Christmas is a fine time for giving presents to your loved ones. For your child, a loved one will also include a teacher whom they spend hours with and who acts like a second mother to them. And while teachers do not expect gifts from their students, anything they receive from a child is always very much appreciated.

Parents often want to find the perfect gift to give their child’s teacher to show their gratitude. But does the gift have to be expensive? The answer is simple: as with every other gift, it is the thought that counts.

Here are some helpful ideas (aside from the usual “World’s Best Teacher” coffee mugs) that will surely brighten her day:

(First published as "Teacher Says" in the "Good Family" section of Good Housekeeping Philippines' December 2011 issue. Adapted for use in Female Network.)