The holidays are here – and families with small children at home are rushed off their feet with all the excitement (and pressure) that this season brings. But expressing some appreciation for your Nanny is never more important than at this time of year, when they are probably taking up the slack around your home to help you cope with the Nativities, Carol Concerts, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations, Yule festivities and everything else that the season brings!
It’s traditional to give your nanny an end of year bonus and that should be a serious consideration if he or she has done a good job. However it can seem impersonal and many families like to offer an additional, more personal, gift. Some families, and cultures, find it difficult to give money and where that is true, we have some bigger gift options in our list to ensure you can thank your nanny appropriately.
Great nanny gifts – and some not so great ones
Great gift – Extra holiday days
If one of you has a few days holiday left, and can stay at home so that your nanny can have some extra holiday herself, that can be one of the greatest gifts you can give her. As you know, looking after children can be exhausting!
Bad gift – Makeover
Unless your nanny has expressed her own interest in having a makeover, stay away from buying her one. It can imply that you think she’s looking tired, or isn’t up to your standards!
Great gift – Journal
For introspective nannies, a really nice journal that fits perfectly into a handbag is a great idea. Not only can they use it to make quick notes about the day’s events and activities, it gives them a moment of calm when they can relax with a hot drink and reflect on how their life is going.
Bad gift – Trinkets
Such a bad idea. Honestly, unless your nanny is a avid collector of something like Matryoshka dolls or snow-globes or whatever, don’t give her meaningless trinkets. They just take up space and have to be dusted and they don’t express much genuine appreciation.
Great gift – Something from the children
Getting your children to make something for their nanny shows real affection. You don’t have to be a crafting wizard to pull this off, either, because many craft shops (and sites like Etsy) have pre-packaged kits you can use to make a charming gift. Think of something sweet, like home-made fudge or biscuits, or get more ambitious with a scrapbook created by the children, and with a couple of starter pictures of them inserted.
Bad gift – Childcare book
Giving your nanny a gift that up-skills their interactions with your children is more a burden than a present. While books and podcasts can be great ways to start conversations around tricky topics like routines, sleep, food etc, giving your nanny a childcare or parenting book as a gift is implied criticism at best.
Great gift – Car valeting
If your nanny uses her own car to transport your kids, it’s probably been pretty abused throughout the year: juice splashes, food wrappers, sticky hands and muddy boots … so treating her to a thorough car valet can at least give her a few days of driving her car in pristine condition.
Photo creds: Monstera-5876688 at Pexels