Leaving present for CM?

[BewareOfTheToddler]

We have been using an amazing CM for the past year for our DC (who is 2) and this is his last week with her - we are moving out of area, otherwise I would have kept him there until he started school and then used her for wrap-around care if at all possible.

I won't bother asking for tips on how not to blub on the last day, but what the heck do we get her as a thank you present?

To complicate matters, she works with her daughter as her assistant, so there are two people to buy for.

And we don't know either of them on a personal level, in terms of tastes/interests, etc. So I have no idea whether she likes gin/champagne/is teetotal, loves chocolate/is diabetic, etc.

Because of this, I'm loathe to fork out for one big present such as a spa day because I have no idea if she'd like it. I can deduce stuff - I think she likes a drink, she's liberal about sweet stuff with the kids for occasions such as Halloween so guess she likes it herself, she goes away on a semi-regular basis, they have lots of photos on display - but I'm really struggling.

So far, I have:

A personalised thank you print from Not On The High Street, framed.

A photo of DC in a frame or will have when Royal Mail deigns to deliver

Two bottles of prosecco.

I'm thinking of chucking in a couple of boxes of Hotel Chocolat and leaving it at that (by which point I'll have spent around £70). I considered flowers but she's off on holiday shortly so wouldn't get to enjoy them for very long. I also wondered about a nice plant for the garden or some kind of garden accessory but I haven't been in her garden since the first time we visited over a year ago and I have no idea what she has/what her tastes are.

Obviously I have nice cards for each of them and would be delighted to provide a reference should they ever ask for one.

What would you buy, and how much would you spend? I think DP thinks I'm being extravagant but they have been great, super reliable and very kind, so I want to make it clear how much I appreciate them.

Also, would you send something for the kids to share on the last day? I have no idea about the etiquette for this sort of thing!

Thanks in advance.

A cake for the kids on the last day would be lovely, just ask your cm in case of allergies. What you've bought sounds lovely. I usually get my son's teacher some sort of ornament as, like you, I don't know if they drink or eat chocolate. I'm sure whatever it is will be hugely appreciated anyway xx

I think it's a lot of money to spend on stuff, have you thought of buying something personal like the frame and then voucher for a shop like m&s etc that they can choose something they want ?

I did wonder about a voucher but not sure where for, and also because there's two of them to buy for, it sort of reduces our budget a bit, if you see what I mean? But I'll have another think. Any other ideas would be welcome - I'm just not sure how much to spend or what to get, but I agree I don't want to spend a huge amount on not a lot!

I would look at a voucher from the local shopping centre or somewhere like Debenhams and would prefer that to another box of chocolates even if its only for a small amount as you've spent a lot already I think that's fine. My daughter works in childcare and she prefers vouchers too. We then either treat ourselves or something for the childcare environment that reminds us of the child we cared for but is useful in out work ( coordinated filing is a naf thing to buy as a gift but when you buy it to put on your lounge shelf it looks a lot nicer than tatty files and every time you use them you do think about the family wondering how they are doing).

I think the biggest thing you can give is updates on how little one is doing in their new environment or setting.

Hope the move goes well

Personally as a childminder the absolute best think you could give me is a lovely reference.
Usually, by the time I ask someone for a reference I have already needed it. Also chasing it up and having to ask people for one who you may not have spoken to for years can be a pain.

What you've got sounds incredibly generous I would imagine the childminder would be over the moon to revive such lovely thoughtful gifts. What a nice parent you sound

Scrap the idea of things in frames as she probably won't display it. As much as it's nice to gift a framed photo or whatever to a grandparent it's not suitable for a childcarer as she must have had quite a few children go through her hands. It will go straight in the drawer.
How about meal out for the two of them at a local restaurant. Alcohol is nice if you know exactly what she drinks (I have a storage full of red wine which I donate every year to my local school before their fair as I don't drink it). Other than that why not just stick some money in a card (if she's going on holiday in Europe you could change into Euros) and say 'have a drink on us on your holiday'.

Oh gosh yes. Without wishing to offend you and i'm sure you little one is very cute and much loved by the cm, please don't give her a framed pic of your child.

My house is for pics of my own children. I love my mindees but I don't want to decorate my house with their faces! I mean that kindly! I already have more photos on my phone of my mindees than I do of my own children.

A voucher and a lovely reference would be perfect.

Thanks everyone - some good ideas here. Point taken about the photo! She does have a lot on display so I figured she could always reuse the frame, but maybe not.

Yes, she'd probably feel weird about displaying a pic of an ex-mindee but you could ask to take a pic of her with your LO to remember her. You don't need to spend any more! A bottle of prosecco and card each is lovely. It is etiquette to take something small in for the kids on the last day. You could take bubbles to avoid allergies. Or cupcakes.

Go with a voucher. Honestly, as the others have said, I wouldn't want to display a photo of your dc, I have no where to put it other than the places I put photos of my own dc. Also, I don't like processco, I seem to be in the minority with this and people keep buying me bottles and I keep giving it to my friend, so I'm not actually getting anything out of it.
If you were spending £35 (you said there were 2 of them) I would much prefer to spend it on something worthwhile (I don't mean that to sound grabby, but childminding isn't the best paid job where I am, and it could buy something lovely for the setting or a really nice treat for me).

What you've bought sounds lovely (although sorry, I agree about the pic of your dc. I do sometimes look back at photos of children who have left, but I have them on my laptop already). The idea of a cake, bubbles, or whatever for the last day is nice.

I have had all sorts of random gifts - box of craft materials, tickets for the shard, wine, voucher for the local theatre. The only thing I really want from leavers is a written reference. A good reference is worth a lot of money.

I am a childminder..Like others say the reference. Recommendation on childcare.co.uk if she is on there.

Just to let you know..I often think of my ex minded children..When younger children come up to activities ex minded children have loved.

Thanks all - this is really helpful. Definitely not going with a photo, even if he is total baby model material . Ironically, I got the idea from a previous thread that came up when I searched on here .

Will look into local shopping centre vouchers or local activity vouchers. Idea for something for the kids to share is also a good one - bubbles would be a lovely idea.

Maryann1975, that doesn't sound grabby at all. When you consider what's involved, and the fact that meals, activities, etc come out of the daily rate, I'm well aware that even if childcare is a significant expense for most families, it's not an easy way to make a quick buck. So point definitely taken about it being nice to choose yourself a treat. If we had Debenhams locally, I'd go for that, but shopping centre vouchers are a good idea.

Don't forget Amazon they do vouchers and you can get the world on there

A written thank you/ reference is always welcome. I keep a mine in a display book for prospective parents. My favourite gift is always afternoon tea vouchers. A quality toy for the playroom is nice, so when it is being used I always think of the child who gave it.

I think what you have brought already is lovely.
Personally, I would like a photo, I have a 'scrap book' with photos my previous mindees have given me of them selves with drawings/paintings they have drawn for ME, plus xmas and birthday cards.
Each to their own I guess.

I'm a childminder and the thing I love most is a card saying why she is 'an amazing childminder' with a little pic of your child inside. She will also love to know how you are getting on at your new location. Any gifts are lovely, but words are lovelier.