If your little kindergartner is heading off to first grade, mark the occasion with some sweet kindergarten graduation gifts. Little moments need to be celebrated! And, this is a big moment in the little one’s life, so why not?
The gifts don’t have to be big or fancy, something small, sweet and cuddly is enough to celebrate the milestone. And, it doesn’t take much to get kids excited for their graduation.
Whether you are a parent, grandparent or teacher wanting to say congrats, you’d like some of these options. Oh and if you enjoy gifting little kids, be sure to explore these ideas for end of year gifts and student birthday gifts.
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Are kindergarten graduation gifts a good idea?
Actually, yes! Kindergarten is the first ‘real school’ year for many kids. With that came new schedules, mini tantrums, new friends, and homework. So many new things and so much adapting deserves to be honored and acknowledged.
Saying good job and being affectionate is one thing, but a little gift to mark the occasion can become a core memory for the child. I certainly remember the gifts I got for graduating at 5 years old – a card, some money and a couple chocolates from my uncle. It’s one of the wonderful memories of him I treasure.
Those memories matter!
Before buying, consider these
Budget: It doesn’t take much to make a kid smile with excitement. Decide on the budget for your kid, grandkid or student and save a couple bucks for a nice card and a couple chocolates.
Keepsake versus practical: Would you rather gift something the kid can use or a sweet memento to be admired? A plushie with happy graduation messaging is different from an encyclopedia of new facts. Both are fun though!
Summer friendly: Since graduation coincides with summer, you can opt for summer toys as gifts too. Swimwear, goggles and toys for the pool are all ideas to consider.
Keepsake ideas as kindergarten graduation gifts
1. Squishmallow graduation owl
Squishmallows are adorable stuffed toys that make great gifts. And, Arella the Brown Owl is a graduate herself with her little cap. She’s adorable and perfect as a graduation gift while being super soft and squishable. Attach a little tag saying “Hoo’s a kindergarten graduate? You are!” for a sweet message.
2. Or graduation elephant
Lemus, the grey elephant, is also a Squishmallow graduate with a hat and sewn in certificate. He’s just as adorable, soft and sweet!
3. Customized grad elephant
Swap the Squishmallow for a soft, huggable elephant plushie that comes with the class year on one ear and the child’s name and initial on the other. You can actually customize the design, layout, year, color and name on the ears. It’s certainly a keepsake they’ll remember forever.
4. Mini star plushie
For a smaller plushie that stays on the graduation theme, this Aurora graduation star is super cute. It’s yellow color gives summer vibes while telling the kid he or she is a star in your eyes!
5. Crochet turtle
If you prefer a gift that isn’t just about graduation, you may like this crochet turtle toy. It has a sweet message with a fun pun to remind the child they’re awesome and you think the world of them.
6. Kindergarten graduation bracelet for girls
This bracelet is a sweet gift for the new grad. It’s adjustable, mostly pink and comes with a nice congratulatory card. It’s perfect for daughters, grand daughters and nieces who love friendship bracelets.
7. Graduation bracelet for boys
Let’s not forget the boys! This adjustable bracelet has similar sentiments as the one above but has a cute little dinosaur on it. If he enjoys bands on his wrist, he’ll certainly like this one.
8. Reusable sign
This is less of a gift for the child and more for the parents. It’s a reusable first and last day of school sign. It’s the photo prop all parents love when celebrating school milestones. It wipes clean so it can be used year after year.
Useful kindergarten graduation gifts
9. Crayola twistables
Twistables are crayons that don’t make a mess and stay in tact, even when the coloring gets passionate. They’re also budget-friendly, great for summer coloring and come with unique neon, metallic and rainbow crayons that are pretty cool. Pair with a cheap pad of copy paper for a simple, useful kindergarten graduation gift.
10. Writing tablet
If the graduating kindergartener loves to draw and write, get him or her this cute dinosaur-themed writing tablet. There’s no paper, no markers, no backlight or blue light, just a fun easy space to doodle on before erasing forever.
11. How to draw everything book
Creative kids would also love a step-by-step book like Emma Greene’s How to Draw Everything. They can learn to draw animals, food and cute things over the summer. With enough practice, they’ll develop their drawing and motor skills.
12. Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix are another creative gift for the kindergarten graduate. The stix are bendy, waxed, yarn string toys that can stick to themselves and most surfaces. They can be twisted, turned and shaped into unique, fun designs.
13. Paint with water book
You’ve seen crayons, tablets and bendy sticks already on this list, what’s missing is paint! There are tons of options out there like the classic watercolor ones. But, I’m a fan of this 3-in-1 coloring book. The paints are part of the book and there’s a mess-free pen brush. It’s so cool and there are so many versions for boys and girls.
Activity gifts for kindergarten graduation
14. Mini karaoke
This one is a splurge but it’s so worth it for kids that love to sing. This karaoke machine comes with 2 wireless mics and color changing LEDs. Queue a soundtrack from your phone and turn the living room into a mini karaoke party to celebrate graduation day.
15. Toss and catch ball
This old-school game with sticky paddles and balls can be a retro kindergarten graduation gift. It’s great for siblings to play with each other in the basement, outside or at the pool. The game keeps the kids off their phones while improving coordination and reaction time.
16. Water skipping balls
For the kids that love water sports, get them these skipping balls as a graduation gift. Yes, they do skip across the water and can be great fun at the pool. Attach a sweet note to it like “have a splashing summer!”
17. Educational books
With my parents being teachers, I got a lot of educational books as gifts when I was a kid. And, to be fair, I really enjoyed reading them during the summer. I still remember lots of what I read then – I can tell you all about herons and orcas! Anyways, if you are looking for a great book, this one from National Geographic is pretty awesome.
18. Board games
Board games are great options for graduation gifts. You can opt for simple ones like tic tac toe, Jenga or chutes and ladders.
More kindergarten graduation gifts
19. Money
Five or ten bucks in a card can actually be a nice present for kids. They’ll feel like they’ve earned a little autonomy to buy whatever they’ve been eyeing – a new toy or candy. Money as a gift can introduce them to saving, spending, and even splurging on their siblings and parents.
20. Snacks
With kids that age, a goodie bag filled with snacks are sure to make them super happy. Pick their favorite snacks or the ones mom and dad approve of. Put them together with a sweet card and maybe a couple other gifts on this list. They’ll surely smile ear-to-ear when you give it to them.
Those are my ideas for kindergarten graduation gifts. If you want more ideas or looking to buy in bulk for a bunch of grandkids, check out these ideas for end of year student gifts and even back to school ones. There’s something in there they’ll like.
