Preschool Teacher Gifts: Here's What They Really Want

Preschool teachers use a lot of supplies. During Teacher Appreciation Week, gifting them with classroom essentials can help them get a jump start on the next year. Of course, splurging on something more personal for your teacher friend, family member, or little one’s teacher will also brighten their day! Whatever you do, be sure to send a simple thank you to the preschool teacher in your life. Two small words that go a long way can be even better than an actual teacher gift for preschool teachers. (But we LOVE gifts!) Take a look at our list of some of the best teacher gifts any preschool teacher would love.

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1. Glue Sticks

All of those adorable preschool art projects throughout the year require tons of glue sticks! Helping teachers restock with a big box of glue sticks will be just like sending a box of chocolates.

Buy it: Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks

2. Crayons

Crayons are used daily in a preschool classroom. Students are learning how to color, and their little hands go through them crazy fast. Any teacher would love a giant set of crayons.

Buy it: Crayola Crayon Classpack

3. Cardstock

Paper is another essential that always disappears fast. Gifting teachers with some cardstock would be a nice gesture. Neenah Paper is a popular choice that’s not too thin or thick, so they’ll definitely get a lot of use out of it.

Buy it: Neenah Paper

4. Watercolor Paints

My favorite thing to do with young students is introduce painting. Watercolor paints are so much fun but quickly need replenishing. A nice pack of sets is an excellent choice for a gift!

Buy it: Crayola Washable Watercolors

5. Washable Paint

Did I say I love paint? Washable paint is another one we use all the time for holiday crafts, parent gifts, and just for fun. All shades of paint make a great gift, but most teachers would love a set of skin color paint.

Buy it: Crayola Multi-Ethnic Washable Tempera Paints

6. Books

Books always make for an amazing teacher gift! Check out our list of all the best preschool books including class favorites like Love Makes a Family, Natsumi!, and Find Fergus.

Buy it: Love Makes a Family | Natsumi! | Find Fergus

7. Dry Erase Markers

Whether they dry up or get lost in the classroom, teachers always seem to run out of dry erase markers. This vibrant variety pack from EXPO is a fun choice for helping them restock. You can also check out more of our top choices for dry erase markers for the classroom!

Buy it: EXPO Dry Erase Markers

8. Sanitizer Wipes

Teachers definitely need plenty of ways to nix germs. These disinfectant wipes feature two sides: one for scrubbing and one for wiping. They also promise to kill 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria.

Buy it: Lysol Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes

9. Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giving a gift card from Teachers Pay Teachers not only helps teachers spend less of their own money on classroom essentials, but also puts some cash back in another teacher’s pocket.

Buy it: Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

10. Teacher Tee

Teachers love pairing a cute tee with jeans on Fridays. We rounded up our favorite teacher tees that you can easily get from Amazon, including this one with an uplifting message about kindness.

Buy it: Be Kind Teacher T-Shirt

11. UGG Slippers

After spending all year running around on our feet, slipping into comfortable shoes vital for teachers. A pair of UGG slippers will make for a welcome teacher gift.

Buy it: UGG Fluff Yeah Slides | UGG Disquette Slippers

12. Preschool-Friendly Shoes

You can also help busy preschool teachers with some comfy shoes. I finally found the perfect pair that make me feel like I’m walking around on clouds: Allbirds Wool Loungers. You can read my review to see why I think they’re one of the best shoes for the classroom.

Buy it: Allbirds Wool Loungers

13. Massage

Treat your teacher friends to a gift card for a relaxing massage from a local spa. Gifting them with an at-home massager also costs about the same as one 30 minute session at a spa.

Buy it: Papillon Back Massager with Heat | RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Deep Tissue Massager

14. Bath Bombs

A calming bath can make me forget all about the hectic school day. You can find budget-friendly bath bombs pretty much anywhere, but the highly reviewed Happy Dance CBD Stress Away Bath Bomb or OUAI Chill Pills are especially soothing.

Buy it: Happy Dance CBD Stress Away Bath Bomb | OUAI Chill Pills

15. Mani/Pedi

Another amazing self-care gift: Call up their favorite nail salon and secure a time for your favorite teacher to be pampered. You can also find fun gift sets like this Le Mini Macaron 1-Step Gel Manicure Kit for at-home options that cost about the same price as a salon visit.

Buy it: Le Mini Macaron 1-Step Gel Manicure Kit

16. Cricut

Cricut is a huge hit for easily cutting out letters, shapes, numbers, and more to use in crafts, projects, and decor around the room. If your preschool teacher friend has been eyeing one, you can make their day by gifting them the Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine. Plus, show them our handy roundup of 40 ways to use the Cricut in the classroom!

Buy it: Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine

17. Hot/Cold Laminator

Personal laminators are all the rage, but a hot and cold laminator with a roll will help teachers say goodbye to boxes of laminating sheets and hello to ease. Giving them one like the Fencia Hot/Cold Roll Laminator will definitely crown you the king or queen of teacher gifts!

Buy it: Fencia Hot/Cold Roll Laminator

18. Gift Cards

Gift cards might not be personalized, but they’re always my top choice for teacher gifts. This way, teachers get to choose what they want and when they want to spend it. Whether you choose a store or restaurant, a gift card is sure to make any teacher’s day full of joy.

The Best Preschool Teacher Gifts, According to a Teacher