When I'm not walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A. or blogging all things Disney, I'm teaching kindergarteners! That's right, I work alongside our best natural export ... children! I live in a joyous world and I would dare say that my job is a lot like working at Disney World! In my classroom, each day is filled with smiles, thrills and fun, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!
So why all this teacher talk? Well, that's as simple as A-B-C! May is a month dedicated to teachers around this great nation. In fact, May 6th is national Teacher Appreciation Day. Today, I want to share with you some suggestions to honor the teacher or teachers in your life in true Disney spirit! Class has started ... get ready to take notes!
1. Give love by the Spoonful!
Have you ever checked out the awesome site, Spoonful? This site is brought to you by Disney, and it has tons of ideas for crafts and DIYs especially for honoring teachers! From decorated bookmarks to personalized stationary, the possibilities are endless! Check out these awesome Mickey and Minnie bag tags. I know I'd be stoked to get a goodie from one of my sweet babies with this gift tag ... probably even more than the gift itself!
Another great idea is simple DIY Disney cards on Undercover Tourist. With a little assistance from mom and dad, little ones can print out and assemble princess cards or a sweet ode from Olaf.
2. Give them something magical!
If you're lucky enough to go to the parks or on a Disney cruise, why not pick up a little souvenir for the teacher? I love anything Disney related, and in my six years as a teacher, I've received some awesome Disney gifts, including (and certainly not limited to) Vinylmation figures, pins, key chains, jewelry, a SWEET Cinderella Castle gingerbread kit, Disney ornaments and SO much more! No matter what, I think that a Disney gift is a good gift! When in doubt, a gift card to the Disney Store Online would make a wonderful "thank you" for your favorite teacher!
3. Give the gift of words!
I love a good handwritten note and hand-illustrated cards! Especially when those cards contain my favorite subject matter ... Disney! Get some Disney stickers and let your child make a card telling their teacher why they love them. Maybe you'll be inspired to create a poem or take inspiration from a Disney song to write some words of encouragement to your teacher! For those of you visiting the parks, an autograph from Mickey or Minnie also makes a great gift! Whatever it is, trust me, a handwritten note is worth so much! I keep my favorites in my "Smile File" and pull them out and remember my sweet babies!
4. Give the gift of reading!
One of the best gifts you can give a teacher is books! When it comes to Disney characters, teachers can make an easy connection to book loving Belle! I love getting books to add to my classroom library! There are SO many wonderful Disney books out there to add to any teacher's collection! I'm a huge believer that picture books should be in all classrooms, K-12! There are so many lessons that you learn flipping through those pages! If you feel more inclined to give a more adult geared book, there are great books on just about every aspect of the Disney dream that are sure to encourage, inspire and entertain anyone! Walt said it best, "there is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."
I hope that this little list of suggestions has inspired you to think of a way to thank the teacher(s) in your life. There's nothing wrong with giving the gift of Disney! You know teachers really do perform magic on a daily basis! Don't forget to thank a teacher throughout the month!
Related: Disney World Souvenirs They Will Cherish Forever
Until next time, keep it magical!
Ashley is the author of Disney: Done Right Blog and a writer for Chip and Co. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter!
