<p>My DD13 is getting invited to many graduation parties (and we have been invited to 4 or 5 so far). She will probably end up going to 15-20 parties - do you send a gift or card/money with a friend to a graduation party/open house? Last year she went to about 10 and I wrote a check for $20.11 (graduation year) for the kids I knew in a card - so probably about 5 or 6 checks but I know almost all the kids she is invited to this year and that could get expensive. Obviously I will bring something if DH and I go but what do you do if just your kid goes?</p>
<p>Also - any real creative gifts for close friends or family members (these are high school graduations).</p>
<p>We once gave a family member a fancy black umbrella – full of money (all $1s), for a “rainy day”. Of course, you have to come up with a reason for them to open it right away!</p>
<p>My kids ('11, '13, '14) have attended and will attend many graduation parties/open houses. Their friends did not expect them to bring gifts. If I attended I gave a card with a gift card to an eatery or book store if I knew the student enjoyed books. The amount depended on my closeness to the individual and their family. I think kids really want as many kids to show up as possible for their parties, even if the kids have multiple parties to attend and don’t even eat much. In our area open houses are extremely popular. Some people go all out with bounce houses, catered food or other extremes. Others are modest. The adults (usually relatives or friends of the parents) may bring gifts but the kids are just there to hang out and visit before they go their separate ways.</p>
<p>With my DD’s crowd it was an unspoken deal that no one expected anything from each other as far as gifts when attending each others’ parties. On the other hand, if you are invited as a family then it is more appropriate to do something in the $20 range as has been said.</p>
<p>If you or your DD really do not want her to show up empty handed then I have heard a few good suggestions from teachers that I know (who are always invited to a million parties). One would buy a helium balloon at the Dollar Store (or fill his own) and tie a couple of instant lottery tickets to it (if you don’t feel this is appropriate you could tie a $5 Starbucks or fast food gift card or some coupons for ice cream cones or coffees). Another teacher always gives her graduates “Oh the Places You’ll Go”. 2012 Keychains, Mugs filled with candy, shower caddy filled with candy (from the dollar store again). All are useful and appreciated.</p>
<p>One clever gift that my son’s piano teacher would give to his students: a bath towel in school colors of college, with graduate’s initials embroidered. Thought it was so thoughtful.</p>
<p>The book “Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her?: Surviving Away from Home” is a nice little gift ($11 on Amazon). There’s a dad version too. Of course, you can find most of same the info on the internet now, but it’s still nice to have a handy little reference book.</p>
<p>That does remind me though that when my DD was going away to ballet intensives in large cities (NYC and Atlanta) someone suggested the “Non-Tourist Guides” to me. They were really great little books with a lot of tips and tricks for getting around and finding things. If someone you know is going to college in a major city that may be something they find useful.</p>
<p>Around here the norm is for kids not to give gifts to each other as well. Some kids will bring cards but that is about it. For the parties we are specifically invited to (parents) we will give cash and the amount depends on how close we are to the graduate. DD has 2 very good friends graduating this year as well as her boyfriend. We will give them all cash in a card. </p>
<p>I used to coach high school sports and would get invited to 30+ parties each year. This was back when we were young and poor. I used to put together a box of stationary and stamps along with an address book (just to tell you how long ago that was :D). It was always well received.</p>
<p>I bought a couple of generic boxes of cute “Congratulations!” cards online (the cards can get expensive!). We put $10 in each card (D1 paid me back for half of that). So she took a card with $10 to each party.</p>
<p>For the kids I knew well, I either wrote a slightly bigger check or gave a gift. Did not ask D to chip in for that.</p>
<p>If kids go to each other’s parties I would think a gift is not necessary (maybe bringing food would be appropriate). If a parent attends then I would suggest a gift card (Bed, Bath and Beyond is what I did since they have all the dorm needs).</p>
<p>I stocked up on cards when the Cardstore dot com was running a lot of specials. Depending on where she’s going, or if it is a family event, I’ll include a gift card of some type. Easy, and any extra gift cards can be used by one of us…</p>
<p>Most do not bring gifts. D had joint party with another girl last year. I would say many 20% or fewer brought gifts (most from kids whose parents we knew.)</p>
<p>When our Son was making the rounds, I bought inexpensive gift bags and tissues in school colors. Each one was filled with a bag of Hershey’s Minature Chocolate bars and some chip clips (I think I found some with magnets on them, so they could have many functions.)</p>
<p>In my circle, if you go together as a family a small gift is appropriate-- like you’re $20.11 check. My parents and I all went together to my best friend’s graduation and we brought a gift. When we go just us kids, we don’t usually bring gifts… maybe a card, but nobody is expecting anything.</p>
<p>If my old college roomate’s (who I still see 5 or 6 times a year) daughter is graduating high school and we are going to her party - what level of gift would be appropriate? If I got her a gift card, or money, is $50 about right? I have no idea …</p>