Ideas for thanking your classroom volunteers in preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten.

Class Picture

Take a class picture of your students spelling out the words “Thank You”. You can print the picture out on cardstock and make a nice thank you card with a personal message inside or include this short volunteer poem:

Because You’re Special

We sometimes take for granted
In the rush of all we do,
And forget to say a special thanks
To volunteers like you!
So we send this card to tell you
How much all you do means,
Your gifts of time and of yourself
Are special ones indeed.

Thank You Framed Picture

Take a class picture of your students spelling out the words “Thank You”. Print on regular or photo paper, frame with a dollar store frame and you have a really nice gift your volunteers will cherish forever.

Helping Hands 1

Materials: nail file, moisturizing gloves, hand lotion, decorative hand towel, basket or decorative container

At the dollar store you can purchase scented hand lotions, moisturizing gloves, nail files etc very inexpensively. I most recently saw all of these items in the Target Dollar Spot. Arrange the items attractively in a small basket or decorative container and attach a tag that reads “Thanks for lending us a helping hand!”

Helping Hands 2

If you have several volunteers to buy for and live in a cold climate the following idea may be for you. Purchase sets of inexpensive mittens or gloves at a discount store and attach a tag to each pair of mittens that reads “Thanks for lending us a helping hand!”

Cookies

You can use this cookie cutter every year. Make hand shaped cookies for your volunteers, place on a decorative plate covered in colorful saran wrap, and attach a tag that reads “Thanks for lending us a helping hand!”

You’re Thumbody Special

Purchase a small plant in a clay pot. Have your students dip one thumb in paint and make a thumbprint on the clay pot. You can use a fine point Sharpie marker to write each student’s name below his or her thumbprint. Attach a tag to the pot that reads “You’re Thumbody Special”. This idea could also be used for a t-shirt or tote bag using fabric paint, or just a simple card.

Peach Bath Salts

Materials: 1 glass or metal mixing bowl, Epsom salt, food coloring, sea salt (rock, or coarse salt will work too), glycerin, peach fragrance oil, one canning jar or baby food jar (I found canning jars with pictures of peaches on the lid at Big Lots)

RECIPE: Makes 3 cups of bath salts.

• 2 cups Epsom salt
• 1 cup sea salt
• Orange food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon glycerin
• Peach fragrance oil

It’s better if you do this on a day with low humidity, the salt will absorb moisture from the air.

Combine both salts in bowl and mix well. Add a few drops of orange food coloring and mix well.

Add glycerin and fragrance oil (4 or 5 drops) and mix well.

Put bath salts into canning jar or baby food jar and seal well.

Make a gift tag that reads “We think you’re just peachy!”, include instructions on the other side to use 1/3 to 1/2 cups in the bathtub.

Instant Peach Tea

Materials: Tang, Peach Jell-O, Instant Lemonade Mix, Instant Iced Tea (no lemon or sweetner), sugar, decorative container or canning jar.

Recipe:

• 1/2 cup Tang
• 12 oz. Peach Jell-O
• 1 cup Instant Lemonade mix
• 1/2 cup Instant Iced Tea mix
• 1 1/2 cups sugar

Mix all ingredients and place in canning jars or decorative air-tight containers

This recipe makes a lot of tea. One batch fills about 5 small mason jars.

Make a gift tag tag that reads “We think you’re just peachy!”, include instructions on the other side to use 1-2 tablespoons per mug of hot water- good served cold too!

*Note: This tea is delicious! I made it and it tastes great hot or cold!*

If you’re looking for help recruiting and managing parent volunteers check out the Parent Volunteer page.

More Teaching Tips from Pre-K Pages