You deserve way more than an apple.
July 15, 2015 6:15 PM
Help me brainstorm gifts for my daughter's early intervention team, who will be discharging us from care soon.
My daughter entered the early intervention system when she was about six months old, and since then we've had the same four professionals in our home at least once a month (and often more like once a week) to help with her various needs. She will be aging out of the program with her third birthday in a few weeks, and probably will not qualify to receive further services from the school district at all (in other words, because of their help, we no longer need services!). In addition to their expertise, these women have helped me develop into a strong, confident mother and we will miss them.
I'm adding them to our holiday card list for long-term updates, but I'd like to find something to give them that can be personalized with my daughter's image (I have pictures of her with each of them) that relates to or honors their specialty in some way. Something like a mug with a poem on it, maybe, or something more useful and less cheesy, I don't know. I've been thinking about this for six months and haven't come up with anything better. Can you help me find something? Budget is about $25/person, $100 total. Their specialties are speech therapy (focusing specifically on feeding, not language), occupational therapy (fine motor), physical therapy (gross motor), and teacher (focused on cognitive development, social/emotional skills, peer interaction, and overall coordinating of all care within the program). My daughter made tremendous strides in each area thanks specifically to these women, so it would not be a stretch to say something like "I owe my footsteps to you". I don't know much about these women personally beyond how many kids they have and a few odds and ends - not enough to get an actual personalized gift for each one aside from focusing on their profession.
My daughter entered the early intervention system when she was about six months old, and since then we've had the same four professionals in our home at least once a month (and often more like once a week) to help with her various needs. She will be aging out of the program with her third birthday in a few weeks, and probably will not qualify to receive further services from the school district at all (in other words, because of their help, we no longer need services!). In addition to their expertise, these women have helped me develop into a strong, confident mother and we will miss them.
I'm adding them to our holiday card list for long-term updates, but I'd like to find something to give them that can be personalized with my daughter's image (I have pictures of her with each of them) that relates to or honors their specialty in some way. Something like a mug with a poem on it, maybe, or something more useful and less cheesy, I don't know. I've been thinking about this for six months and haven't come up with anything better. Can you help me find something? Budget is about $25/person, $100 total. Their specialties are speech therapy (focusing specifically on feeding, not language), occupational therapy (fine motor), physical therapy (gross motor), and teacher (focused on cognitive development, social/emotional skills, peer interaction, and overall coordinating of all care within the program). My daughter made tremendous strides in each area thanks specifically to these women, so it would not be a stretch to say something like "I owe my footsteps to you". I don't know much about these women personally beyond how many kids they have and a few odds and ends - not enough to get an actual personalized gift for each one aside from focusing on their profession.
I totally agree with Hermione Granger's suggestion. My husband is a coach and the things he never throws out are the pictures and cards from his kids. We've moved several times and he's never letting that stuff go; it means a lot to him.
posted by Attackpanda at 6:27 PM on July 15, 2015
posted by Attackpanda at 6:27 PM on July 15, 2015
One of my favorite student gifts has been a small shadow box (8 x 10?) with a picture of the child, a small picture the child drew, and a few objects representing our time together. It's one of the only gifts I've kept on permanent display in my classroom.
posted by Cloudberry Sky at 6:30 PM on July 15, 2015
posted by Cloudberry Sky at 6:30 PM on July 15, 2015
I don't have a suggestion for the gifts but just wanted to say that you shouldn't feel pressured to necessarily give these gifts on the last day of the services.
What I mean is that although it would be nice to get discharged and do gift giving at the same meeting, you know how to find them and will be able to reach them after the EI sessions are over.
If you take the time pressure away your mind may be able to more easily think of appropriate gifts.
I'll be watching this post because my daughter will hopefully be in the same position a year from now.
posted by eatcake at 6:53 PM on July 15, 2015
What I mean is that although it would be nice to get discharged and do gift giving at the same meeting, you know how to find them and will be able to reach them after the EI sessions are over.
If you take the time pressure away your mind may be able to more easily think of appropriate gifts.
I'll be watching this post because my daughter will hopefully be in the same position a year from now.
posted by eatcake at 6:53 PM on July 15, 2015
For reference, I'm an SLP (but not your SLP, obviously, and working in a school, not early intervention).
Honestly, a picture and letter would be the best thing. It can be kept very easily, and pulled out when you need a lift after a hard day. Also, it doesn't take up any space and it won't wear out or break like a mug might.
If you want to give something material, maybe something that's meant to be consumed, like fruit or candy or candles. But really, the letter and photo would be the best thing.
posted by christinetheslp at 6:55 PM on July 15, 2015
Honestly, a picture and letter would be the best thing. It can be kept very easily, and pulled out when you need a lift after a hard day. Also, it doesn't take up any space and it won't wear out or break like a mug might.
If you want to give something material, maybe something that's meant to be consumed, like fruit or candy or candles. But really, the letter and photo would be the best thing.
posted by christinetheslp at 6:55 PM on July 15, 2015
I am an earlier intervention SLP, and a card and photo are always so delightful when I receive them Also, an e-mail or phone call to my boss about how much you appreciated your team would be great!
posted by Ideal Impulse at 7:02 PM on July 15, 2015
posted by Ideal Impulse at 7:02 PM on July 15, 2015
Rather, an e-mail to their boss, not mine.
posted by Ideal Impulse at 7:52 PM on July 15, 2015
posted by Ideal Impulse at 7:52 PM on July 15, 2015
I have a friend who works in early intervention and I know she'd love a photo. It would probably end up on her fridge.
I have a sister who works in a pediatric ICU and it is a running joke in our family that she has so many Starbucks Gift Cards she can't spend them all. She drinks coffee, too.
Great gifts that aren't about the kid: Nice chocolate, a bottle of wine, a gift certificate to a local book store.
If you want to get crafty, my sister (same one with all the sbux cards) is a master of making crafty gifts with her son. He's going on seven now, but they've done ...
- dishtowels -- She got a lot of white linen dishtowels and he drew something in gold fabric paint on each one.
- bathscrub -- they made it together and he picked out a scent for each recipient.
- tote bags -- she printed pretty large images (8x10) of him on inkjet iron on paper and ironed it onto canvas bags.
- coasters -- these kind of didn't really work, but it was a nice concept. She did handprints on white tiles, and then glued felt to the back. But the paint came off after a few washings. Maybe that doesn't matter. Or maybe you can get less high gloss tiles or put some kind of coating over it.
The dishtowels my favorite. I only actually know what he drew because she explained, but they're nice towels, useful and I know that he had a special idea to draw a bicycle for me, even though a bystander might not recognize his drawing as a bicycle.
posted by amandabee at 8:10 PM on July 15, 2015
I have a sister who works in a pediatric ICU and it is a running joke in our family that she has so many Starbucks Gift Cards she can't spend them all. She drinks coffee, too.
Great gifts that aren't about the kid: Nice chocolate, a bottle of wine, a gift certificate to a local book store.
If you want to get crafty, my sister (same one with all the sbux cards) is a master of making crafty gifts with her son. He's going on seven now, but they've done ...
- dishtowels -- She got a lot of white linen dishtowels and he drew something in gold fabric paint on each one.
- bathscrub -- they made it together and he picked out a scent for each recipient.
- tote bags -- she printed pretty large images (8x10) of him on inkjet iron on paper and ironed it onto canvas bags.
- coasters -- these kind of didn't really work, but it was a nice concept. She did handprints on white tiles, and then glued felt to the back. But the paint came off after a few washings. Maybe that doesn't matter. Or maybe you can get less high gloss tiles or put some kind of coating over it.
The dishtowels my favorite. I only actually know what he drew because she explained, but they're nice towels, useful and I know that he had a special idea to draw a bicycle for me, even though a bystander might not recognize his drawing as a bicycle.
posted by amandabee at 8:10 PM on July 15, 2015
Yup, I work with other people's kids, and the things I treasure the most are the personal thank-you notes, photos, kids drawings, letters telling me that I made a difference. If I want a bottle of wine or a coffee mug or a knick-knack, I can buy one myself. But I can't buy the feelings I get when I look through the totems of the kids I've met.
posted by decathecting at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2015
posted by decathecting at 8:36 PM on July 15, 2015
A free thing that will be deeply appreciated is a letter to their boss/agency detailing the specific ways in which they have helped.
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:56 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:56 AM on July 16, 2015
Agree with the keepsake letter and photo, and if you want an object gift to go along with it, something that they can use in the course of their work? Like a new set of stacking rings, or interesting little animal figurines, or whatever. Or to take a different tack, a pen embossed "Sarah O'Reilly / Miracle Worker."
posted by lakeroon at 6:57 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by lakeroon at 6:57 AM on July 16, 2015
Seconding tchemgrrl's suggestion - definitely drop a line to their employer detailing exactly how valuable their contributions are/were to you and your daughter.
posted by singmespanishtechno at 9:29 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by singmespanishtechno at 9:29 AM on July 16, 2015
I did a gift card (Starbucks; they are driving from place to place all day and could stop in), a little bit of nice chocolate (not a big box, I mean), and an appreciative handwritten note. One of them seemed pleasantly surprised to get anything.
posted by trillian at 7:29 PM on July 16, 2015
posted by trillian at 7:29 PM on July 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Hermione Granger at 6:22 PM on July 15, 2015