Present ideas for people you don’t know well but appreciate SO much?!

[Diorissimo1985]

I’m struggling a little bit - it’s my first year buying Christmas presents for DD’s nursery staff (she’s 22 months). She does 3 days a week, 0800-1700 so spends quite a bit of time there.

It’s a tiny nursery and there are two women who look after DD (one being her keyworker). They are amazing, I’m so touched by the bond they have built up with DD and I REALLY appreciate them so much... I want to get them each something lovely for Christmas but I don’t know either of them well at all and I don’t want to just get generic chocolates, iyswim.

Does anyone have any ideas (and also advise on what’s appropriate budget-wise) for -

1. woman in her late 20s, single, also works weekends in a restaurant, I think she isn’t teetotal as I’ve seen her in town one evening drinking! I think she lives on her own.

2. woman in early 20s, has a boyfriend, has mentioned she’s vegetarian and I think also teetotal. Lives at home with family.

Any ideas gratefully received (I’m probably over thinking this but I love buying presents and I’m struggling with not knowing them very well and what they like, if that makes sense)

could you get something like a reusable starbucks cup and voucher? that's both practical (since even if they don't drink coffee they can treat them self to some sort of drink or food).

Cyclamen/hyacinth in a pot your DD has helped paint/decorate.
(As bright and colourful as possible, to cheer up a windowsill...daft googly eyes/feathers/smeared glue etc. all the better!).

Her name/date on underside.

Plus a handwritten, appreciative card from you, with a few words about how that individual has helped your child. Mention something particular that your DD most enjoyed doing with that person.

Leave room for your DD to add a few colourful scribblings/drawing too.
Name/date on back.

Means so much to re-read them after a hard day.
I still have cards from kids I worked with over 20 yrs ago!

Lovely to hear the personal gifts are appreciated! We will get crafting...

Are there more than these 2 staff? My DCs were at different nurseries (the first one closed before 2nd started), and in both nurseries they pooled all the gifts then shared them out fairly. Apparently because the gifts can vary widely in value, from a box of after eights to £50 gift voucher (yes seriously and that was over 20 years ago). Might be worth checking with the manager before putting a lot of effort into gifts they may not actually receive . Lovely that you are being so thoughtful about it tho

There are more but they’re in the baby room and the older children room - good point though, I should probably check!