What do kids wear to an elementary graduation?

[mommasita]

Since I am home and on meds, I may 'try' to order my son's pants. He has his graduation on June 19th. According to other mother's, their sons are wearing 3 piece suits . I was floored, and my son says NO WAY is he wearing a suit. It is extremely hot lately, the graduation is 1 hour, and the dance is 3 hours after. NO a/c of course in the school, so the jacket IMHO is out.

I figured on nice blue pants and a shirt/tie tone on tone? What do you all think. I am in serioius fashionita trouble. Not sure on ordering the pants, as he is hard to fit, and they may be long. Hemming I can not do. I was all set on bringing him with me, but now I may enlist someone else to bring him, as I can not drive.

So basically, what do you all think of what I suggested? And/or what do children in our area wear for this. It has been a while since I graduated from elementary school, and ours did not seem to be this elaborate...LOL. Some parents have rented limos, which I think is insanity. We live across the street from the school, so we can hop across if need be >>

 

[Michelle67]

Man, must be a fancy dancy school. Around here the little girls like to drag out their party dresses, but the little boys pretty much wear dress-casual pants (khakis, whatever) and golf shirts or maybe a button down shirt, but no tie, and no jacket!

With my son, when he gets there, I swear I'll be happy if he is just clean.

 

[mommasita]

Man, must be a fancy dancy school. Around here the little girls like to drag out their party dresses, but the little boys pretty much wear dress-casual pants (khakis, whatever) and golf shirts or maybe a button down shirt, but no tie, and no jacket!

With my son, when he gets there, I swear I'll be happy if he is just clean.

Funny thing, not at all fancy one bit. No uniform or anything. This is the shocker. I was planning on dockers with a shirt, but if he is the ONLY one tieless ..He says he will not wear a jacket, and I do not blame him at all. He won't even wear jeans this kid, ONLY sports clothes, so this should be interesting to purchase formal wear

 

[Michelle67]

I was just teasing about the fancy dancy school.

Honestly, I wouldn't buy formal wear for him if it was me. I think he's old enough for you to lay it out that he might be the only one not dressed formally, and if he is okay with it then let it be! My son is just tiny (going to Kindergarten this Sept) but he is a comfort kid like it sounds like your son is. A suit of any kind would be worn once (assuming I could even wrestle it on him THAT many times) and wasted forever-more in the closet here. If that is true at your house, don't do it! Especially if you are sick and it would involve a lot of potential difficulty! I think Dockers and a shirt are perfectly respectable attire, and he will look just fine.

 

[agentpleakley]

I had 2 elementary graduations in May.

DD (kindergarten) -- they wore cap & gowns and went up on stage, sang a couple songs, power point presentation, diploma -- cookies & punch. The girls had dressier dresses on, boys - some had suits, most had khakis or dark colored pants & polo shirt.

DS (6th grade) - dinner at local hotel, ceremony & dance. Again, girls - dressy dresses, boys -- 2 had suits on, the rest had khakis and either a polo or a button down. The dress code sent home said Sunday clothes, "no sneakers." One boy did have plaid shorts on.

 

[Doe]

At the elementary school my kids go/have gone to, the girls wear skirts/dresses and the boys typically wear nice pants/polo/dress shirt. I've seen a couple boys wear suits though.

 

[aprilgail2]

Its really doesn't matter what they wear here for 5th grade garduation since they were caps and gowns anyway so you don't see their clothes!

 

[mommasita]

Thanks Everyone.

We also have caps and gowns. This was my shocker. Perhaps it is for the show part, and the dance after..

I will get the pants shirt and tie. I was looking at a vest, and I like it. I will ask him what he thinks of the vest. He probably will not like it..

 

[Master Mason]

At least around here, they are not graduations, you only graduate from HS and College, the others are promotion cerimonies.

My Boy's always wore kacki pants and a shirt and tie to them. I see no reason for a suit to be purchased, if you already have one fine, but there is almost no need for a kid below the age of 17-18 to have a suit.

One money saving tip I do have for the future though is if your son likes dances and your pretty sure he will go to all 4 formals that most schools have, then buy him a tux the first time, it will more than pay for it's self over the course of those 4 dances.

 

[Stacerita]

Our school goes really informal. The boys wear nice pants and shirts. Girls usually wear nice pants or skirts/dresses. DD isn't much of a fashionista, so she choose her outfit from Hot Topic.....black shirt, plaid pants. Its very dressy to her. The school actually asks for parents not to dress the kids up too much. In past years they made the kids wear their dare shirts to keep from going over board.

 

[wowsmom]

My 5th grader is having his promotion ceremony on Thursday. The teacher sent home an email saying:

"Dresses for girls, slacks and dress shirts for the boys, not tuxes!"

 

[golfgal]

At least around here, they are not graduations, you only graduate from HS and College, the others are promotion cerimonies.

My Boy's always wore kacki pants and a shirt and tie to them. I see no reason for a suit to be purchased, if you already have one fine, but there is almost no need for a kid below the age of 17-18 to have a suit.

One money saving tip I do have for the future though is if your son likes dances and your pretty sure he will go to all 4 formals that most schools have, then buy him a tux the first time, it will more than pay for it's self over the course of those 4 dances.

Honestly this won't really work with most kids--they tend to grow, a LOT in high school.

Our middle school has an 8th grade ceremony. Most of the girls wear dresses, do their hair, etc. the boys 'dress up' for 8th grade boys, khakis and a collared shirt of some kind. The REALLY wild ones will wear a tie .

Tell your friends that 3 piece suits went out of style AGES ago. Do NOT get a vest for your DS, he will hate you for life if you make him wear that. I think the blue pants and tone on tone shirt/tie sounds perfect.

Any chance you have a yearbook that might have pictures from previous years? You could get an idea from that. When in doubt, call the school secretary and ask, they know everything.

 

[Cindy B]

I'd be happy if my son wore a nicer tshirt.. and his better shorts

The limos and such are just out of hand. In our district, the 8th grade dance is a big deal and the principal has stated no limos, and "normal" dress. Like the PP, you might get lucky and get a kid with a tie

 

[disneyfanforever]

My DS just graduated from elementary school DS wore nice dress khakis, dress shirt, and tie. I thought he looked great. Most of the boys had on the same type thing as him but there were a few that had on the full suits. DS would never have worn a suit. It took all I had to get him as dressed up as he was.

 

[RitaE]

we just did an 8th grade graduation. Most of the girls were uber-fabulous. They all had trips to the hair salon and nice party dresses.

Most of the boys were in suits. A few (enough that nobody really stood out) were in button down shirts, ties, and pants. I didn't mind the suit so much, he needed a new one anyway.

After, the whole class (45 kids) went bowing in the fancy duds.

I have a feeling varies by school.

 

[Trish Bessette]

My DD is graduating from 8th grade next Monday. The kids go all out - suits for boys and my DD bought a new "prom" type dress (knee lenght) with new shoes, she will be having her hair done, manicure...you name it. They make a big deal about it.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

At my older son's kindergarten graduation, it was very low-key with paper 'caps', no gowns. Many kids just wore their regular clothing (jeans or shorts with a t-shirt), but some girls wore party dresses and some boys wore nice pants and a nice shirt. I think I dressed my boy in khakis and a polo shirt.

The troublemaker-bully of the class was the only one decked out in a 3-piece suit and tie. For some reason that really struck my funnybone.

 

[Pigeon]

The limos and such are just out of hand. In our district, the 8th grade dance is a big deal and the principal has stated no limos, and "normal" dress. Like the PP, you might get lucky and get a kid with a tie

Could you just smack these idiot parents with the limos and all? At our elementary school, last year the Brainless Bimbo Mothers took over the normally reasonable 6th grade dance. They wanted all the kids to come in couples (cause most 6th grade boys would prefer to die first), and wanted the dress to be formal because, as one BBM put it, "But my daughter has always wanted to wear a prom gown and ride in a limo." How about she gets a prom gown when she's in high school and it's time for her prom?

At our elementary graduation, the boys mostly wear chinos and polo shirts or dress shirts. The occasional one will wear a tie, but most do not. The girls wear dresses or dress pants. I guess the BBMs haven't gotten their manicured mitts on the graduation activities yet.

 

[Cindy B]

Could you just smack these idiot parents with the limos and all? At our elementary school, last year the Brainless Bimbo Mothers took over the normally reasonable 6th grade dance. They wanted all the kids to come in couples (cause most 6th grade boys would prefer to die first), and wanted the dress to be formal because, as one BBM put it, "But my daughter has always wanted to wear a prom gown and ride in a limo." How about she gets a prom gown when she's in high school and it's time for her prom?

At our elementary graduation, the boys mostly wear chinos and polo shirts or dress shirts. The occasional one will wear a tie, but most do not. The girls wear dresses or dress pants. I guess the BBMs haven't gotten their manicured mitts on the graduation activities yet.

My son's (and soon to be daughters middle school) principal has a message on the school website and school notices.. no limos, or formal attire.. save it for high school!

 

[Master Mason]

Honestly this won't really work with most kids--they tend to grow, a LOT in high school.

guess it depends on the kid. I was 6 ft 165 the day I started my Sophmore year and I was 6ft and 165 the day I graduated. My oldest son wore his tux 4 times to all the formal dances. Then in college he started lifting weights and got too big in the arms and chest, so the younger son has already worn it once more.