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ADVICE NEEDED! Gift Ideas For a Special Teacher!

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Real Moms Sharing Their Experiences and Advice

Please be advised that the information that is shared on this page is for general knowledge and information from parents and (some) professionals.

 ****THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE OR REPLACE MEDICAL ADVICE, OR TO PROMOTE, IN ANY MANNER, ANY OF THE MEDICINES/DRUGS. FOR DIAGNOSING A HEALTH PROBLEM OR DISEASE, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL ADVISER ABOUT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS FOR PATIENT-SPECIFIC ADVICE.*****

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Question: My son is aging out of his birth to 3 therapy program in a month. These ladies have been with us so long we’re all a little sad! I’d like to do/give them something meaningful as a thank you! What are some appropriate ideas?

Answers:

  • Karen L. Maybe a photo of your child and the interventionist together in a nice frame.
  • Kacey H. I did stuff they could use for therapy. They always brought toys and activities in 2 gallon Ziploc bags, so I bought them some boxes of them and then craft stuff, books/toys. Not a lot of money, but tailored each to what they did.
  • Jennie B. As one who does this work, I love receiving a personal card with a note of thanks. It really is uplifting to know I’ve made a difference for the family. Some families have given gift cards for Amazon, which is very nice. The most memorable was a beautiful hardcover children’s story and picture book with a theme that the family felt represented what I brought emotionally to my work with their child. It still makes me cry.
  • Kathi A. Worked in early intervention for 12 years
    While gifts were appreciated the personal notes drawings and photos never get used up
    I have kept every single one over the years.
  • Shelly B. My daughter is 20 now and I still have really fond memories of all those 0-3 therapists. I think they become as much mentors to us moms as therapists to our kids!
  • Patty M. So many great ideas! whatever you decide, I would write personal notes to each of them, letting them know how much you appreciate them. Don’t be afraid to share your heart:)
  • Juanita R. A small plant that will get bigger, and a caption “thanks for helping me grow”…
  • Anna K. Bath and Body Works is always appreciated.
  • Stacey J. We bought our son’s two special ladies each a leather bound journal with their name embossed on the front. On the inside cover I used photo squares to place a picture of our son with the caption “Thanks for taking the time…”
  • Christy A. We bought our sons teacher, aids and therapist each a box of Godiva chocolates and then a Visa gift card (for the class) so they could buy something fun for the classroom. Teachers are spending out of their own pockets these days and don’t get to splurge I wanted them to have some fun spending money. They ended up buying some toys for the water table, they said my son likes that area.
  • Tamara F. I’m an interventionist and from a family still raising a special needs child, and I agree—-I still have every heartfelt Thank you, picture, and card from my families from over the years. One family caught a beautiful shot of me and their child touching hands during therapy, and it is right alongside the pictures of my own children! The personal touches and photos mean the most! And we DO use a lot of ziploc bags—that’s a great idea too! Lol
  • Jessica S. Note with a hand and or foot stamp of the child. Just dip his hand or foot in washable paint for the stamp. Or a framed picture of him during therapy session. Or donate an item that the therapists use frequently. So they can use it for other kids.
  • Kerri K. I gave ours a certificate for a dinner out and a massage. Also sent a beautiful card with a personal note and sent a raving review letter to her supervisor. Our son will be 6 soon and we still meet up with our physical therapist from time to time. It is a life long friendship for sure. She became a part of our family.
  • Josie K. I gave my daughter’s therapist these and we kept one from each set…they are pretty nice and reasonably priced..
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C3EN2V0/ref=mp_s_a_1_6 [1]…
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    Men,Women’s 2PCS Stainless Steel Pendant Necklace Silver Jigsaw Puzzle…
  • James S. A photo album of your child through the yrs with the various staff with quips and quotes to signify their meaning in your lives.
  • Elin H. We catered in a few lunches one from subway one from a Mexican restaurant and one from a Chinese place they loved it.
  • Ashtin S. Still talk to and see my sons old EI OT she really is a blessing to my family. We send her pictures of my son every year and she drops off bubbles, puzzles and other sensory toys.
  • Lauren T. We did a summer picnic and invited them and their families…great memories…still keep in touch with them…true angels!!!
  • Kacey H. Any added a card with a sweet note.
  • Lorrie M. Hallmark and Mardels carry “willow tree” statues.they are all sizes, but many of the small ones have angel wings and are named to emphasize traits such as caring, or kindness, etc….
  • Phyllis S. I bought a special magnet for my daughters with her name and year on it. 15 years later we had 2 of them for her sister and they still have the magnet.
  • Nancy J. Our daughter Jenny who has Down Syndrome and is now 34 years. I still remembered the 0 to 3 years. It really helped us and those were fun years. I then pursued getting my teaching credential in severe handicapped. At age three Jen entered the sped preschool program of our school district. She is still our joy.
  • Aimee H. We did gift cards, tote bags, quilts, and handwritten letters.
  • Sam G. A photo and a personal note will mean so much. Our therapists aren’t allowed to take photos of their kids so having a moment means a lot. They also appreciate Starbucks gift cards because they’re traveling in their car a lot. I’ve also given them toys for their bags as well.
  • Fran M. if you go to a craft store you can purchase cheap frames and do his hand print or foot print and his 
  • Ashley J. My daughter turns 3 next Sunday. We’re doing a flower with a sign saying thanks for helping me grow. On the back, I have her fingerprint (its hard to do a hand or footprint), her name & the date & a picture of her. And a thank you card too.
  • Sandra M. could you perhaps make a special photo album for the 3 years they worked with your child? gift cards always good too.
  • Liz P. I gave them gift cards for coffee, massage and craft store. We still keep in touch after 4 years! They were amazing with my lo….
  • Kirsten K. A card, flowers, gift certificate for a massage, pedi/mani, Target, Dollar Store, any office supply place…all of those would be much appreciated, along with a framed picture of your child and t hem if you have one. I cried when my son aged out of the Infant Program and went to SDC pre-school. The ladies who did his home program were my angels in disguise! Now I teach Special Education K-8 and try my best to support and touch the lives of my students and their families in a positive way.
  • Melissa C. I live in California and its only been the past two years that my daughters haven’t had the same teacher for more than a year, when my oldest was an infant we had an infant teacher come out to our house every week, for 3 years than we had a preschool teacher for 2 years then the same teacher for 3 years until she moved then an older group and then the same teacher, for 3 years and move on all the way to highschool like that. It was hard each time on her to say goodbye I would drive her by the old schools to say Hi and it only took one or two times for her to be ok with not being in the class anymore. Now since there is no county education and its done through the districts here, the kids have new teachers every year and a new aid every year. To teach the kids that transitions happen.
  • Courtney J. Lotion is a great gift giver
  • Christina K. Both my kids are homebound. The school teachers come to the house twice a week.
  • Eusebia S. U should look at early intervention programs. Do u have a I.e.p on ur child ?
  • Elizabeth F. Candles , as they were lights in your child’s life .
  • Maggie C. Our therapists asked for photos and we made them cookies that spelled Thanks. One class we made the teachers little sensory bags from things we found at the beach with a homemade thank you card which they loved. I think they appreciated anything thoughtful.
  • Tara T. My husband wrote a poem about angels helping our so and framed the poem with pictures! They loved it!
  • Michelle F. A celebration party ( almost like a graduation party) say something meaningful about each on an poster board hung up that they cud take home . hang by cake so everyone cud read ask you guests to personally thank them .
  • Lisa F. Something handmade – fridge magnet or Xmas decoration with child’s pic/ hand/foot/or finger print etc card or note
  • Naisha M. Gift cards or thank you photo cards
  • Christie R. Something personal like a picture or personal card…Unfortunately and unbelievably, I’ve learned they don’t really get these things often enough. Also – when my son aged out of ECI, I switched over to the other place his physical therapist worked just so we could keep her.
  • Melanie F. I wrote a very personalized card and gave a gift card to Starbucks. In my note I wrote about how this gift would never come close to what all they had meant to use over the years, but while they were out in their day driving from home to home they could stop and get themselves a little treat!
  • Dana R. We had an educational toy drive for our program. And a graduation party. We filled her car with toys to help other kids! It was great!
  • Lisa H. I’d holders..key chains..a gift certificate to staples or a special arts n craft site…
  • Caroline F. I had a get together, gave each flowers and a framed picture of my daughter.
  • Patti R. I save and treasure pictures of my students and a note maybe mentioning a special time with the child. On those hard days that come once in a while, those notes lift my spirits and remind me of why I’ve chosen this job.

    ADVICE NEEDED for Special Mom shared from our Facebook post #psnm00838 [2]

 

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