Reading Time: 7 minutes Graduation Gift Guide: Great Graduation Gifts For All Ages
Once again, the end of the school year is upon us, and summer is quickly heating up. With the end of the school year comes plans and preparation for graduation. Students are staying up late to study for final exams. They have their nose in books prepping for presentations.
Graduating is a big deal, and is a reason to celebrate, and each graduate deserves their pomp and circumstance. Whether it’s Preschool to Kindergarten, or completing an undergrad degree, a graduate has worked hard, and deserves celebration.
A small token of acknowledgement to say, “I’m proud of you” lets the graduate know you appreciate their accomplishment. A party with close friends and family to honor the dedication and hard work, and small gifts to help them on whatever their journey ahead may hold.
Table of Contents
A Fitting Graduation Gift
When considering a graduation gift, it’s best to align the gift with the accomplishment.
For younger kids, it’s best to give them small tokens of celebration to show them you’re proud of their work. While high school and college graduations deserve a bit more celebration. Regardless of how you to choose to celebrate, we wanted to share some ideas to honor your graduate.
Preschool or Kindergarten Graduation Gifts
I will be the first to acknowledge that completing each year of school doesn’t need to be celebrated with graduation gifts. However these kids have gone from days filled with play to days at desk, learning. Their little minds and bodies grown and developed rapidly during this period.
A small gift to let them know you’re proud can have an lasting impact on their future approach to school and learning.
Helping kids prepare for the next year of school is a great gift opportunity. A preschooler needs all the things to get ready for Kindergarten. Consider gifting an item they can use for the next several school years, a pencil case, lunchbox, or pencils with their name etched in them.
These were something my 3rd grade teacher gave each of us as Christmas gift, I’ll always remember, thanks Mrs. Murphy.
Here are few gift ideas we found for quick delivery.
Middle or Grade School Graduation
13 and 14 year old have one last summer of fun with their friends before their start their high school journey. Many young teens see high school as stepping stones preparing them for college.
For many teens entering high school, it may be their first time where their class schedule requires them to move between rooms for different classes. For others, they could be going for a school building where they’ve been houses with the same 15-25 kids for the last 8 or 9 years.
This transition can be scary. Consider a gift that will help them in their new school.
Some ideas are, a calculator they will be able to use over the course of the next four years, and possibly into their college years. Another great idea is a school year planner. While there are many varieties, we suggest on that has a break down by month, and also by weeks.
These are both gift ideas that show the graduate you care of them, and that you want to help them have a successful school year.
If the graduate you’re honoring has plans to try out for a high school sports team, consider equipment they will need. For example, football, field hockey and soccer may all require mouth guards. Buy a few so they have extra.
Many schools offer spirit wear in their school stores. If you know which high school the graduate is attending in the fall, grab them a T-shirt or hoodie with their new schools mascot.
Off To College
Graduating high school is a right of passage into adulthood for many young adults. They’ve spent the last four years making friendships, learning, and thinking about how they want to impact the world in their future.
How you honor and celebrate a high school graduate largely depends on their future plans. For some the future is a 2 or 4 year college where they will focus their studies on a particular field they want to work in.
Some have plans of a technical or trade school to learn specific skills for their field of interest. While some will head directly into a job that offers them a strong and stable future, others will spend a year deciding what they wish to peruse for their future.
If you have an idea of what the future holds for the graduate you can be more prepared with a gift they will enjoy, and use.
Many high school graduates are made very happy with cash gifts. This is simple, and always much appreciated. Some will save the money to use for dorm room supplies or college books. While others may use your gift for a summer trip.
College Bound Gift Ideas
If you prefer to prepare your graduate for their future endeavors here are a few things that most college students will use during their time on campus.
For most new college students, this is their first time living away from home. Preparing them with gifts to help make their new space more like home will be greatly appreciated.
There are a handful of items that all college kids will need. A few examples of staples include sheets (and an extra set to remind them they can’t use the same sheets all semester.)
While most meals come from the cafeteria or on campus restaurants, it’s nice to have a place to keep cold drinks and some extra snacks. A mini fridge is a must!
Most dorm rooms come equipped with a desk where students can spend time on their studies. Power outlets may be limited, this tower power strip features 8 outlets, and 4 USB ports. This ensures there is space for all of their devices.
Below are a more ideas to prep your graduate for their college journey.
Navigating life on a college campus can be very exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time. Therefore you want to send your graduate off on their next adventure set up for success. The gifts above will help ensure their dorms or campus apartments are more homely.
If you’re unsure of the most fitting gift, try a gift card to some popular stores: Starbucks,
Graduation Gifts For Trade School
Each year thousands of high school graduates head to learn a trade as their path to happiness. Again, you want to ensure you’re setting your son, daughter, grandchild, neices and nephews up for a successful experience.
The men and women who learn trades help ensure we live in comfort with indoor heating and cooling. Journeymen learn technical skills for carpentry, metal fabrication, and construction, all which keep our world turning.
Most of these job require particular tools and accessories, which make great gifts to the young graduate.
Men and women going into a union may need a safety equipment and other gear as they enter into their new field of work. Nursing students need scrubs, and healthcare supplies. Consider these as you shop for the perfect graduation gifts.
Again, if you’re unsure of the best gift to give someone entering into a special trade, cash will always make a graduate smile, and appreciate you celebrating them.
Gifts For Those Graduating College
The last four years went by in a flash. If the graduate you’re celebrating doesn’t have plans to continue on with education, then a gift to set them up for success in their first job would be perfect.
Lots of young 20 somethings leave behind the streets and building of their college or university eager and wide eyed for their future. Some already have jobs lined up, others may take the summer to continue with internships, while a few may decide to travel the world and “find themselves.”
Regardless of their path, celebrating their accomplishments lets them know you care.
Most college grads will say cash is the best gift. Cash is king, and lets the graduate decide what to use the funds on. They could have plans for a summer trip, saving to buy their first car or house, or moving cross country for a new job. Dropping cash or a check (do people still write checks?) into a card says, ‘I want to show you I care. I also want you to get what you want.’
Gift cards are another great option. If the new college grad is heading out to the work force, grab a variety cards to some quick lunch options, some popular choices these days (gosh, that makes me sound so old,) are Chipotle, Subway, Chick-fil-a, and Jimmy John’s.
Another great option is a cool work bag. Most companies now supply employees with laptops, gift a trendy work bag so they can easily pack their items when they’re headed into the office.
You can also consider giving the gift of Amazon Prime.
That’s A Wrap
No matter what they’re graduating from, or moving onto next, all graduates appreciate those around them acknowledging their hard work and dedicated.
Some families celebrate with a huge back yard party, cake, and food for everyone, while others prefer a small family dinner after the ceremony. No matter how the graduate you know is celebrating, sending a small gift lets them know you care.
…and if you are reading this, odds are you have a loved one graduating. So congratulations to you too! You played a role in getting them this far.
Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.