Secret Santa for the classroom

Get approval and set the frame

Check your school's policy on gifts and holiday activities before you start. Some schools prefer a "kindness exchange" or a book swap. Send a short note home with the rules, the budget and the date, and offer an opt out that does not need a reason.

Plan the exchange for the last school day before the break (see the classroom gift exchange rules to send home), ideally in the afternoon when the room is looser. Give families at least two weeks of notice.

Run the draw as the teacher

1. Create a group on your own phone or laptop and add each student by first name.
2. Draw. Nobody sees the matches, not even you, unless you choose to turn that on.
3. Tell the class they will get their name on a slip or a note home. For children without home internet, print the name on a folded card.
4. If you want a back up, write the pairings on a sheet and seal it in an envelope for emergencies.

Do not turn on the anonymous chat for young students. Ask hints through a paper wishlist instead.

Equal budgets, equal gifts

Set a hard cap of about $5 for elementary grades and $10 for middle school. Say it plainly in the note: "A $5 gift is perfect. More than $5 is not needed." The fairest rule is that homemade gifts are welcome and count the same as bought gifts.

Offer a gift bank: a box of books, pencils and small items you collect from families. A student whose family cannot buy a gift can pull one from it, no questions asked.

Allergies and classroom safety

• No food, candy or drinks. See the classroom gift exchange rules for a printable list.
• Avoid scented items and anything with small parts for young grades.
• Keep a private list of student allergies and check gifts if they are items such as lotion or soap.
• Skip gift items that need batteries or screens in class.

When a child forgets or cannot give

Have two or three small gifts ready from your own supplies. When the exchange starts, quietly give the spare to the child, and make sure they hand it over like everyone else. If a student is absent, set their gift aside, ask a friend to deliver it, or hold it until they return.

Draw your class names in seconds. Free for up to 50 students. Create your group, free

Inclusion for every student

Think about families who do not celebrate Christmas. Call it a "winter gift exchange" or "mystery friend" if that suits your school. Keep gifts from referencing any holiday, and let anyone swap in a kindness note instead of a gift. For more neutral options, see non Christmas gift exchange.