How to Buy a Gift for a Kindergarten Graduate

High school and college graduation garner all the attention, but kindergarten is usually the first significant educational accomplishment for a child. Finishing the first full year in a classroom should be rewarded with a fun gift for the graduate. After all, memorizing the alphabet and completing minor mathematical equations are major milestones.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine the type of gift you'd like to give your kindergarten grad. Consider whether you would like to give something that is a reflection of her just-finished school year, or something more frivolous. Or, choose a gift that the child has been really pining for as a reward for their hard work.
2. Think about personalizing a gift. Scrapbooks, personal storybooks, picture journals and customized frames are all presents that emphasize the child's achievement and importance as an individual.
3. Steer clear of gifts that are more mature than the graduate. For example, a porcelain statue of a bear in a cap and gown or a framed copy of the graduation certificate are not exciting for a kindergartener. However, mementos like this are appreciated by parents, so consider combining this type of present with something more appropriate for a 5- or 6-year-old.
4. Make a t-shirt or hoodie that says, "I'm a Kindergarten Graduate" or "I Graduated From Kindergarten." Kids often enjoy wearing clothing that gives them a specific identity and boasts a personal accomplishment.
5. Be conservative in the amount of money you spend on a kindergarten grad. Graduation parties for 5- and 6-year-olds are certainly more popular than they used to be, but high school and college are still more significant. Rarely do parents expect their peers and their children's peers to purchase extravagant gifts. A small token that recognizes the child's achievement is perfectly acceptable.

Tips & Warnings

• Although they are not very exciting, money or savings bonds are often appropriate gifts for a young grad. Make starting a college fund more entertaining by presenting your kindergartener with a colorful piggy bank and a handful of change.
• Keep in mind the attention span of a small child when purchasing your gift. Don't be disappointed if they seem uninterested upon receipt, and by all means, don't take it personally.