Xmas gifts for therapists?

[r3dh3d]

What (if anything) is everyone else giving their therapists? And, come to think of it, the extensive medical team? We are regularly helped by:

• portage therapist
• SALT
• visual therapist
• Opportunity Playgroup volunteers
• physio
• neurologist(s) 3 of them at last count but increasing daily
• nurses
• paed(s) 2 specific but about 8 we see at one time or another
• metabolic specialist
• opthalmologist etc etc etc.

Some we see more frequently than others. How often would you see someone before giving a card? A gift? And if a gift, what sort of thing?

We are out of these woods a bit now as DD is in school, but when we had one to ones we used to give a gift to each (never more than 3 people in our case, portage, physio and SALT), usually a bottle of champagne. Never did gifts for doctors as such, might send a card to the utterly patient staff who managed the hearing aid centre as always felt like a thankless job. Now we are in school we do a little gift - usually wine - for teacher and classroom assistant and something more thoughtful for LSA who we know quite well (and who's relationship with DD goes on up the school). Lots of threads in Education with more creative ideas!

I just did the therapists that see dd1 weekly - 3 in total - physio,ot and speechy.. made some white chocolate fudge - put it in little bowls and wrapped them up with celloophane and nice ribbon with a little note listing the ingredients.

you made white chocolate fudge?

My three favorite words in the universe

I wish I was your therapist

how about a bit tin of quality street or tin of biscuits or something simular that they can share in the staff room... (if they are all under the same roof of course)

Daughter has painted mugs before.. nice useful present and only £1ish for a nice white mug before you paint it.... we got the painting kit from hobby craft...

me too. Have 7 to buy for!

the recipe makes tonnes and I also gave some to dd1s kindy teacher and the two aides but used nice mugs for them - they only needed a few fingers of the fudge then and again wrap in cellophane.

You could make rocky road - will explain what it is - recipe below

chocolate melts, jellies/gummy sweets, marshmallows, coconut and nuts if you like - I tend to leave the nuts out if I am making them for a present.

Melt the choc, add the sweets and coconut, place in a slice tin refrigerate until set, chop into chunks or squares. Hey presto - ROcky Road - an aussie sweet...... something a little different.

Eidsvold - could I have your recipe for the fudge please?

hhmmmm...fudge sound delicious!

I will send out a few cards and give a pressie to our Crossroads worker, but she does see Amelia every week.

Will hopefully be making some notebook sets up for the teachers- I have 5 of them t do!

Recipe is on the 'For Mogwai' thread Merlot!

It does sound good...

I always have a dilemma over pressies for therapists. Have decided to only give to those who are really involved with dd on a regular basis, otherwise it gets silly.

Thanks HITC

By eidsvold on Thursday, 24 November, 2005 6:38:41 AM

OH I am making white choc and cranberry fudge tc.

3 375g pkts of white choc melts
2 tins - 395g sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup icing sugar - have to check this
1 cup chopped cranberries
(I also put in sultanas and would do some sort of nut if I knew the person did not have a nut allergy)

1. In a double boiler ( I just use saucepan inside another that has boiling water in it ) over a low heat - melt and mix the sweetened condensed milk and the white choc melts

2. when melted and thick, remove from the heat, add the icing sugar and the friut/nuts.

3. pour into a baking paper lined slice tray.

4. Chill in the fridge until set ( I leav emine over night)

5. CUt into fingers/squares. Arrange in a bowl/mug/dish etc. I then cover it with cellophane. I ahve also wrapped the fingers in cellophane individually.

Very creamy yummy fudge. Everyone what has had it raves about it.

I give something nice to classroom staff (as its 1:1 that 6), escort on bus and people who help at home with DS and/or DD (another 4). Then send a card to Paed, EP etc and ALWAYS send card and chocs/biscuits to the person I know best at the LEA. Chocs/biscuits (or panetone) for other transport staff and other school staff (another 6) and sometimes share a present with other parents for fundraising dept at school, Saturday club, trampolining instructor. Blimey! I always give consumables, I KNOW that's what they like as I've had inside info. This year I've managed to get some champagne from M&S that's reduced from £15.99 to £9.99 and got further discount for buying 12 (so far) so that's for the classroom staff and bus escort. If they don't drink (or eat choc!) they can give it to someone else.

MN convinced me a couple of years ago. Lots of teachers and others said they've got cupboards full of mismatched, bad taste knickknacks and MUCH prefer grog or chox even though it may seem boring. I then asked a teacher at DS's school who I was friends with and she completely agreed. I'd still get a proper pressie for one or two special people but when the list is as long as your arm, this saves a lot of agonising.

The fudge sounds lovely, I have the feeling half the therapists in Britain might be getting it this year now.....

that is dried cranberries forgot to add that.... they are called craisins over here.

I also figure even if they aren't big choc/champagne consumers - they at least have something nice to break out for visitors.

My mum gets a load of choc and fruit jellies and she slowly consumes them throughout the year but also breaks them out when visitors call.... saves her wondering what to put out.

Dropped dd1 off to her last kindy session of the year and her teachers raved about the fudge - said it was scrummy.....

Sorry for raving but it makes sooo much and it is soo easy to do.....

will be trying some of that fudge....don't know that I'll part with it though.

Gosh,aren't you lot kind and thoughtful?!

As a salt may I just say that although I sometimes get gifts and cards,I certainly don't expect them. It can get out of hand tbh.
R3,you can't seriously consider buying for all those people????

At the risk of sounding priggish,a Christmas card with a thank you message makes my day.
Also as a general rule of thumb,would advocate giving to those with the lowliest jobs not the loftiest ones.
In my case,this meant small but nice little things for the hardwarking and poorly paid assistants and nursery workers,or a donation to a pertinent charity or school fund.

Also....some places will be awash in chocolates.
Consider asking if there is a 'night out' fund.
Some places have this.I'd rather contribute to a raucous night out for such people.

On a related subject, I have just found out that Ds2 will have a place at the special needs unit from January so suddenly will be finding ourselves saying goodbye to portage worker, music therapist etc . I would like to get them something to say thank you. Do you think food/drink /chocs are best for this also? What have other people done?

Ah, I got flowers for our portage worker and chocolates for everybody at our local child development centre and a card with DD's pic on!

I also do a photo of DS (and DD too now) but just on address labels and stick it inside each card. Its a good opportunity to remind people WHO they're working "for" and to remind them that your child's real etc.