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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>When Your Children Graduate to K
Baby Beluga 04:40 PM 07-19-2016
Do you put on a "graduation" for them? Or get a special gift and have a party with the children in attendance?
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laundrymom 05:29 PM 07-19-2016
I don't. I typically just try to have the best last day and either cry (or celebrate) when they leave.
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e.j. 08:07 PM 07-19-2016
I don't do a graduation ceremony but I do try to make the day special - serve their favorite foods, let them choose the craft and the books we read that day. I have a special gift bag for them that generally includes a photo album with pictures I've taken of them during their time here, a book with a school theme like "The Night Before Kindergarten" or "The Kissing Hand" for example and maybe some crayons and a pad of paper or maybe one of their favorite toys from day care. Some of my kids have become very attached to a particular stuffed animal or toy. If I don't think the other kids will miss it or it's not something I need to hold onto, I may put it in their bag to keep.
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rosieteddy 07:37 AM 07-20-2016
I did the picture book ,special toy new book and a hand crocheted blanket.They would pick their favorite color for the blanket.I then would crochet at free play and nap time that way they saw the progress each month.We called it a warm hug from Nana. When I had to close unexpectedly last year I ordered blankets from PERSONALIZED SITE.I had the saying "warm hug from nana"printed on each one.Most of the kids were siblings of older clients and new about the blanket.We then just had a special good bye treat on child's last day.
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Baby Beluga 08:27 AM 07-20-2016
Originally Posted by rosieteddy:
I did the picture book ,special toy new book and a hand crocheted blanket.They would pick their favorite color for the blanket.I then would crochet at free play and nap time that way they saw the progress each month.We called it a warm hug from Nana. When I had to close unexpectedly last year I ordered blankets from PERSONALIZED SITE.I had the saying "warm hug from nana"printed on each one.Most of the kids were siblings of older clients and new about the blanket.We then just had a special good bye treat on child's last day.
The blankets are too precious!

I am glad to hear some don't do graduation ceremonies. I have two graduating to K next year and I am on the fence. Here it seems common to do. Many rent caps and gowns, invite the parents, have the kids put on a show (some type of song and dance) and have a big meal after.

The thought of doing that is....unappealing. I was thinking of having a going away party with just the children and I and making a shutter fly book of the child's time with me and maybe a special toy.

Just seems like the graduation ceremonies are more for parents and the going away party for the children is more for the children.
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Thriftylady 08:54 AM 07-20-2016
I am not a big believer that everything needs to be a "graduation". To me, a "graduation" ceremony means you put in lots of hard work to accomplish something. So after a year or two of school or daycare, I don't think one has "earned" a graduation. A "graduation" is a big, special occasion that you only get a select few times in life in my opinion. I think a small gift for a child who has been with you two, three or four years is enough.
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thrivingchildcarecom 10:02 AM 07-20-2016
It really depends for me. If they stay until Kinder then I put on a full graduation. But if they leave before, I just get a parting gift and let the parents do more if they want to.
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Controlled Chaos 10:26 AM 07-20-2016
nope nope nope
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NillaWafers 11:35 AM 07-20-2016
No, because I don't want to do that for every kid, haha.

I might plan a special treat or activity. I am pretty small though, with only 3 kids besides my own.
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AmyKidsCo 11:57 AM 07-20-2016
I don't. I'm a huge party pooper when it comes to graduations. I get that it's exciting to move to Kdg, or from Kdg to 1st grade, or middle school to high school, etc, But in most cases it's social promotion - kids move up regardless of academic progress/achievement. IMO high school and college are the times to celebrate graduation because both require a certain amount of work and dedication to graduate. Granted, a student can graduate with a D average, but at least they stuck with it and didn't drop out.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 12:01 PM 07-20-2016
I take a photo of them in a cap and gown, put it in an inexpensive frame, and give them a book about going to kindergarten. This year I added a long bubble stick looking thing (walmart) that had a tag that read, "You blew me away!"

I only do a large Christmas party, Mother's Day event, and Father's Day event.
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Controlled Chaos 12:44 PM 07-20-2016
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I take a photo of them in a cap and gown, put it in an inexpensive frame, and give them a book about going to kindergarten. This year I added a long bubble stick looking thing (walmart) that had a tag that read, "You blew me away!"

I only do a large Christmas party, Mother's Day event, and Father's Day event.
I do like that idea...maybe I will steal it

I hate baby cap and gown stuff...don't know why. It annoys the life out of me. I am not throwing a party for a kid aging out of my program, that is what bday parties are for and that's a parents responsibility. Man, I am grumpy today lol. But the book is a nice farewell gift.
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spinnymarie 06:58 AM 07-21-2016
We take a silly 'graduation picture' and then give them a photo book. But since we are not in session over summer, their last day is everyone's last day before break.
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Tags:graduation, kindergarten
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