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Graduates include people in almost every age group, and people with a full range of interests. We hope our ideas will help to spark some of your own. Let's work our way forward, beginning with the youngest:
Choosing a Gift Idea for a Graduate:
Graduation Gift Ideas Preschool and
Kindergarten
Preschool and kindergarten graduations strike many people as being a bit over the top! However, they do affirm a young child's accomplishments and boost self-confidence about moving up to a full-day schedule with the big kids. Even a modest gift idea for a graduate of preschool or kindergarten will mean a lot to your young recipient.
Gifts to evoke happy memories are somewhat limited at this
level as it encompasses so short a time period. However, Mom can prepare during the school year by gathering photos, drawings and memorabilia for a custom yearbook. Naturally, the cover or front page will feature a photo of the child or the school, or perhaps the diploma if one is presented.
You can send a photo of the school (or the logo, if there is one) to a company that makes personalized gifts, to be placed on such items as a child-sized drinking mug and plate, a jigsaw puzzle, or the child's own mouse pad to use at the family computer.
Favorite kindergarten toys, games or other activities that they do not have at home are graduation gift ideas to evoke happy memories. Now the child won't have to leave all the familiar fun behind! The teacher can tell you which activity the child has particularly enjoyed, and help you select a gift that won't be outgrown immediately. Building blocks, musical instruments, and tunnels to crawl through remain fun for kids well into elementary school years.
Gifts to celebrate moving forward include some of the cool things that big kids take to school. Items that won't be used in first grade can be used at home (lots of kids like to play school) or saved and proudly admired until needed for school. Examples:
- Book bag
- Lunch box and Thermos bottle
- Notebook or sectioned spiral pad
- Pencils in a pencil case
- Wristwatch
- Wallet with photo sleeves
- Change purse for lunch money
- Umbrella
A desk and chair, along with a supply of crayons, pencils, and activity books, will make your Kindergarten graduate feel quite grown up. A child's own desk in a quiet place will help to establish good study habits from the start.
Books are among my favorite gifts for young children! A word book or picture dictionary is a timely gift for a graduate of kindergarten, who is in the early stages of reading. These books are available in many languages and are extra useful to kids like my bilingual grandson. I like to give books that are charmingly illustrated and fun for adults to read to kids. Arnold Lobel books are excellent examples (my grown kids still love "Mouse Tales," and so do I).
A set of book plates is an affordable gift from a young sibling. Children like to identify their own stuff, and book plates encourage them to build personal libraries. Book plates can be designed on your computer and printed on self-stick labels, if you are feeling creative.
Graduation Gift Ideas Junior High or Middle School
The 2-3 years immediately before high school are challenging as children begin changing into young adults. They experiment with new interests and often feel sensitive about being perceived as children. A gift for a graduate of junior high or middle school should be given with that in mind, especially a gift intended to evoke happy memories. These guys are all about moving forward!
A high quality, sturdy backpack/bookbag is a high school essential. Each of my kids had an LLBean backpack that withstood all kinds of heavy-duty abuse. Look for padded shoulder straps that are very firmly attached to the bag - they'll be supporting a ton of books! I also recommend a monogram or other identification to discourage theft (yeah, we had one stolen).
A scientific calculator with graphing function is needed for many high school math and science courses. You might check with the school's math department to see if they recommend a particular brand.
A computer flash drive may be an extremely useful gift for a graduate headed to high school. It allows the student to transfer files between school and home computers. For example, material researched for a term paper can be downloaded at the school library and uploaded at home; the finished term paper file can be transported to school to be printed. My son Stephen's is about half the size of a computer mouse and has a lanyard to wear around his neck for safe keeping.
An organizer, either electronic or a traditional daily planner, is a gift idea for a graduate that will see constant use. Time management skills are critical as students deal with classes, sports, music, drama, yearbook, chess club, student council, dating, perhaps an after-school job and always due dates for homework. Now is the time to encourage habits that will serve your graduate well through college and into adult life.
A high school sweater, sweatshirt or jacket will be welcomed by your junior high or middle school graduate and will get plenty of use at pep rallies, school sports events, and other occasions when students want to show the colors. School insignia garments may be available at the school or at a local department store - check with the school office. Stickers, book covers, and other school paraphernalia are appropriate add-ons or affordable as gifts from younger siblings.
Exploring new interests by the time they reach high school, most kids are ready for some serious equipment
related to their interests. Their manual dexterity has developed and they can
manage delicate instruments and manipulate tiny objects. Here are graduation gift ideas for a few areas of interest:
- Telescope
- Microscope
- Models of famous or vintage airplanes, autos, ships, spaceships
- Short wave radio kit
- Sewing machine
- Laptop computer
- Easel and fine art supplies
- Video camera
- For movie fans: Disney, DreamWorks Animation, Pixar
- For computer geeks: Cisco Systems, Dell Computer, Yahoo!
- For sports fans: Nike, World Basketball League, Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
- For snappy dressers: Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger Corp.
- For the fast food crowd: Chuck E Cheese's, McDonalds, Wendy's
- For budding tycoons: DuPont, General Electric, IBM, Microsoft
Choosing a Gift Idea for a Graduate from High SchoolHigh school graduation sends classmates off in all directions college or other career preparation, military service, an interim year abroad program, or into the working world so graduation gift ideas that evoke happy memories are often as welcome as items related to moving forward. For graduates who are not leaving home immediately, one of our gift ideas for a college graduate may be equally appropriate.
A framed photograph or print suitable for hanging on a wall perhaps a triumphant high school moment (winning an award, receiving a touchdown pass), or a poster from a school play or student council event, or a photo of the student with friends or family on a memorable day.
Posters are always popular decorations for dorm room or apartment walls. A poster from concerts or other events your graduate attended, or a hometown landmark, can evoke pleasant memories. Posters depicting a favorite movie or recording artist, or perhaps a famous role model in whose steps the graduate will follow, are graduation gift ideas to add personality to his or her room.
A circle journal is a thoughtful gift for a graduate whose close friends will be going separate ways. The circle journal is circulated among 3 or 4 friends, each adding or filling a few pages before sending it to the next. If each friend keeps the book for two weeks, everyone will receive it several times during the academic year. Some groups focus on a given topic; others add photos or memorabilia, write poetry, and/or illustrate or decorate their pages to portray their new activities. A supply of mailing envelopes and postage stamps will make the gift complete.
Prepaid telephone cards make it easy to keep in touch with friends and family. A phone card will be used and appreciated, and it avoids shipping hassles if your graduate lives far away. Prepaid gasoline cards will be equally appreciated by high school graduates taking cars to their new environment.
Luggage is a handsome and useful gift for a graduate leaving high school whether college-bound or not. A nesting set of suitcases is easiest to store, and luggage with wheels and a pull handle (or padded shoulder strap for carry-on) is easiest to use. A clearly visible distinguishing feature such as a large personalized luggage tag will greatly reduce hassles at baggage claim.
A college care package might begin with a clothes hamper (perhaps a tall covered basket) that can be lined with a laundry bag for easy grab-and-go. Here are some gift ideas to pack inside:
- A jug of laundry detergent and a roll of quarters for the laundromat
- A bathroom products carrier, filled with recipient's favorite brands of toiletries (few dorms have private bathrooms!)
- A tool kit with a small hammer, flat and phillips screwdrivers, assorted nails,
brads & screws, picture hanging tape, awl or ice pick, roll of strong tape, pair of pliers, tape measure
- Basic cooking and eating utensils for microwave living
- A small sewing kit with needles, safety pins, light and dark colored buttons & thread, iron-on patches, scissors.
- Basic desk supplies: pens & pencils, pencil cup, scotch tape, stapler, sticky pads & bookmarks, large and regular paper clips, scissors, pair of bookends, organizer tray
- A set of bed risers - they fit under the legs of the bed to raise it up and provide under-the-bed storage space
A large bulletin board and a box of colored stick pins will find immediate use once your high school graduate enters college. A dry-erase message board to mount just outside the dormitory door will prove both handy and entertaining. A box of "magnetic poetry" (small magnetic strips with words that can be arranged to form sentences or graffiti-type quips) will provide a lot of fun wherever there's a steel surface (e.g., a fridge).
A Gift of the Month of, say, cookies is among the favorite gift ideas for a college student. Gifts of the month are also available with cheese & crackers, chips & dip, gourmet pizza, coffee or tea, chocolate, fruit, and so on. This gift for a graduate will be appreciated many times over, no matter where your recipient is in the Fall.
College sweatshirts, jackets or other garments are perfect graduation gift ideas to help an incoming freshman to feel prepared. School-insignia garments can usually be ordered online from the university bookstore, along with coffee mugs, decals, bumper stickers, keychains, and other items bearing the college insignia. Or you might give a college bookstore gift certificate for some shopping during orientation week.
A laptop computer support, which is designed to hold a laptop at just the right angle while you're sitting on a bed, may be one of the most useful of all graduation gift ideas. Given the limited space in most dorm rooms, student desks are usually covered with books, papers and stuff. The bed is a handy place to spend time on the computer.
A warehouse store membership (e.g., BJ's, Costco, Sam's Club) will ease the budget of a high school graduate headed for college or a new apartment. Warehouse stores carry everything needed to set up housekeeping, including electronics, hardware, linens, school and office supplies, clothing, food and seasonal items.
A Starbucks debit card can be refilled periodically to help college students through those long nights before term paper deadlines (or through exams after a late night of cramming). That caffeine could be a critical gift for a graduate heading off to college!
Graduation Gift Ideas for a College Student or Grad StudentCongratulations to all you parents of college graduates! You've done a good job! Gifts for college graduates are often somewhat more substantial than those marking earlier milestones. But let's keep this page focused on gifts a bit less expensive than a condo or a new car or a trip abroad!
For those who will be driving automobiles, a motor club membership such as AAA is a practical gift for a graduate. For city dwellers using public transportation, a bus, rail or subway pass good for a month or more will be needed before the first paycheck is received.
An IRA will probably be an unexpected gift for a graduate, as retirement is the last thing on his or her mind. If you set up an account, it will encourage your graduate to prepare for the future. Many IRA accounts can be initiated with a reasonably modest investment.
Professional/vocational equipment, supplies, tools or instruments, and reference books offer many good graduation gift ideas in many price ranges. Talk it over with your recipient to be sure your gift will be exactly what he or she wants and needs. If you want your gift to be a surprise, consider a gift certificate or gift card that your graduate can use at a professional/vocational equipment store or website.
The college bookstore will yield several graduation gift ideas, and these items can usually be ordered online. Your graduate's college sweatshirt is probably much in need of replacement by now! You should also be able to find just the right sized diploma frame, along with many fine gifts with college insignia in various price ranges. Here are some examples, any of which would make an appropriate gift for a graduate:
- gold tie tac or lapel pin
- wristwatch with college seal on face
- desk pen set or letter opener
- business card holder
- paperweight
- glassware, mugs, coasters
- bookends
- framed drawing of university buildings
- golf bag
- mirror with a drawing of university buildings
- clock with college seal
- chair or rocking chair
A leather portfolio or "padfolio" will be a very useful gift for a graduate, no matter what his or her career path. My son the diplomat uses his padfolio at meetings; my daughter the artist uses a much larger portfolio for her work; my son the actor uses a padfolio to carry headshots and resumes to auditions. Look for a portfolio with pockets for pens, calculator and business cards, a slot for a standard or legal-sized pad, and a larger pocket or two for papers and files.
A briefcase is a traditional gift for a graduate who expects to travel, or who will transport numerous files to meetings or company branch offices. A laptop carrying case usually provides extra pockets for files, cell phone and other items. For a traveler, be sure to choose a laptop case with a shoulder strap, to leave hands free for toting luggage and reaching for tickets and passport.
Membership in a professional association is vital to various careers. Your gift to a graduate of a professional membership will underscore your pride in his or her achievement.
A subscription to a professional or trade publication is a useful gift for a graduate. If you inadvertently duplicate a publication that he or she already receives, the publisher can use your gift to extend the subscription's term. It's wise to contact the subscription department and instruct them to handle it this way.
Graduation Gift Ideas for Older AdultsMid-life career changes are increasing these days, and adults who start from scratch in a new field deserve a lot of credit. Adults who return to college to finish a degree, to earn added professional certification, or simply for the love of learning deserve acknowledgement too. Many of the graduation gift ideas suggested for college graduates are equally appropriate for older adults. Here are a few more ideas:
A nameplate for desk or door showing your graduate's new BA, MSW, PhD, DMD, PE, or other degree/certification will be displayed with pride. New business cards are appropriate as an add-on or a gift from the kids or grandkids.
How about throwing a "One Last School Vacation" theme party, with friends, relatives, colleagues? The gift is a vacation pass the hat in advance, and tailor the "vacation" accordingly. For example:
- A hotel weekend package that includes sightseeing or theater tickets.
- A day of golf, followed by a dinner cruise.
- Roundtrip airfare to visit a distant friend or relative.
- Rent a cottage at the beach or in the mountains for a weekend (or longer) getaway.
A world globe, especially a floor model, is a distinctive gift for a graduate. If your recipient already has a globe, it may be years out of date given the changes in political boundaries over the past 15-20 years.
Great for Fun and/or Profit
Finally, I'd like to recommend an outstanding gift for a graduate, from middle school or above, that can be an absorbing hobby project in any area of interest or a primary business venture. We call it A Unique Gift Idea that's Trendy and Versatile - a SiteSell/Site Build It! website.
Site Build It! (SBI) is also an excellent gift for someone who is undergoing a career change. I wish I had known about it as an older college graduate, or when I first embarked on a mid-life career change! Now that I have found SBI, I couldn't be more pleased.
This link
SiteSell Bulletin Board
opens a new window showing a bulletin board with photos of SBI owners who will tell you their own stories; for example:
- "Growth and Self Reliance" is by a young woman who started an SBI website about her favorite vacation spot at the age of 14 a website that is earning enough to pay her way through college.
- "Live Life" tells of a brother and sister who started out knowing next to nothing about building a website, and whose SBI site is now in the top 1/2% of all 56 million websites, freeing them both to follow their dreams.
- "Quit the Day Job" is by a regional sales manager, struggling for leads, who struck out on his own with Site Build-It! and now enjoys independence and a comfortable living.
with a useful gift for a graduate!
Gift Idea for a Graduate
Logo photo by Jane M. Sawyer, courtesy of morguefile.com