My daughter attends a wonderful preschool and they really make a big deal out of their graduation. This year, they have 27 kids graduating so they have to have the ceremony at another location. There will be some food (like appetizers I think) and cake afterwards. Another mom and I were talking today and were thinking of doing something special for our girls (they are "best friends"). I thought of getting them a small bouquet of purple flowers (their favorite color) and maybe going for ice-cream. The other mom thought maybe ice-cream or having cake & icecream at home. I know we can each do something different and separately but what ideas do you wonderful ladies have?
On a side note...I don't yet know if my daughter will be repeating the preschool program or moving on to kindergarten since she does not make the age cut off and is being tested to see if she can start early. Either way, she is graduating since she is one of only three that don't make the age cut off (the other two are moving on to different programs) and I am ok w/ her possibly graduating twice rather than excluding her from all the others when she completed just as much of the program as the others. If she does repeat, I would naturally make a bigger deal out of next year.
Just to clarify, the school does the big ceremony and we are just looking to do something small for the girls who will be moving on separately (we live in different school districts and the other girl is definately starting a new school next year as she does move on to K). As for my daughter being included, our school district doesn't do the evaluations until after the graduation and since her doctor and teachers (past and present) feel she is ready she is being tested. Since they've been preparing, they are not excluding her. If I didn't allow her to participate she could miss it altogether...as I said, she has completed the program just like the others. The girls are real excited because the class is doing an performance at the ceremony and they have worked really hard on it. Thanks to all.
The word preschool and graduation do not go together. Sorry. I do not
understand all the hoopla. It was always preschool ended and you went to
K. Last day of preschool go out to lunch. That is about it for me.
i just don't get the huge deal that is made of preschool graduations. okay they have a cute ceremony, but giving a little girl a bouquet of flowers for graduating preschool seems over the top to me. she will feel just as proud and fulfilled after the ceremony, getting hugs and kisses and congratulations and good jobs, from her family. it's not something she will remember much, if at all. i don't see the need to make a giant deal out of it. but i know that i am in the minority. i think when my son graduates (he will not be 5 until the end of september so he has another year - i have no interest in making him the youngest in his class when boys already mature slower, and mine in particular could definitely use another year to get the ants out of his pants lol) we may take him out for dinner or to get ice cream, but that's probably the extent of it.
Ive never thought this preschool graduation stuff was necessary or important but a lot sure do. I dont understand why a child would be iincluded in a ceremony celebrating the end of preschool if they in fact are going to attend preschool again in a few months. I can understand an "end of the year" party for everyone, but some go all out and all this gown and morterboard hat and stuff is more than they need or understand. Save it for HS. I dont like 8th grade graduation either when they have to buy caps and gowns. Id rather they have a nice casual program and be given their diplomas and skip the expense and hassle of suits ties, dresses, high heels and hair/makep and limos so many seem to think they cant live without. Anyway,, if the school is going to provide snack foods and cake after their ceremony I dont know that more later is important but if anything, maybe a small sundae with sprinkles at a cute restaurant is enough just so the girls can go together and giggle. Im sure its all cute to parents, but I dont see the need.
We had no idea preschool graduation was a big deal until we went to our son's. Parents were bringing huge bouquets of flowers and big presents with them. We had nothing! No clue it was expected now. Thankfully, our son didn't seem to notice.
Our daughter's preschool graduation falls the week we'd already planned on going to Disneyland, so she's missing it entirely.
I'm with the group that thinks "what's the huge deal?" I don't see anything wrong with something small -- maybe a small bouquet of flowers at home -- but don't feel it needs to be a big deal.
My sister got my niece flowers after her graduation and my niece felt on top of the moon. Since they are having cake at the event, than maybe just ice cream or do a fun activity.
When each of my girls graduated preschool I took them (individually) out to lunch wherever they wanted. They each chose Subway :-). We just kept it simple.
At our preschool, there's a tradition amongst the parents to have an Appreciation Luncheon for the teachers, though. But a parent/s had to volunteer so some years they didn't have the luncheon. I enjoyed planning them so every year during the last week there was a luncheon planned during the time the children started their lunch. The teachers had their luncheon in a separate classroom with food and treats donated by the parents (including drinks, plates, forks, whatever else). Parents volunteered time as well to help set up and clean-up as well as cover the classrooms while the teachers took their time eating (usually an hour).
Why don't you just take them to a nice ice cream parlor and let them have some ice cream together.
Or meet the next day and let them play at a park with a picnic. Kinder graduations are for the parents.. the kids really do not get that excited about them.
All that is important is that you make it fun, which obviously, it will be anyway. The grad ceremonies that the school has seems to be adequate to me. I still have the cutest pictures of my youngest's ceremony in May of 2000. My oldest graduated pre in 1977 and there are 4 others in between 1977 and 2000. None of them remember the graduations, but I do, so, really it's for the parents. A word of advice gleaned from personal experience and from working in education for many years...even if your daughter is "ready" for kindergarten, it is to her advantage to wait. The problem is not being the youngest in K-5, the problem is being the youngest in middle/high school. The few extra months of maturity that the older students have makes a bigger difference than you might think.
