Is anyone else as baffled as I am about how to execute – generously and yet realistically – gift giving for teachers? 

My kids’ teachers are at the top of the list of people to whom I feel most steadily, consistently, and humbly grateful. When I think about the amount of time, energy, skill, and love they give to teaching my children, shaping their character, nurturing their creativity, and developing their identities, I feel nothing but awe and gratitude. I do my best to be as good of a parent as I can be, but I will be the first person to admit that I have limited reserves of knowledge and capability, not to mention time and patience, and I know that my children benefit greatly from spending parts of their days with the women whom God has put into our lives as their teachers. There is so much that my children gain from their teachers that, frankly, they wouldn’t get from me. 

For instance, on a very straightforward level, I am not a crafty person, but I think that crafts are a great thing for children to do, in part because of the skills they teach, and in part because they are fun for them. I am thrilled that my daughters get lots of crafting opportunities at school, provided for them by their creative and patient teachers. (I am also thrilled that I don't ever have to clean up crafting messes!)

On a deeper level, I’ve noticed that my five-year-old has matured at a rate that outpaces linear development since starting kindergarten back in August. The other day, I overheard her saying to herself, “I am responsible for my words, my actions and my attitude.”  When I picked my jaw up off the floor and asked her where she learned the mantra, she named, or course, her magnificent teacher.

I could endlessly sing the praises of my kids’ teachers, and I want them to feel appreciated, honored and loved on a regular basis. And yet, sometimes I get a bit lost in navigating the realm of teacher gift-giving. For starters, when is the best time to give teachers gifts? Christmas? The end of the school year? Teacher appreciation week? All of the days? This question brings up the next one: do I give small gifts several times a year, or one large gift on a specially chosen day? I want to be generous in my giving, but I also have a limited budget. Should I try to coordinate with other parents and go in on one big gift? Should I forgo gifts and give cash? Do I write a thank you note, or have my child write one? 

It’s easy for me to get overwhelmed by the questions, and I’d wager that some other parents might feel the same way. I wish I could say that I’ve come up with a strategy for teacher gift-giving that solves the conundrum once and for all, but that’s not the case. Instead, what I have to offer is an old gem of wisdom that I share often in my therapy practice, attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire: “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” I don’t have a perfect solution, but I do have a list of good gift ideas – really good ones, in fact! – for Catholic school teachers, and in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the patron saint of teachers and whose feast day is today, I’m going to share it.

Maybe you choose a gift from this list to give during teacher appreciation week, maybe you end the school year with a gift, maybe you choose a few gifts to have on hand and give at a random time of the year. Whatever route you take, these gifts will be good choices on any occasion.

A Wordsearch Book

This wordsearch book is a beautiful twist on a childhood classic. The 72 wordsearches are filled with quotes from authors and scripture from the Bible, all oriented around the theme of becoming – Who are you becoming? Who do you want to become? What helps you to grow? And most importantly, how can we become more like Jesus? 

Pray Tumbler

This soft pink tumbler, etched with words inspired by Mother Teresa’s “I Thirst” letter, is one of the best kinds of gifts – both practical and fun. I know I’d love to have a cup like this resting on my desk. 

A Rosary

I’m not a teacher myself, but I can imagine what it would be like to be surrounded by 20 six-year olds for seven hours in a day, five days a week, and knowing this, I feel quite certain that the good work our educators do requires prayer throughout the day! Gifting a rosary is a wonderful way to support that prayer. 

A Sticker

For a small gift, a thoughtfully chosen sticker is a great option. I love this Morning Offering prayer sticker, which would go well stuck on a water bottle, journal, planner, or attendance folder. 

A Heartfelt Note

Accompanying a gift, or on its own, a note conveying the gratitude you feel for a teacher – with specific affirmations and examples of how the teacher touches your child’s life – would mean a lot to just about anyone. Take some time to reflect on the goodness that your child’s educators bring to your life, pray for them, and convey both of these actions in a card like this one.