Graduation Gift for Finishing Elementary School?

We never considered it graduating from elementary school. You go from one grade to the next. That's the way it works.
If you go all out for graduating elementary school, what does the kid expect for graduating from middle school and then high school?
If they graduate from college, what do you have to buy them, a house?
I think doing something special like going out for ice cream sundaes and a movie would suffice.
That's just my opinion.

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Of course this was over 20 years ago but my mom took me and my sister to Chuck E Cheese or did something special when we graduated elementary school. We didn't really receive a gift for the most part just a special treat for us to celebrate.

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I would maybe DO something special, rather than buy him a gift - maybe go out to lunch or dinner to a place of his choosing, or take him to a swim park or baseball game or someplace else that would be fun and memorable. I agree that getting something like a cell phone for completing elementary school is ridiculous (unless the parents are thinking he will need it in middle school and they planned to get him one anyway, but still...). I just don't get this trend of acting like "graduating" kindergarten or elementary school or middle school is akin to earning a doctorate from Harvard. When I graduated high school, my parents had a party because I wanted one, but when my brother graduated, he didn't. We were both going to college so while it was a cause for celebration, it wasn't like we were not moving on to bigger and better things. Last year my cousin's son graduated high school, I was shopping for a card for him, and it was hard to find one that didn't sound like graduating high school was this monumental accomplishment and the biggest achievement the kid would ever earn. I don't agree either with making a huge deal out of doing something that everyone is expected to do. Even when I graduated from veterinary school, I got taken out to a nice dinner - and that was it! (Maybe my parents felt they had spent enough!)

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A lot of parents look for any reason to _____________

- Give a gift
- Host a party
- Cook a special meal or go out to eat
- Go on a trip

A $50 cellphone (or free one) costs less than dinner for 4 out at a family restaurant, less than two tickets to the zoo, less than a potluck. I can see the family looking at graduation as a chance to grant some added responsibility with the add of a new phone line (the "okay, now that you're a middle schooler, if you can etc., so forth, and so on").

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Good grief! What else does she give him gifts for!?

You don't need to make a big deal of his elementary graduation. Really and truly. If you want to give him something, give him a book.

At least your friend isn't boasting about how many parties her son is attending. When I lived overseas, some of the very wealthy families had parties and invited each others' kids. They left out the "regular" families (those of us who didn't have a gajillion dollars) and then blabbed to everyone who would listen to them about going to the parties. And they KNEW the people they were bragging to hadn't been invited. I saw so many mothers whose feelings were hurt. They didn't know that those mothers were like that, (I had figured that out long ago).

D.

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I've never heard of this. I am with Shane on this one. An ice cream sundae would be good enough.

IMO, you aren't graduating anything, you are moving onto the next level. You don't graduate until you have finished 12th grade.

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i think a gift for grad from ele is a bit much. I have friends who went all out for kind grad, I was like Please. I second taking him somewhere and telling him your are proud.

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Really? A gift for "graduating" elementary school? Look, I love my kid and I celebrate her and her place in our family, but come on. I would think a nice pizza dinner out and maybe a family outing to a movie or something would be a nice gesture, but a gift? Did she give this kid a gift when he pooped on the potty for the first time? She needs to be careful or her son will be as bad as that teenage daughter in the car question listed on mamapedia this morning. Please, let's not raise more entitled, spoiled children. Think people, think!

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If you and your husband are moved to give your son something, I would suggest going out to eat at his favorite restaurant as a family - a way for everyone to celebrate.

However, I agree with your statement that such an "accomplishment" was simply expected years ago. So many parents (myself included) continue showering our kids with outrageous birthday parties, over-the-top PTA events, and obnoxiously busy classroom parties that when our kids are older, what will even excite them? Rarely do kids ask for anything - it's parents who make the decision to provide. You set yourself up for disappointment the bigger the gift/party/event you organize for your child, if they don't show appreciation. And after all, they're just kids.

Less is more, IMO. My daughter's class is celebrating their "Kindergarten Graduation", and many parents are purchasing lavish gifts for their kids. WHAT? Gifts for ending Kindergarten?! While we couldn't be more proud of her learning & behavior this year, we're getting her nothing. Maybe a Popsicle from the ice cream man as he drives by.

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Just take him out to dinner to celebrate. Gifts for 'graduating' from elementary school? Ridiculous!! Save that for the 'real' graduations....high school and college.

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Something about his future, like a book of quotes or sayings?

If you get your son something for elementary grad, he may expect something bigger for jr high grad and then expect something really really big for high school grad. I guess it depends on if you want to keep up w/the Joneses that way and how much you want to fork out?

Maybe the bf's mom feel like the bf deserves it...mabye he doesn't get much to begin w/...you never know the reasons behind other parent's gifts for their kids.

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I would get something that shows his accomplishment and that he is growing older and more responsible. I would also get him something that he would need for middle school or jr high (whatever it is in your area). Something like an Ipod touch would be nice or even a nice watch would be a good choice. Mine was a family cross pendant and I still know what that was for and own/wear it to this day.

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When I graduated from 6th grade, my parents got me tennis lessons for the summer. I wasn't expecting a gift. I was a straight-A student (except for 1 B in 5th grade!), and my sister was too. They didn't usually get us anything for that, though occasionally we went to Showbiz because they had free tokens for all A's on report cards. We knew it was our responsibility to do a good job. I do think sometimes people over-celebrate their children's accomplishments, but elementary school is the longest stretch of time kids spend in one place. It's a big deal to move on from there to middle school/junior high. I think it's worth celebrating. It doesn't have to be anything big, but it definitely should be acknowledged. A little party or a special dinner out or a small gift would be nice.

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Our daughter just graduated from Pre-K and headed to the Big "K" next year, we celebrated with their favorite place to eat dinner and bought both of our kiddos their own fishing poles (nothing expensive), waiting until our son is out for the summer to give the gift to both!

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My daughter too had friends that received cell phones for their "elementary graduation". Of course, my daughter really wanted one, but we told her she would get one when we felt the need for her to have one. Well, it was shortly after middle school started - and she attended a game early with several friends - and when we showed up, there were so many people we couldn't find her. That's when I decided that in this day and age I want to be able to call her too and wanted her to have a way to connect with me, if needed. I think it depends on the situation and the "child" too. She is very active with sports and other activities and sometimes practices get done early/rained out, etc. - we wanted a way for her to be able to contact us. So, looking back I don't know if I would do it differently, but middle school can be a whole new world.

However, we did have an after school picnic with a group of her friends at a local park. Everyone brought their own lunch, we had old fashioned and minute-to-win-it type games, the kids just had a really good time just hanging together - and very limited money was spent. They enjoyed it so much - that we are doing again this year! I think it will become a yearly tradition!

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Hello~ Everyone will do something different. What does your son enjoy?
How about 2 movie tickets for him and a friend? Does he collect anything?
Something he's been wanting? Or how about cash? Then, he could buy something he'd like. It doesn't have to be big, jut recgonized his accomplishment. We're trying to come up with something, too. Good luck...

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I always think the over the top gift for any level of graduation is silly. My kids are still in elementary school. Last year when my son had his kindergarten graduation several girls in the class got flowers from their paretns and some of the boys appeared to have gotten a nicer toy ($20-$30 range). I think that a toy that is something he has wanted for a while or a welcome to summer pack with a new swimcuit and some outdoor toys would be good

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"graduating" from elementary school? Good grief. Sorry, I think this is just plain silliness. Take your son out for dinner and celebrate going to middle school. Graduation happens in high school and college.