Baskets of Love: "ABC, It's Easy As 1-2-3!"

Next to us Mama's, Teacher's definitely have the next hardest job in America!  Sure, they don't have to do our children's laundry or make their beds, but they teach them things that us Mom's only dream of being able to do with such care and patience.  The least we can do is show our appreciation for all of the hard work and effort that they put into making our children so successful.

Each year, I make my kids' teachers gift baskets.  I always make sure that I add a few things to the basket that I know the teacher will use the following year (red pens, chalk, erasers, pencils, etc), some items that they can use to feel pampered (bath oils, lotions, scrubs), a hand-made booklet of  free summer trip ideas as well as a handmade craft from my child.  Each year, these baskets have become faves and I am always so surprised at how much the teacher adores the gift. 

The kids love getting involved with making the trip book.  We use maps off of the computer and guides to show them how to plan the perfect trip.  Last year, RJ's Teacher was moving to Germany, so we made her a booklet of all sorts of things to do there and she absolutely loved it.  The handmade gift is usually a school picture with a handmade frame.  We've also done teacher boxes, which RJ's still sits pretty on his First Grade Teacher's desk, which is so cool.

Gifting doesn't have to be expensive, it's more important for these baskets to show gratitude and love.  Our baskets each year, cost no more than 10 bucks to make.  I purchase my baskets  and other items throughout the year at garage sales for mere pennies compared to store prices.  The rest of the items, simply cost the amount of the craft and have so much more meaning than store-brought items shoved into a bag.  All year, these incredible men and women teach our children to let their imagination shine, so it's nice for them to see at the end of the year how much their hard work has paid off.

I understand that God made us all differently and not every Mom & Dad is  gonna want to go through the gift making process.  So for all of you parents, here's a link of the Top Ten End Of Year Teacher Gifts.  I hope you enjoy!!!

http://school.familyeducation.com/slideshow/50968.html?page=1&detoured=1