Giving Flowers at Graduation Ceremony...

[Bearvet]

but what to give a boy? I know lots of parents will bring bouquets of flowers to give to their graduate, but DS wouldn't like that. Is there anything more appropriate to give a boy, or should I just skip it? Help!

 

[XYSRUS]

I think in Cali we gave leis to wear during the ceremony. This was a few years back. Do any Cali people want to chime in?

 

[powellrj]

I would skip it. I know my boys would never carry anything around with them like my DD would carry flowers.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

is this a regional thing? I've never heard of anyone bringing stuff to the graduation for people to carry around.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

DD got a bouquet from us in high school but we gave her a table setting at home after college. DS got nothing for either, at least not at the ceremony.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have 2 dd's and have never given them anything. I do see the parents give out flowers to their dd's and it is a nice gesture.

How about a watch or something along those lines if you want to give him a gift?

Really it is up to you.

 

[ksjayhawks]

At ds's graduation this year, there were about 10 bouquets given to girls (class of 473). They were put under their seats right before the processional and some were stepped on and others were left there during the recessional. They already have their diploma cover to carry, so why burden them with another thing? This class wanted to get out to the commons, get the diploma insert and the other things they were given in the line up rooms and then get together with friends for pictures.

If you want to give flowers, give them before or after at home. For boys? Not sure what to do if you want to put something on their seat.

 

[rszdtrvl]

An ID bracelet? Something he can actually put on and not have to worry about?

I am getting my youngest brother an ID bracelet for graduation. I got a great deal at JCPenney.com a month or so ago - $26 shipped for a $140 bracelet! And a great condition laptop case I got at a yard sale. His college is being paid for totally by my parents (a very sore point for me, as I had to pay for all of my post high school schooling) so I refuse to give him money to blow on fast food. And my parents gave him a laptop for graduation (he got it a month before graduation though) so he can use the case for college.

For my son's junior high "graduation" he is getting a shirt for the high school he will be attending. I got that idea from the budget board.

 

[disykat]

At our school the junior class sells candy leis. Students also get real leis.

Because of allergies, my son could wear neither. Even without his allergies, I don't get the need. To me, it seems like a contest for who can look more special. I'd rather just give presents at home.

I've worked the door at graduation the last two years. All balloons and any flowers that won't fit on your lap are checked at the door.

 

[LisaR]

If we give DD flowers it will be AFTER she walks the stage. I am not sure the point of giving it to them before so they have to stick them under their chairs and make sure others don't step on them.

In addition, if we give them to her, they will be cheap ones from Walmart Marketplace for $5.99.

We went to a graduation ceremony a few weeks ago and saw beautiful, expensive roses getting mashed in the sea of people.

We have two years before DD graduates so I have a little time to decide.

 

[Bearvet]

Graduation was last night and I decided not to give anything. Lots of parents had balloons and/or flowers for their kids. DS was given flowers by the strength & conditioning coach (for football) and he immediately handed them to me! So I'm glad I didn't do flowers!

However, close friends of ours cam to the ceremony and gave him a pinwheel in the school colors (blue & red which are easy to find) - DS LOVED it and all the other kids wanted one!!! Who knew something so simple would be just the right thing!!

I'll try to post a pic later of DS with his pinwheel. It was a great idea that I know I will use in the future!

 

[MrsPete]

Our students aren't allowed to carry anything into the actual ceremony -- as someone else said, it would look like a "most special" contest. If they're not all going to look alike, why bother with the cap and gowns?

AFTER the ceremony, many families give their daughters small bouquets -- I'll definitely do that next year for my daughter. Something that'll look nice against her cap & gown colors. Or something in her college colors, whatever those may turn out to be.

Being a teacher, I go to graduation every year, and I have no memory of a boy walking around with flowers. I can't imagine the boys feel slighted; it doesn't seem manly to walk around with flowers.

I suppose you could do balloons instead, but -- at our school anyway -- they'd take them from you at the door (and rightly so) because they'd block other people's view of the stage.

 

[daisyduck123]

DD16's graduation was on Wednesday (430 kids).

The school gave each girl a white rose to carry. It looked nice watching all of them file in with each girl holding her rose. The boys did not have anything.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

car keys?

 

[Mish19]

A beach ball! When I graduated from college we had a ball bouncing it around between the graduates. The faculty probably didn't appreciate it but it was fun.

 

[marcyinPA]

I think in Cali we gave leis to wear during the ceremony. This was a few years back. Do any Cali people want to chime in?

I just saw some photos on Facebook of one of my previous pastors who moved to CA a few years ago. Her son just graduated from HS, and the boys were all wearing leis...

 

[Bearvet]

Yes - I meant something to give him right after the ceremony. Graduation was held outside, so maybe that's why balloons are okay? Lots of people gave flowers, stuffed animals, etc.
Here's DS with his pinwheel - it was a neat idea!

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[Planogirl]

At DS's graduation this morning, we saw several people with bouquets of flowers and one man with an enormous stuffed bear. We couldn't think of anything to give DS at the venue so we just waited until we got home and gave him money as his "right now" gift. He liked that.

 

[Andtototoo]

We just had dd's high school graduation last week. 600 kids. I'd say a handful of girls got flowers afterwards in the school lobby and a handful of boys got balloons. No one seemed to be carrying them around -- I saw quite a few abandoned on the tables (along with the flower the school gives to each kid, boy or girl, as they cross the stage) as the kids rushed around visiting in the post-ceremony madhouse.

So in light of that, I wouldn't bother.

No one got anything before the ceremony as the kids were told quite clearly that they were not allowed to bring anything to their seats with them. (The beach balls and Silly String were smuggled in regardless!)