Thank You Teacher

It’s that time of year when school children break up for summer and say farewell to their teachers. It’s a sad and happy time – sad to say goodbye and happy to be on holiday. Teachers can make or break our children’s school experience and they play a vital role in our children’s every day lives. They are educating our kids, teaching them to read, to write, to listen, to articulate and so much more. They are helping to give them the best start in life and I have no idea how they go to work every day surrounded by so many children and manage to maintain their sanity!

My children have had wonderful teachers in the past and this year has been no exception. It’s always concerning when children start their first year at big school and I’m so pleased that Jonah’s first year has been hugely successful. Equally, I’m really pleased and impressed with my eldest who has completed his first year of high school. He has so many different teachers it’s hard to keep track but I’ve met most of them and Sam likes all of them so that has been amazing.

This time of year is really busy for parents. There is so much going on that we have to keep track of and remember to go to on top of all our work commitments – sports days, leaving ceremonies, parent/teacher meetings, school work viewings, school reports, special activities like exams or end of term performances, school open days and taster days, meet the teacher sessions, and of course teacher thank you cards and presents. They must get so many cards and presents – especially in first and middle schools (not quite sure about high school yet but we’ll try it out and see) each year perhaps it’s tedious for them? However, I feel it’s important to show our appreciation and it’s fun for the kids to prepare their thank you gifts and cards.

What will you be getting your children’s teachers this year? Please post your thank you teacher gift ideas as a comment so that we can all be inspired. Here are my ideas so far (some of them we’ve done in the past and some are new ideas):

• Small potted plant (pot decorated by the children)
• Hand made Thank You cards or boxes
• Photo Thank you cards (snapfish / photobox / vistaprint / funkeypigeon)
• Photo frame with thank you message (frame decorated by the children)
• Box of chocolates
• Decorative box or henna art decorated box/frame (We got one from Safhenna www.facebook.com/Safhenna)
• ‘Best teacher’ gifts such as pens or mugs or badges
• Personalised cupcakes or cookies or chocolate
• Personalised gift cards
• Jar of sweets
• Relaxation products such as bath bombs, soaps or scented candles
• Personalised teacher thank you notebook
• Personalised desk tidy

Please post your ideas! I look forward to being inspired.

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Meghan Peterson Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd. And, she is an award winning expat blogger.