And just like that….we are back to school. Moms, dads, teachers, administrators–it’s the perfect time to show your appreciation for the men and women who keep this show on the road. Parents are finishing their endless summer patchwork of camps, playdates, vacations and other activities that fill the time between the classrooms. Teachers are back to the classroom, setting up for another great year of learning. And the administrators and other essential staff are all gearing up to welcome the bright-eyed children into class once again.
This annual dance – shopping, organizing, preparing – can take a toll, and for some it is very emotional. For example, parents who will be empty-nesters, your neighbor who is sending her youngest off to kindergarten, or a friend who is a first time teacher all deserve some extra love this season, so we wanted to share some great gift ideas for them and for anyone who should be appreciated in the run-up to back-to-school.
Gifts for Your First-Time Teacher Friend
LULA’S GARDEN
$44
Bring life to their desk with this cute and dainty succulent trio!
This Jewel Garden will put a smile on anyone’s face and bring a welcome touch of nature to the classroom.
LEATHEROLOGY
$175
This full grain leather organizer is made for the person who likes to have a designated spot for all their documents. Organize your papers, and bring them everywhere with you— its ample pockets of various sizes will make sure everything stays compartmentalized and easy to access.
GROVEMADE
$90
Precision machined from solid brass, the Grovemade Brass Pen has a single piece body, well balanced and with substantial heft, that feels good to hold.
Minimalist in design, this pen is designed specifically to improve your workflow, and will have you wanting to grade papers all day, every day.
ROTHY’S
$175
Your everyday, everywhere bag. This ultra-durable, washable(!!) Lightweight Tote in sophisticated light navy is made for stashing your essentials—complete with easy top handles and a handy key leash.
Plus, it is made with approximately 618 grams of ocean-bound marine plastic, so you can feel good about rocking your newest fashion accessory.
Gifts for the Back-to-School Parent
YETI
$38
Busy parents are always in need of coffee, but don’t always have the time to drink it. Take your morning coffee to-go with this Rambler Travel Mug.
Leak-resistant, so they can throw it in their bag, or place it in the car’s cup holder.
SKYLIGHT
$160
Skylight is a beautiful touch-screen, Wi-Fi connected, digital photo frame that lets you email photos from your phone or computer directly onto your Skylight from anywhere in the world.
It is the perfect size for a desk, mantel, coffee table, or kitchen, making it a striking gift for any parent whose kids are of school-age, and for those newly empty-nesters too!
WINC
$60
What better gift to unwind after a long day? This Winc Gift Card will be sure to please, because the gift of wine is perfect for any occasion.
FEED
$228
Meet the Organizer Tote: the ultimate, organize-it-all, carry-it-all tote. Made from rPet (aka: fabric that’s made from post-consumer, recycled plastic bottles) that has been waxed for extra durability, this tote has ten interior and exterior compartments and two versatile strap options made from Organic cotton webbing.
For taking your home office on the go, organizing your desk or car, or keeping your kid’s lunch and afternoon snacks, the options are endless. This is the bag you didn’t even realize how much you needed…we promise.
Great Back-to-School Gifts for Anyone
WMS&CO.
$75
A sculptural, hefty piece of solid metal perfect for holding weighty tomes open while reading or for display.
Like everything at Wms & Co, the packaging is not incidental. They come affixed to a page from a book and are then placed in a clear plastic sleeve, making this a great gift, both beautiful and practical.
AWAY
$55
This tech case makes tangled cords a thing of the past. Store your laptop charger and larger tech accessories in the bottom mesh zip compartment, and use the top elastic loops for organizing earbuds, phone charger blocks, and other cords. A perfect gift for on-the-go, commuting individuals—to the classroom and beyond.
BOSE
$200
Give the gift of silence this back-to-school season with these Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling earbuds. A perfect gift for on-the-go, commuting individuals—to the classroom and beyond.
JULY
$45
This stylish water bottle will make you want to reach for some H2O, because water you can drink in the classroom 😉
All photos are from the respective brands included in this post. Our Gifting Intelligence™ was used to select each product. To&From may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
