when presented in a nice glass jar (bonus points if you can find one with a festive design).

To make your own bath salts, simply combine equal parts of Epsom salt, sea salt, and baking soda. Then add a few drops of essential oil (lavender is always a good choice) and stir well.

If you want to get really creative, you could add a few drops of food colouring to the mix before adding the essential oil - just be sure to use non-toxic food colours.

14. Personalised, well... anything, really

There are so many ways of personalising gifts these days, from mugs and keyrings to T-shirts and tote bags.

If you're feeling really creative, you could even design your own personalised gift, like a mug with the teacher's name and a Christmas message, or a T-shirt with the school logo and their favourite quote.

Summary

Now you know what to get your favourite teacher this Christmas, all that's left to do is choose the perfect present!

Remember, it's the thought that counts, so as long as you put some thought into your gift, your teacher is sure to love it.

Merry Christmas!