Teacher gift baskets you can make at home

Summer is officially coming to a close after this weekend and that means back-to-school is in full-swing, from coast to coast. Whether you’re just diving into your child’s meet-and-greet to kick off the school year or you’re already a few weeks in, these back-to-school gift baskets for teachers are a simple way to show your new teacher just how excited you are to be in their class.

Setting the tone

Being a former teacher, I think I really have a greater appreciation for teachers and love to spoil them with little gifts throughout the year. They have such an important job to help shape the future of our little ones! Going a little above and beyond is our way to show them how much we appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to our kids. Lots of people do holiday gifts and end-of-year gifts, but we like to set the tone for a new school year with a back-to-school gift. We’ve come to learn that Meet & Greet can be a pretty hectic day, so what better way to leave a lasting impression with your new teacher than to leave them with a special treat!

What goes inside

I began making these back-to-school gift baskets for teachers a few years ago and they were such a hit that I have made it a tradition every year. The kids and I pick out items like fun pens, colored notepads, hand sanitizer, gum, chapstick and really anything else that we think they may enjoy.

Mini bottles of pain reliever are also always included in our baskets. I’d like to think that my kids’ classrooms will be quiet and calm at all times, but chances are that at some point during the school year the kids are sure to give the teacher a headache. Hopefully the teachers will stick these away somewhere in their classroom so that they will be prepared for that day!

After all of our items are gathered, I let the kids help put them in cute plastic containers or baskets. I also have my kids write a note telling their teacher just how excited they are to be in their class. We include the notes in the basket and then I wrap it up in clear cellophane and tie it with a cute ribbon.

Ice breaker

Some kids might feel nervous about going back to school, starting a new grade, and meeting a new teacher. These teacher gift baskets are a great ice breaker! Holding the basket gives the kids something to do with their hands and it gives them motivation to walk into their new classrooms proudly because they are excited to give their teachers the gift.

It is always a pleasant surprise for the teachers and they are just delighted to be given something by one of their students. They love being shown how much we appreciate them from day one and it puts a smile on their face, which is exactly why we do it!

Meet the Author | Carrie Beth & Jen

Carrie Beth and Jen are both 30-something mothers and wives, who happen to be best friends. They both love all things preppy, southern, and just plain pretty. Between the two of them, they have 5 precious little ones and constantly have a text conversation going on about the day-to-day of their lives and the crazy adventure that is motherhood. Whether it's trying to keep up with current fashion trends, finally getting around to that DIY project, or just dealing with everyday life with kids, it always keeps them laughing and it's always real life. They share their ideas and stories on their blog, The Magnolia Mamas.