Grad Gifts? Any Ideas....

<p>What should I do for my grad gifts? What about your grad? I want to do nice gifts for classmates.</p>

<p>how about accepting no gifts or donation to your favorite charity.</p>

<p>I think this is one time when $$ may be an appropriate gift. For a peer, maybe a giftcard to the bookstore near their future campus. (I told S he's getting a roll of quarters.) There were many nice suggestions on the old CC last spring.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

<p>Beach towels are something useful for male or female. Few seniors actually own a beach towel and have always used the family's. They come in a variety of prices. I have given them for years to seniors and they always seem to appreciate getting one.</p>

<p>There was a group of us in my h.s. that were not only tight, but did quite well scholastically. As a reward, the parents of all of us got together "behind our backs" and agreed to funding a vacation trip within our State. They arranged in advance for the Whole Nine Yards: plane, hotels, entertainment tickets, etc. We were also mature, & not into mischief, rebelliousness, substance abuse, etc., so maybe it wouldn't work for all h.s. grads. (We are also all female.) Maybe that wouldn't be special or exciting enough for today's teens, but we were thrilled & surprised. Also a nice change of pace after all that academic work, & preparatory to even more! It was also a nice safe transition to independence. We appreciated their trust of us, & responded accordingly.</p>

<p>As to my own grad, haven't decided yet! Possibly cash -- since we have so little of it, it's always a treat for her to have something to "play" with frivolously. Either that, or a really attractive piece of luggage which will lure her to visit home more (sob, sob).</p>

<p>I am going down to the graduation at my daughters school ( along with the two girls). My daughter wont be graduating this year ( she is taking this year off- but this would have been her graduation otherwise)
I don't have a lot of money- but I did want to do something for about 6-10 of her friends-I was thinking the school logo coffee cups filled with chocolate covered espresso beans or something else with school logo- the beach towels though are a good idea too.</p>

<p>When our DS graduated from college - we gave him a round trip ticket to anywhere - he absolutely loved that idea - took him a little time to figure out where he wanted to go - he ended up using it when he was invited to Colorado to spend the winter by a couple of his frat bros. For high school - we threw a big cook out - and a good sized down payment on new computer for school - we did the same for our DD also. Gifts for their best pals depended - we did somewhat personal things that fit each of them individually - not real expensive - but thoughtful and personal.</p>

<p>Someone mentioned beach towels. I ordered Ralph Lauren "bath sheets" from Horchow. They were special order for just under $20 with a free monogram. Comes in a lot of colors. I don't know if boys would like them, but the girls do.</p>

<p>(I like the monogram idea, in case it walks away in the dorm next year.)</p>

<p>OK now I'm nervous.
Is there some new tradition (not published in the college guides) of buying graduation gifts for classmates, or your child's classmates? For your own child, I'm clear on the concept, but....</p>

<p>Thank you, taramom! I looked at this thread earlier and "walked away" shaking my head in confusion (and dismay?) and wondered if there were something wrong with me. I don't think this is any kind of tradition here, and I wasn't aware of it when we lived in California, but that was a long time ago.</p>

<p>I'm planning on a gift for S. We do a gift as part of Project Graduation for all Seniors (guess what? it's going to be a towel, we must be on the right track). But the whole idea of a gift for a bevy of Senior friends seems like pressure and $$ to me (I've decided to be honest here and spit it out)! Am I a selfish oaf? :confused:</p>

<p>GIft certificate to college book store is always a good choice, that way when they arrive they can pick up extra shirts/hats ... whatever.</p>

<p>Taking up Simba's suggestions, we made a donation to my S's public school in thanks to all his great teachers. We gave our S an electric guitar (his request). My younger S says he can't think of anything; we'll make another donation to the school.</p>

<p>I think the classmates are ones the kids and parents are especially close to. There were two kids on our street--friends of our son--who graduated from high school last year. We gave each of them a gift certificate to the bookstore of the community college they planned to attend the next year.</p>

<p>My son has already made his request for a high school graduation present--and it will also be his birthday and Christmas present for the next four years or so (And he will pay part of it.)--and that is a particular trumpet he really wants. He will be a music major in college, so this is something he can really use.</p>

<p>We also have a son graduating from college, but so far we have no idea what to get him. He plans to spend a year in Japan, so it has to be something small and portable!</p>

<p>Sorry to scare you taramom :0) It is customary in our area to give something to close classmates...nothing too big or expensive.</p>

<p>Sorry to scare you taramom :0) It is customary in our area to give something to close classmates...nothing too big or expensive. I was also interested in what parents will do for their grads for a gift.</p>

<p>Our son will get a new computer to take to college. Gifts for peers are generally exchanged only with close personal and family friends.</p>

<p>Hey thanks txrunnerj, for explaining that--</p>

<p>I'm certainly not intending to be critical of anyone wanting to do nice things for a class or classmates, I just wanted to check whether this had been institutionalized and I was out of the loop. I have been accused at times of being a cave-dweller....</p>

<p>Last year I bought my son's friends decorative pillows with their favorite home baseball team (Mets/Yankees). They appreciated having these momentos of home in their dorms.</p>

<p>Last year I bought my son's friends decorative pillows with logos of their favorite home baseball team (Mets/Yankees).<br>
They appreciated having these momentos of home in their dorms.</p>