Gift for a Preschool Teacher's Farewell

Crafts

• A caring preschool teacher will appreciate a drawing or painted rock created by your child -- but it might end up in a box of similarly impractical objects. Instead, help your child create something handmade that his beloved teacher will actually use. Help him paint a glass vase with smiley faces and swirls; Michaels.com suggests using enamel paint on glass that has been cleaned with rubbing alcohol.

  If she celebrates Christmas, a painted glass ball or clay ornament imprinted with his handprint will be a part of her holiday celebration for years to come. Include a note with his name, the year and a message of appreciation in the box so she'll never forget the child who created the object. Making something with his own hands might also help your child deal with the sense of loss he feels, suggests the Lucy Daniels Center.

Classroom Supplies

• A new bulletin board might not be your idea of a thrilling gift, but for a preschool teacher -- many of whom aren't paid much and have limited classroom budgets -- classroom supplies are much appreciated. (Of course, this gift is only appropriate for a teacher who will continue in the profession; if she's leaving to work at a bank, she won't need cartoon stickers.)

  Look around your own child's classroom to see what's missing or what supplies are especially in demand, since chances are she'll need the same items in her next classroom. Fill a basket with art supplies, colorful folders, story books, puzzles, glue, or stacks of paper she can use for any purpose. Invite your little one to shop with you so he can point out things he'd like to see in his own classroom.

Memory Gifts

• Every class of little ones holds its own special place in a preschool teacher's heart. A permanent reminder of the group she inspired will touch her in ways a store-bought gift can't. For a quick and easy gift, order a coffee mug printed with a copy of the class picture. Another option: team up with the other parents to gather photos and memories of the year, and ask the children to name some of their favorite things about the teacher. Gather every memory in a photo album, or collect them in a decorative box that the kids can paint. Take this gift one step further by scanning all your photos and and making them into a professionally printed book with captions; photo printing companies offer this service. Parents can order their own copies, so everyone will have a record of this precious time in your children's lives.

Other Gifts

• By now, you've had enough interactions with your child's preschool teacher to have picked up on some elements of her lifestyle and personality. Use these, and her future plans, to inspire your gift selection. Tickets to a local concert or a fluffy scarf in her favorite color are sweet and personal gifts. If she's moving away, give her gas gift cards and a box of goodies to enjoy on her road trip, or offer up a guidebook for her new city. When in doubt, pick a gift that will pamper her; after a long year with little ones, she could use the treat. A gift certificate for a pedicure or massage allows her an indulgence she deserves, suggests Scholastic.com.