something to say goodbye?

I'm going on maternity leave next week and so I'm saying goodbye to my mindees for the next 8 months. Some of them won't be back :(

I can't afford big leaving presents like toys etc for all of them as there are 14 part timers but want to give them all a little something to say goodbye.

Any ideas?

A key ring for the school aged children to hang on their book bags to remember you?
Water bottles?
Group photo and framed for each family?

there are some lovely poems. why not buy some cheap clipframes from ikea or wilkos and frame a copy of the poem each and sign your name on it?

This is the one I used last year but depends on how young you had the children/how long you've had them.

Goodbye (child's name here) Goodbye
Will you remember the earliest years?
It is important to me that you remember them with smiles not tears
Remember the time when you were small
Remember the time when we played ball
Remember the time we went for a walk
Remember the time you just wanted to talk
Remember the time we played in the sun
Remember the time we had party fun
Remember the time we laughed real loud
Remember the time we made pictures out of clouds
Remember the time you ran outside
Remember the time you fell and cried
Remember the time you needed a friend Remember the time you hoped would
never end
Remember the time we sang together
Remember the dancing forever and ever
Remember the time we read from your book
Remember the love behind the look
Remember I care about you and all that you do
Remember I am waiting you hear from you
Remember I want for you only the best
Remember I know you can do the rest
Love,



Makes me cry just reading it again - I miss all mine so much but it was time for a change for me. It's lovely.

good luck with your mat leave.

Jugglers poem is really lovely.

For those who are coming back what about some kind of journal so they can put in pictures and / or write about what they've been up to whilst they've been off x