Do you love/ appreciate/ feel thankful to your childminder?

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Please message him/her and tell them! Or write it in a Christmas card.

I’ve had a really difficult week, long hours, lots going on, like most of us at the moment. I love my job but have been feeling a bit low with various things.

This evening I received the most lovely message from a parent. Truly thanking me for all I do and telling me how much they really appreciate me.

I feel completely uplifted! It’s given me a real boost and costs nothing. I don’t care for presents from the families if only I get a heartfelt thanks if they mean it.

Please do the same for your childminder if you appreciate them but don’t say it often enough.

Great idea.

If you can, please also do this for their Cub Leader, or Brownie Leader, or other people that give up their time to give your dc the opportunities they have and get moaned at and criticised a lot by a minority of parents.

Absolutely, I’m also on the committee for our scout group and my children attend. They all do a wonderful job and give up so much time.

I don't think people realise the amount of extra hours and sleepless nights other peoples children can bring. Day off today One tac meeting one EHP to prepare and hopefully I can leave for my weekend away before tea time.

I received a card today with some beautiful words in it, thanking me for all my hard work. It really means a lot

Ours is one in a million and (hopefully) knows what a massive difference she's made to our lives. I'm now a bit worried I haven't said enough in her card though - I've just said something along the lines of 'Thank you for giving DS such a great place to go after school'. Too late to re-do it, as DS has done a really detailed picture in the card too.

I’m sure she does.

I LOVE my childminder. She’s also a friend and I really hope she knows how much we all appreciate her. I do tell her and put it in cards but it never seems enough. Not happy with her Christmas present this year but couldn’t afford anything huge and she has irritatingly as chocolates and alcohol are easy presents gone on a health kick recently so can’t do the usual bottle of wine.

The presents are hard to get right, I struggle with my children’s teachers, but I promise the note of thanks will be treasured.

What presents do people on here appreciate? I know childminders aren't one homogeneous mass, but looking for ideas! I usually go for nice chocolate and wine, which feels a bit meh.

I genuinely am happy with anything. Although last year I was given two beautiful but very delicate candle holders. Lovely but in a houseful of toddlers, not very practical. Also nothing with your dc’s face on! As much as we love them, we have enough photos of your dc!

Other ideas: vouchers for things we can do with our children, cinema or restaurant in my case as I have older children; a beauty treatment; scented candles; fluffy socks; food or drinks you know she likes (I love drinks so got a nice tea/coffee/hot choc hamper one year).

Oh god, does anyone ever give something with the DC's face on it?!

Yes I’ve had a key ring! I don’t even carry my own kids photos around on a key ring

Hands can take a real battering so nice hand cream, gloves pushchair mits.

Yes, people do give photo gifts to childminders- I’ve been given them. I put pictures of my own children up, but don’t really want to display childminder children around my home. Same with photo mugs/key rings/cushions etc, not really appreciated. Have a look round your childminders house next time you there. Does she like candles, ornaments, pretty things, fresh flowers? Does she like a glass of something on a Friday evening? Does she like films (ciname voucher), taking her dc out for a meal (voucher) or an afternoon tea voucher for two somewhere nice?

Thanks for the ideas, will have a think.

Honestly can't imagine the kind of mindset you'd need to give a DC photo gift to a childminder. (Wonder if anyone has ever done that to a teacher!)

Costa voucher our nanny gave us once. We were delighted!

I’d settle for a Christmas with no snidey remarks like "but it’s Christmas and you’re asking for money again" when I present parents with their December invoice.

I've wrote her a card for Christmas :) I need to find a gift for her now. She's lovely

I love my son’s childminder, and I tell her she’s fab all the time. I thank her every day at pick up time too, and I always get her and her daughter Christmas and birthday presents.