The Dos And Donts Of Personalizing Your Teacher Gifts

Teachers do a very noble job. They’re not just teaching, per se, but they’re also nurturing and caring for their students. Parents leave their kids to the teachers—forming the element of trust. It may seem like an easy job, but if parenting one or two kids is already hard enough, let alone being responsible for ten or more?  

Whether it’s for their birthday, teacher’s day, or the end of the school year, many parents and students don’t mind giving their teachers a little gift of appreciation. But, in between the hundreds of mugs and calendars your teacher may have already received, thinking of what to give them can get confusing, especially when opting for a personalized gift. 

With that said, let’s jump right into these dos and don’ts of personalizing your teacher gifts.

The Dos

• Do Think Of Something Unique

There are various personalized gifts you can give a teacher other than pens, notepads, and the usual school and office-related items. So, think outside the box. For example, a quirky and fun gift would be socks with your teacher’s face on them. Yes, some shops print that! This one will make your teacher laugh every time they use that pair. Plus, they’ll remember you as their student. 

Furthermore, when you think of something unique, it gives you that added assurance that the teacher doesn’t have that item yet. If you don’t have anything in mind, you can check out these 9 personalized teacher gift ideas for 2022.    

• Do Shop Around

While numerous companies offer personalization services, not all provide the same quality and price. Some are naturally going to be better than others. With personalized gifts, avoid skimping on the quality. Otherwise, you may wind up with pixelated photos or poorly-crafted items.  

Like buying any gift, avoid rushing this. Taking the time to shop around and compare different suppliers ensures you get the best price and quality.

• Do Stay Within Your Budget

This third tip is crucial to apply, especially when buying gifts for all your teachers during the whole school year, such as if you’re going to graduate and will be moving to another school. Because there are plenty of them, you must be very particular about your budget. Gifting doesn’t have to be an expensive thing. 

Whatever your budget is, stick to it. This is where ordering in advance and taking the time to research come in handy. This ensures that you’re actually getting the best price for the items you’re buying without sacrificing the quality. If you’re ordering from an online shop, don’t forget to factor in the shipping fee.

The Don’ts

• Don’t Overdo The Use Of Photographs

While it’s tempting to take a run-of-the-mill, everyday item for your gifts, take it easy with placing too many photographs of your teacher. This refers to big pillows with all sorts of photos or mugs with a generic picture of your teacher. Surely, they wouldn’t want to lay their head on their own face, nor would they like to see their face when drinking their morning coffee. 

If you’re going to use photographs, take extra time and effort to look for a unique and special photo. For instance, a simple thing like a framed photo of your teacher with their parents would be extra special. It only takes a quick search on social media to find those photos.  

• Don’t Forget The Teacher’s Personality

A personalized gift is supposed to make the recipient feel special. You wouldn’t want to give them something that makes them feel uncomfortable. Or perhaps something that wouldn’t be useful to the teacher anyway; this would be a waste of effort and money.  

With that, be sure to factor in your teacher’s personality. If they live in a small apartment and hate coffee, please skip the generic mugs. Do they love writing? A personalized planner is a good idea.  

Remember that your personalized gift doesn’t have to be expensive. It only needs to be well-thought-of and functional.

Conclusion

No matter how thoughtful you may be with the idea of giving your teacher a little surprise, often it can be a waste when you’ve given something they already have multiples of. For some reason, teachers receive many personalized gifts. So, if you’re planning to do the same, you must thoroughly think about what to give them. Don’t take the rules above as absolute yeses and nos. It’s only a guide to get you started. Above anything else, know what the teacher may like, what they don’t have yet, and what their personality is. This way, your gift will be well received.