[KyleAnn]

Ds's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a good idea for a class gift, I just cannot come up with something great...

His school does not do sweets at all, all students bring their own lunches and healthy snacks each day, so nothing edible...They ask for a class gift or an appropriate small gift for each student in his class. All of my ideas feel like they have been done to death (puzzles, games, plants, supplies, etc), so I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or neat gift ideas they may have done?

One mother organized a field trip and covered all cost earlier this month...not sure I can go quite that big, but I would love something cool, kwim?

Thanks so much!

 

[ollyoxenfree]

At our Montessori, the traditional gift for the class was a book for the class library.

Perhaps, since it's going to be spring soon, you could provide a set of seeds or seedlings and some pots and earth. The children could pot up the plants and enjoy watching them grow until they were ready to be transplanted outdoors in a few months.

 

[Koloe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree Perhaps, since it's going to be spring soon, you could provide a set of seeds or seedlings and some pots and earth. The children could pot up the plants and enjoy watching them grow until they were ready to be transplanted outdoors in a few months.

I like this idea. My DD was able to do something like this last year in her class and she really liked it. Each child ended up taking home their plant eventually.

What about supplies for an age appropriate craft? I would suggest discussing this with the teacher first.

Perhaps check and see if there is a wish list that the classroom/school has of things they could use.

I've seen parents bring in fresh strawberries for cutting work. The stand by was pickles. They also used apples and those hand apple cutters that core and slice it in one push (ok - more than one push for small children).

Age appropriate science kits?

A special visitor to the class? Animals are usually popular with children. A clown that will teach kids how to make balloon animals - and has the balloons to give them to practice with?

 

[KyleAnn]

ollyoxenfree-I love your seedlings idea, thank you!

 

[lauren]

Hi all. Stepping in to redirect the thread. The OP is asking for ideas. No need to discuss motives for collecting ideas!

Let's keep a positive focus. Thanks all!!

 

[ollyoxenfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleAnn ollyoxenfree-I love your seedlings idea, thank you!

You are welcome, lol! The idea came from one of dd's birthday parties - her birthday is in the spring. We invited a bunch of her friends from Montessori, they were all about 4 y.o at the time. I set out some simple terra cotta pots and lots of acrylic paints. The children decorated the pots. They dried fairly quickly, and they potted up some pansies or impatiens and took them home instead of a loot bag.

I like Koloe's idea of a special visitor to the class - there are traveling reptile and bird shows here that are very interesting.

A digital camera for the class is a nice idea, and there are lots of fairly inexpensive models.

The directoress can give you some ideas too, if you speak with her.