I thought I’d follow-up on the Christmas Cards we made last year, with the Christmas hamper for teachers which formed a large part of our after school life last year.
I’ve written many times about why we do this at Christmas and the end of the school year. I think it’s really important for my children to understand why and how to be grateful. I know a teacher might prefer to receive a gift card, and so that completely makes sense. But I hope, teachers will also appreciate the odd home-made gift. The ones that children have participated in creating, and in the process understand what we are giving thanks for. I hope it makes them understand and appreciate the teaching profession.Our hampers last year were a mix of homemade, gifted and bought gifts. I honestly try not to inflict too much homemade, but do like everything to be borne from the thoughts of my children.
For Christmas hampers I want them to be things that I would want around over the Christmas holidays. Cozy under a blanket watching a marathon of Christmas themes. Because if were responsible for 30 6 year-olds five days a week, my only hope for sanity would be found in Christmas movies.
Last year we stayed with a previous favourite, the tea Christmas wreath, an increase in my travelling probably best represented by the increase in featured tea bags. I love this because it really does cost about 50p in materials (pegs and paint) and the children get fully involved in the process.
We carried on with personalised mugs. And I know everyone says teachers don’t need any more mugs, but I’m not entirely convinced. The children told me what they liked about their teacher and I tried to best find a quote which included the words they had used.The other homemade part of the gift was the introduction of hot chocolate. Hot chocolate and marshmallows has long been a favourite of my children for watching Christmas themes. We decided to make them more of a treat and ‘Christmas-ise’ the stirrers. Who wouldn’t love chocolate stirrers with crushed candy canes and mini gingerbread men?
Our hot chocolate stirrers were really easy to make. We used wooden spoons and an ice-cube tray as ‘props’. The hot chocolate was used with a mix of melted chocolate, cocoa powder and icing sugar. This means it’s good hot chocolate – ridiculously sweet and chocolately.
This recipe has the benefit that once the chocolate is melted in a bain marie, children can get involved. They can mix the ingredients, form into the ice-cube tray and decorate.I was really proud of last year’s effort. I hope the teachers’ appreciated it. And I sort of don’t mind if they disposed of the homemade elements given their low-cost. But if they’re anything like me, these will have been the elements they’ll have appreciated the most.
3 Comments
Sarah | Boo Roo and Tigger Too
November 15, 2017 at 17:54You always put so much thought and effort into your gift making, I’m sure the teachers appreciate your efforts
Easy Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas For Teachers | Digital Motherhood
December 7, 2017 at 22:01[…] Christmas Hampers […]
Valentin Alm
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