A Melbourne teacher makes stuffed animals for her students for Christmas based on her monster drawings

An Australian teacher receives applause for the heartwarming gesture she made to her students for Christmas.

The Melbourne primary school teacher asked her 22 students to draw their “dream monster” and weeks later surprised them with a one-of-a-kind stuffed animal, each designed based on their artwork.

Michelle, mother of one of the lucky students, six-year-old Kit, told SBS News her son’s class was “blown away” by her unique Christmas present.

A Melbourne teacher surprised her 22 primary school students by making them stuffed animals based on their drawings

The Melbourne primary school teacher asked her 22 students to draw their “dream monster” and weeks later surprised them with a one-of-a-kind stuffed animal designed from their artwork

Kit drew a yellow, green, and gray caterpillar with spikes on its back that he named DooDoo and, along with his classmates, was surprised when he received his special toy two months later.

“Your monsters have come to life. It’s pretty incredible,” she said, adding that the teacher made the toy at her own expense.

‘He said, ‘I love my monster and now I can keep it to remind myself of the preparation and [my teacher].’

Michelle, the mother of student Kit, said he loves his monster doll (pictured), which he nicknamed “DooDoo”. Kit told her the toys showed him how much his teacher loved her students

She said Kit was “so, so excited” and “with all his excited faces he was gushed to his mum about his new toy.

She said Kit told her he loved his monster and the cute gift showed him how much the teacher loves him.

Another of the student’s parents, Reid, wowed users on Twitter after sharing a series of images of the various toys the kids received from their beloved teacher.

“My child’s teacher used her drawings to make toys for her class. Pay the teachers more,” he said in one of his tweets.

Another of the student’s parents, Reid, wowed users on Twitter after sharing a series of images of the various toys the kids received from their beloved teacher

His tweets went viral with more than 130,000 “likes” telling SBS that his daughter brought her new toy on vacation to show her extended family.

Reid said the teacher has done the same for her students in the past and said it was an example of why teachers should be paid more.

“Apparently during [the COVID-19] Lockdown, she would drive around the neighborhood and take the toys to every home of the kids,” he said.

“Teachers are the people our children spend half their waking hours with. They help create the people those children will become. There are countless stories of people attributing their own success to inspiring teachers.’

Reid said the teacher has done the same for her students in the past and said it was an example of why teachers should be paid better

SBS tried to contact the teacher, who said the positive reaction on social media made her feel “very valued” but wished to remain anonymous.

Reid has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the generous teacher and has encouraged people to donate to local schools in their area.

He warned other Twitter accounts against impersonating him and starting their own scam fundraisers, so be careful and only donate using the link on his page @ReidParker_.