Kindergarten Graduation?

[Ginny Favers]

What is this? The only thing I got when I graduated from kindergarten was a big kick in the butt toward first grade.

Now DD is talking about the ceremony, which I will have to take off of work for, and I just got an email from the teacher asking us all to write a letter to our children that she will put into a keepsake book. What do I say? "Congratulations, you're nowhere near the end of your educational journey and guess what? Now the REAL work begins!"?

Help! Is this a big deal? Do the kids dress up? Should I invite her grandparents to the ceremony? Do I need to give her a gift? And what do I write in this letter? Ack!!!

 

[JaneBanks]

I'm 32 and I had a Kindergarten graduation! I remember what dress I wore and that we went to a local amusement park afterwards.

 

[Duchie]

I've always thought they were a very silly idea and was so glad my kids never did them. They don't do anything like that here for K, 5th grade (going into middle school), or 8th grade (going into high school) and that's just fine by me and all of the other parents I know.

 

[LuLuO]

I had a K graduation too, and a Preschool graduation. I'm 35.

This doesn't need to be along the lines of a High School ceremony but I'd probably put her in a cute dress that was already in her closet. If the grandparents don't work or anything and you think they'd like to go, then I'd invite them. As for the letter, just tell your DD that you love her and you are proud of her and you are looking forward to watching her grow. Stuff like that. I wouldn't do a gift, but maybe go to lunch. K may not seem like a big deal to adults, but I'm sure it is a big deal to your DD. Have fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

Actually, they are pretty cute. At our school, the kids make the cap out of paper bags, sing some cute songs, and there is a slideshow. I invited the grandparents who live here in town, a nice hour out of their morning.

DH has to take off from work for 8th grade graduation, not nearly as cute.
Caps and gowns, speeches, music, heat - again, the grandparents in town will come. We're so proud that ds made it through 7th and 8th grade - what an achievement! Lol. He did make the honor roll every semester, and never got bullied...

 

[Minnesota!]

Where my kids go, they do a preschool graduation (waaaaahhhh...my baby will have his in a few weeks!) and then an 8th grade graduation. I think a K graduation is pretty silly....

 

[ceemys]

We don't do K graduations, but my daughter is having a preschool graduation this month. lol It will be cute, not making a huge deal about it. We will hang out at home.

 

[BearcatsFan]

We were invited to one last year. We gave the child $5 - even found a kindergarten graduation card at Target if you can believe it. We went back to their house afterwards for ice cream. He was so proud!

FWIW, I am 39 and had a K graduation ceremony, too.

 

[momof1princess]

ugh, they do them here-kindergarten, 5th grade (moving up to middle school) and 8th grade (moving up to high school). one of DD's classmates even has a middle school class ring *rolls eyes*. i've got to take off work for 8th grade graduation. not that i mind, but i think the entire concept is pretty silly. they're just going down the street to the high school. when i went to the same school as DD, all we got was high school graduation, thank goodness.

 

[EMom]

It's what is done around here. My oldest siblings graduated from kindergarten in the 50s, complete with satin caps and gowns, which were used for generations afterward at that school. I wore one in the 60s. DH grew up in a different part of TX and he had a Kindergarten graduation. When DD12 was in K and graduation rolled around, I was disappointed that they did not wear the mini caps & gowns. But at her school, they wear costumes and perform musical songs and dances. Each kid did get a photo made in a cap & gown, however.

My Kindergarten graduation is one of my fondest memories. My mother cherished photos of her kids in those little caps and gowns. Too cute!

 

[CarolinaBlue]

Both of my daughters had kindergarten graduation, but they went to a private school. I thought it was cute, not silly. They wore caps and gowns and were given kindergarten "diplomas". The program was about the different things they had learned during the year. Each child had a part in the program. My kids enjoyed it.

 

[4nana]

Our 4 kids are all in their 40'ies and all had a KG graduation w/caps, gowns, small celebration w/little gift, etc . Same for 5th and 8th grades . We've always enjoyed attending, watching them march and receiving awards.

Now we celebrate the grands graduations ~ this yr we have a 5th grader and two 8th graders graduating . We will be traveling to NC for two of them. I know some disagree, but IMO it's important to celebrate their achievements for a job well done, large or small, for as all too soon will be high school and college knocking at their door and they will flee the nest.

 

[dislaney]

My kids had a K graduation. They had little caps and gowns and walked across the stage and received their diplomas. Afterwards they had cake and punch for everyone. The cakes had all their names on it. There were 2 cakes since there were two different k classes. I thought it was cute but definitely not necessary. The kids did seem to enjoy it though!

 

[luvsJack]

DD had a preschool graduation, from a private preschool. And then a K graduation at public school--it was done more like an "awards program". And in two weeks she will have an 8th grade graduation.

I never understand why anyone has such an issue about these things or taking off work for them. I will take off 1/2 day for dd's and dh will make sure he is home that day. Its important to her and that makes it important to us.

Its a milestone that she has reached and therefore it will be celebrated.
"

 

[cbright2]

And I took my little one to Disneyworld to celebrate.

 

[Coconut36]

I am 37 years old and had a Kindergarten "graduation". I still have the picture of myself and my best bud in our little paper graduation hats. I don't see it as a big deal. I also don't get making a big deal out of having to take off work. I guess you have to step back and decide where your priorities are and if getting bent out of shape regarding an event for your child is really the path you want to go down.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I am 37 years old and had a Kindergarten "graduation". I still have the picture of myself and my best bud in our little paper graduation hats. I don't see it as a big deal. I also don't get making a big deal out of having to take off work. I guess you have to step back and decide where your priorities are and if getting bent out of shape regarding an event for your child is really the path you want to go down.

To me, if it's important to my daughter, then it's important to me and I want to be there for it. And it IS important to her, as they seem to make a big deal out of it at this school.

I don't understand how you can judge whether or not it's a big deal for me to take off from work. You don't know my work situation. My company will make a big deal out of it because I have been constantly taking off for my kids' sake, and I don't have any more time to take off for it. But I am going to try.

And I don't think I was getting bent out of shape-- just asking questions about what I need to do in this case, as I've never experienced kindergarten graduation before.

I have discovered that they do wear real caps and gowns and that most parents buy flowers for their children and take them out to lunch later, so I guess I will try to do that, if I can manage. But I'm not having a seizure over it or anything.

Thanks everyone, for the replies.

 

[BearcatsFan]

To me, if it's important to my daughter, then it's important to me and I want to be there for it. And it IS important to her, as they seem to make a big deal out of it at this school.

I don't understand how you can judge whether or not it's a big deal for me to take off from work. You don't know my work situation. My company will make a big deal out of it because I have been constantly taking off for my kids' sake, and I don't have any more time to take off for it. But I am going to try.

And I don't think I was getting bent out of shape-- just asking questions about what I need to do in this case, as I've never experienced kindergarten graduation before.

I have discovered that they do wear real caps and gowns and that most parents buy flowers for their children and take them out to lunch later, so I guess I will try to do that, if I can manage. But I'm not having a seizure over it or anything.

Thanks everyone, for the replies.

I hope you are able to go and that your work will co-operate with you.

 

[Coconut36]

To me, if it's important to my daughter, then it's important to me and I want to be there for it. And it IS important to her, as they seem to make a big deal out of it at this school.

I don't understand how you can judge whether or not it's a big deal for me to take off from work. You don't know my work situation. My company will make a big deal out of it because I have been constantly taking off for my kids' sake, and I don't have any more time to take off for it. But I am going to try.

And I don't think I was getting bent out of shape-- just asking questions about what I need to do in this case, as I've never experienced kindergarten graduation before.

I have discovered that they do wear real caps and gowns and that most parents buy flowers for their children and take them out to lunch later, so I guess I will try to do that, if I can manage. But I'm not having a seizure over it or anything.

Thanks everyone, for the replies.

Your post reads to me as this being a burden to you and an annoyance it entails time off work. Nope I don't know your work situation but I still don't get people getting bent out of shape about it regarding their children and school events activities...your post reads as bent out of shape to me.

 

[Ilivetogo]

What is this? The only thing I got when I graduated from kindergarten was a big kick in the butt toward first grade.

Now DD is talking about the ceremony, which I will have to take off of work for, and I just got an email from the teacher asking us all to write a letter to our children that she will put into a keepsake book. What do I say? "Congratulations, you're nowhere near the end of your educational journey and guess what? Now the REAL work begins!"?

Help! Is this a big deal? Do the kids dress up? Should I invite her grandparents to the ceremony? Do I need to give her a gift? And what do I write in this letter? Ack!!!

This was my reaction when I discovered this ceremony for my DD (who is now 18). I could not understand what all the fuss was about. As it was a cute ceremony - the kids all got up and said what they wanted to be when they grew up, etc. - all-in-all it was just another thing to get off work for, etc. I didn't "get it" either.

We graduated from high school and that was it.

.