Gift ideas

[Math_Rocks]

I elaborated a bit more on another thread but I'm working really hard on keeping things simple and keeping costs down this Christmas. But, every year, I really struggle with teacher gifts. I struggled when DS was younger too and he only had one teacher at school and usually a couple at church. But DD has autism and there are loads of people who work with her. This year, things are compounded by the fact that we have been having real difficulty with some of the people working with her (not following her IEP, etc.) so I am *forcing* myself to treat them in accordance with how I wish they were behaving rather than how they actually are. I had been hopeful, for her direct teacher, that someone, like a room mom, would do a collection for a gift card or something but no luck so everybody is on their own. (And, please, don't suggest that I try to rally other parents - its end of semester and I can barely get my teeth brushed right now, I'm so frantically busy!) Any simple, thoughtful, inexpensive gift ideas (that don't require anything being hand-made)?

[Anonymous]

I must be out of touch here...I think teacher gifts are totally unnecessary...but for what it's worth, how about just a nice card wishing teacher the best for the holidays and the new year?  It's the thought that counts (at least, that's what everyone says). 

[DI]

check out signals.com come.  they have great gifts. 

[haulingthescoreup]

Maybe for the employees who are actually following the IEP, a picture of your daughter in a nice frame, and she can sign "thank you" in a gold marker pen on the photo, or something similar. Over time, they can quietly re-use the frame for their own photos.

You can usually get wooden frames for good prices at dollar stores, Big Lots, etc.

Anyway, personal, practical, and cheap.

[Anonymous]

Hey, Math_Rocks, just in looking over some of the threads in this section, it reminded me of something from a few years ago that may fit the bill for you.

DW's niece was a fairly-broke college kid at the time, and when Christmas came around that year, she really couldn't afford to spend anything.  What she did was put together a very nice mix of her favorite holiday music and songs, burned CD's and presented them to each family member in nicely wrapped jewel cases.  Everybody loved it!   At our house, we use it every Christmas Season for background music when we've got company.

Just a thought.