Gift for Speech Specialist

Updated on April 27, 2011
J.F. asks from Philadelphia, PA
15 answers

My son has had services from a state-funded program for early intervention. He wasn't saying much at 30 months and we decided best to have an evaluation. Within weeks of making that call and while waiting for the evaluation his speech started to pick-up but he qualified for the program so we decided to go with it!

He will be three next week and is aged-out of the current program and we are not going to continue with the next program as we feel he is back on track.

All that being said, he has had the same specialist for almost six months - one hour per week. She is great! He has really taken to her and has gained a wealth of language skills with her aid. Thursday will be their last meeting and I feel we would like to give her a gift but stumped as to what would be good/appropriate/etc. and how much to spend.

Any thoughts???

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So What Happened?

I knew you were the best folks to ask - thanks! I loved your ideas!

Since I never thought to take a photo of them working together and our son is in the "won't let you get a photo, no way, no how" stage we opted to skip that portion. I will keep that in mind for the future though. :)

We did a nice thank you with a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts. We figured with the driving from home to home all day long they are a convenient and inexpensive place to get coffee, a treat or even lunch. The program will send along an evaluation after the final reports are submitted so we will include a note with that to go in her file - I would not have thought of that so I really appreciate the folks who suggested it!

Featured Answers

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

The other suggestions are great. "Thank yous" are the best! I know some of my patients' families had no extra money, so I certainly never expected anything at all.
But having worked in ECI, I can tell you the pay is not great (but the rewards are!) So a gift card would probably be appreciated, if it is allowed. Rather than the trinkets (which I certainly appreciated the thought!) were nice, I did not have a place for them. A gift card would have been better, like to the movies or grocery store.

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S.F.

answers from San Antonio on

Therapists often buy their own supplies so some new books or toys that can be used with other children would be great or a gift card to a store that sells these type of items.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Give her a photo of your son/the family with a handwritten card and crayon drawing from your son.

My son had speech therapy too, from our local Early Childhood Intervention organization, until just prior to turning 3.
It was great and my son loved it very much, and he became the most talkative one in our family!

Anyway, some Therapists won't accept monetary based 'gifts' because they are working. But yes, they are like a Teacher and teachers receive gifts too.
But, my son's Speech Therapist, loved just having a photo of her and him which I had taken earlier. And I framed it and gave it to her. With a thank you card and drawing from my son.

I also, wrote a letter of appreciation, to her Boss and her as well, commending them for the wonderful job they did, with my son. And that, our Speech Therapist was invaluable etc.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi, Jean:

A small wind chime.

Just a thoght.
D.

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J.A.

answers from Sacramento on

I love it when I get hand-made 'thank-yous'. Maybe he can color a picture and write his name for her and you can write a little note. The speech pathologist would probably love to have it to display in the office for her other clients to admire.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

A small gift card would be appreciated. As a teacher, those of us in the profession get tons of handmade gifts and pictures of kids. It's not that we don't truly care about each and every child, but imagine the sheer number of these items we get. I would think a speech pathologist would probably get the same. A small gift card to Target, Starbucks, Panera, or the like would be so much more useful. And, as little as $5 or $10 is fine.

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R.C.

answers from Boston on

Given the season, a pot of tulips would be lovely. And you can never go wrong with a gift certificate for dinner (or lunch) (or coffee shop). How lovely of you to appreciate the service. Additionally a note to her supervisor at Early Intervention would go in her file, and is a wonderful way to honor the excellence of her service.

M.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

My MIL is a speech therapist and loves the gift of books! What about a book that is appropriate for the ages she works with? It's always great to have new material. Then you can inscribe it with a special note about how helpful she's been.

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J.R.

answers from Sacramento on

do you have any pictures of you son with her? if so maybe you can blow one up to 5x7 size , matt and frame it, maybe a nice magazine subscription? that way when she recieves it each month she will be reminded of how much she was appreciated, you could go to a hallmark store and get one of those cards that you can record on and have your son send her a really nice message in his new vocabulary! :)

M.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

We said good bye to our son's developmentalist after 3yrs and got her a Piggies & Paws piece of art (unique art done with my son's hand print - its a watering can filled with flowers, sort of a symbol of how she helped him grow). The cost is $20 without a frame. We haven't given it to her yet (taked about 6wks to be made), but her husband says its unlike anything she's ever had and she is going to bawl her eyes out. If you're interested, I can forward on the artist's name/info. Good luck!

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

We recently went through this and my son aged out, and is doing awesome. On her last day, we gave her a card and 3 $10 gift cards to local coffee/drink places. Starbucks, Sonic, and Caribou. Since she constantly drives from one home to another, it only made since to give her something that would come in handy!

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

A book of tongue twisters might be nice.

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K.L.

answers from Erie on

We were very close with my son's therapist, who has no children of her own. We invited her over for dinner a few times (I think it's been three times in the last two years) since he aged out of the program. She seemed to appreciate the opportunity to see how our kids are growing, and they loved seeing her. If it's appropriate for you to do the same, you can give her a homemade "gift certificate" for dinner at the best restaurant in town - your place ;)

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S.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

As a teacher, my favorite gift was a card with scratch off lotto tickets inside. It was fun & thoughtful without being uncomfortable. Getting a gift that is too expensive or something you will never use can be uncomfortable. If you want to spend a little more money I would get a gift card to wawa. Everyone goes to wawa at some point, it will get used. I would not spend more than $25 at the very most.

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