Goodbye and welcome gifts

[Anonymous]

What do you typically do for each of these?

[Anonymous]

We keep it simple as far as welcome gifts: we put together a basket with toiletries, a metro card, and a Starbucks card. The goodbye gifts are tailored and match our APs’ interests/personalities.

[Anonymous]

Welcome gifts ideas :

- Toiletry basket
- Flowers, balloons, card signed by the kids (and/or drawings from them)
- Little souvenirs from where you live : postcards, mug, water bottle, tshirt, notebook ...
- Little baskets with treats : m&ms, granola bars, water bottle (in case she's too shy to go into your fridge)
- Metrocard, cvs/starbucks gift card ...

Goodbye gifts ideas :

To me the perfect combination is a) a sentimental gift (a frame of a picture of the AP with your children for instance, a framed drawing from them ...) + b) something she really likes and a bit more pricey like a jewel, some $ to travel c) a goodbye little party - doesn't have to be fancy, a special dinner at home with your family will be great.

[Anonymous]

Arrival-- after doing this a few times the things that get the most use are a water bottle, travel umbrella and a Metro card. I also like to include something local (Nats T-shirt or baseball cap).

Going away I do a small picture book that's easy to pack and cash. We also do a going-away dinner at a restaurant of their choice.

[Anonymous]

We are not big gift people and asked the au pair not to bring us gifts. Instead we stock her apartment with toiletries and snacks, and then give her $100 on a metro card (she has a dedicated car, but just in case she wants to take the metro to explore). When she leaves, we give her an extra $100 in cash. Weshe do not celebrate Christmas, but give her an extra $100 during her vacation. In our experience, they just want money to travel with or pick out their own gifts.

[Anonymous]

Welcome gifts - local tote bag she will use throughout the year to carry things for kids and herself, swell water bottle, metrocard, a few toiletries to get her through the first few days/weeks, flowers, cards/signs made by kids, a bunch of maps & local guidebooks, a journal

Goodbye gifts - we’ve done different things based on personality, our most sporty au pair got a personalized basketball jersey from our local team (we are not in DC), others have gotten bracelets with photos of the kids, most recent ap we have a keepsake box (she was very into mementos) and a keychain with photos of the kids in little medallions. She loved it and I know she will use it for her keys to her new apartment back home.