It's that time of year! The time for teachers to do all the fun Christmas classroom traditions with their students. One of those traditions in many classrooms is making Christmas gifts for parents. However, will all the extra stresses teachers are feeling this time of the year, this can be an overwhelming task. But, Team Lucky Little Learners is here to say don't worry! Let us take the parent gift planning out of your hands with this list of teacher and student approved gifts. Best part? These parent gift ideas are LOW prep, wallet friendly, quick to make and loved by parents.
1. Directed Drawing Calendar
This delightful gift idea is sure to keep parents smiling all year! AND Lucky Little Learners has made this easy! Using the Directed Drawings Holiday & Seasons Pack, students will draw a themed picture each month on a calendar template, for the WHOLE year!
These drawings are also part of the Directed Drawings bundle. Each pack (in the bundle) includes a step by step directed drawing video, step by step paper instructions, as well as writing paper to go with the drawings. (The bundle includes 445 drawings and 95 videos! WOW!)
The calendar template is included in this bundle as well and is ready to go all the way through the year 2025! What a fun (and easy) parent Christmas gift!
Materials Needed: Directed Drawing Pack & Calendar Template: Holiday & Seasons Drawings & Calendar template from All Access.
Steps:
- Have students draw and color each monthly drawing.
- Staple the calendar pages together
- Add a background paper (if desired)
Find the Directed Drawings here:
2 Ways to Get This Resource
Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.
Or... Purchase the bundle in our shop.
Take a look at all Directed Drawing themes on All Access:
2 Ways to Get This Resource
Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.
Or... Purchase the bundle in our shop.
Handprint Crafts
We all know kids grow fast! Why not permanently capture their handprint in its current kid size forever? There are a couple great ideas for this!
2. Rudolph Paper Ornament
Not only is this ornament ADORABLE, it is FREE and super easy! This ornament came from Jenny P., a teacher in our Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers Facebook Group.
Materials Needed: This can be done COMPLETELY free, or with a few extra items.
- White and brown paper
- Laminator
- Brown Paint
- String
- Optional: googly eyes and red poms (OR use construction paper for eyes and nose)
Steps:
- Paint one of the student's hands brown.
- Have them make a handprint on a white piece of paper.
- Cute the handprint out around the border.
- Glue onto a brown piece of paper and trim.
- If using construction paper for eyes and nose, do this now.
- Laminate
- Add a sharpie smile.
- If you are using googly eyes and a pom nose, do this now.
- Glue a string or punch a hole and tie the string.
3. Snowman Handprint Ornament
This is a super cute idea, also provided by a teacher, Ashely P., in our Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers Facebook Group.
Materials Needed: This can be done a couple different materials.
- One idea is these 2 x 2 canvases available on Amazon.
- OR these predrilled round wood ornaments from Amazon.
- OR simply a square or rectangle of cardboard will do (as pictured)
- Paint
- Sharpies
- Ribbon or string for the ornament loop
- Hot Glue (if using the canvases)
Steps: This project is best broken into a few days.
- Have students paint the background.
- Paint one of the student's hands (just the four fingers)
- Have students add snowman details (scarf, hat, eyes, mouth, nose, etc..) with paint or Sharpies.
- Glue or tie string to the ornament.
VARIATION:If you are using the wooden circle ornaments, have students just paint one finger for a solo snowman. This leaves more room to paint a sky and snowflakes in the background!
4. Coaster
This is a gift for any occasion! (Works great for Mother's or Father's day too!)
Materials:
- Ceramic tiles-you can get a huge box of these from your local home improvement store! (Think as low as 15 cents each!)
- Mod Podge (can be store bought OR homemade! See this recipe from One Crazy Mom.
- Construction or scrapbook paper for hearts.
- Optional: felt circles (like these ones from Amazon) to avoid table scratches.
Steps:
- Take a pic of each student blowing a kiss.
- Print and cut out the pics. (You decide if this is a teacher or student step! HA!)
- Students cut out several heart shapes.
- Have students apply the first layer of mod podge to a blank tile. Then, immediately apply their pic and heart and paint a thin layer over them.
- Apply several layers over a few days.
- Optional: stick on felt circles on all four corners of the bottom of the “coaster”.
5. Handmade Ornaments
Let's be real, parents will LOVE anything their child brings home! If time or resources are short, simply pass out some paper and let the students create paper ornaments.
Materials Needed:
- Construction paper or cardstock
- String
- Coloring materials: crayons, markers, colored pencils–whatever you and students prefer!
- Optional: Check out these FREE ornament templates from The Artisan Life.
Steps:
- Print out the ornament templates OR have students draw their ornament shapes on cardstock or construction paper.
- Have them color & cut out the ornaments.
- Punch a hole and tie a string!
6. Handwritten Work
Another never fails idea is having students write a story, card or poem for parents. Remind students to use their neatest handwriting! This parent Christmas gift is very open ended…there are so many options! Here are a couple quick ideas:
- December Writing Pages: this writing resource includes 20 different writing prompts (and multiple paper formats). Students could choose a few favorites and staple together as a book. Then, add a cute student made cover! Read more about these writing pages here: No Prep 2nd Grade Writing Prompts or check them out on All Access.
Take a look at December Writing Pages on All Access:
2 Ways to Get This Resource
Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.
Or... Purchase the bundle in our shop.
2. Acrostic Poem-Have students write an acrostic name poem for each member of their household. Then, glue the poems to cardstock or construction paper and have them illustrate designs around the edge.
December Must-Read Posts:
Wait! Before you head off to make those parent Christmas gifts, check out the other majorly helpful posts to get your classroom running smoothly during the most wonderful (and hectic) time of the school year.
Happy teaching!
Thanks for sharing these ideas for easy-to-make Christmas gifts for parents. They are a thoughtful way to show appreciation and spread holiday cheer.