The holidays are the perfect time to show your students and staff just how much you care about them. It’s the season of giving, after all. So, why not share those warm and fuzzy feelings with those people who help your business thrive?

We know you’re busy. That’s why we’ve put together a list of holiday gift ideas for students and staff that are sure to please everyone on your list.

4 gifts that show your students you care this holiday season

Whether you have 100 students or 1,000 students, these low-cost holiday gift ideas are sure to spark joy in even your most Grinch-like customer.

Write a letter

Maybe it’s my Southern roots, but I appreciate nothing more than receiving a handwritten letter. Thank you, Happy Holidays, Just Because — there’s no letter I don’t like receiving.

Chances are, your students and families spend many hours at your facility each week. Taking a little time out of your day to send a thank-you card can help them feel good about spending so much of their time with you and being an important part of your crew. Extra points for including a sentence or two about a cherished memory from the past year!

Wishing your students and their families Happy Holidays is a simple and effective way to show your appreciation for a cost as small as some paper and a postage stamp.

Snap and send team pictures

Does your facility provide professional team picture opportunities in the winter? What about a winter wonderland photo op in the lobby?

Whether you hire a professional photographer or create your own little North Pole photo booth, providing kids with the opportunity to capture holiday memories at your facility is a great way to show you care.

Take it a step further and share those photos with customers. You don’t have to break the bank here. Simply sharing these kinds of images on your social media pages and tagging students is enough to get them into the hands of parents.

Provide complimentary snacks in the lobby

Did someone say food?

Surprise your students with a pop-up snack shop in the lobby. An after-class treat of hot chocolate, pre-packaged cookies or whole fruit is a simple way to get right to the heart of everyone who enters your facility.

A grab-and-go option is fun for parents and students who are always on the move. Get creative with it and put together a package of hot chocolate mix, some marshmallows, and a candy cane to make snowman soup!

Make take-home crafts

Consider ending class early one week to provide students the opportunity to make a craft for their parent, sibling, or friend.

Think about it. Not every child has the opportunity to purchase a present for a special friend or family member. Providing an opportunity for your students to create their own gift to give may have a bigger impact on their holiday experience than you’ll ever know.

If creating crafts during class time is not an option, you can make holiday craft baggies for students to take home and complete on their own time or share coloring pages with pre-school classes in the resources section of the parent portal.

3 gift ideas that show staff appreciation

When it comes to staff appreciation during the holidays, the way you acknowledge a year’s worth of hard work comes down to your company culture. We’ve short-listed our favorite holiday gift ideas for staff to help make your shopping experience a little easier!

Pay it forward

If your program is rooted in the belief that it’s far better to give than to receive, this idea is for you. Acts of kindness, such as adopting a family to provide presents for, volunteering at a local food bank, or giving a donation in your employees’ names are the good deeds that people crave during the holidays.

If your dance studio, gymnastics gym, or swim school partners with a charitable organization, you could make your impact even bigger by getting the families at your facility involved. No pressure, of course, but consider asking parents to make a donation to your charity of choice. Then match the donation, up to a maximum amount if you prefer, to make a more substantial donation. (–>Discover how to accept charitable donations in Jackrabbit during the holidays)

Invest in their training

It may be every employer’s dream to have staff who keeps up to date on current trends and develops new skills to help drive their business forward. Guess what? If you have the right staff at your facility, they’ll want the same thing.

Go for the win-win this holiday season by providing a training opportunity designed exclusively for youth activity center owners, managers, and staff to your entire team. With the resurgence of virtual training, your opportunities are endless or you can host an in-person training at your own facility. After completion, showcase their certifications and expertise on their staff record.

Check out some other ways to use the Jackrabbit Portal by signing up for the upcoming Parent Portal Webinar.

Sign Up for the Parent Portal Webinar

Host a holiday party

Treat your staff to a meal, host a potluck or have a holiday gift exchange complete with ugly holiday sweaters. If cost is a concern, set a low monetary limit for gifts or swap something like funny patterned socks.

Bottom line, you don’t have to go big or go home treating students and staff this holiday season. Little touches throughout the holidays will help your customers and team feel more appreciated and excited to return to classes after the New Year.

Looking for more inspiration from your class management software provider? Sign up for the Jackrabbit Class Newsletter to stay up to date on all things Jackrabbit!