Once again, graduation might look a little different this year. But as we’ve learned from living in a pandemic for more than a year now, there are alternative ways to celebrate a major milestone that still can make it feel special.
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate your grad — preschool to high school — check out the ideas below. Some are grouped by age, while those listed at the bottom are appropriate for any graduate.
High School Seniors
While some area high schools plan to hold traditional commencement ceremonies, others are opting for pandemic-friendly virtual events or socially distanced, pared down activities. No matter what your school is planning, you can do extra things at home to celebrate your senior’s hard work and mark the momentous occasion.
- Create a video. Have friends and family submit short videos with messages or well wishes for your graduate. Use a video production app or computer program to edit them all together.
- Decorate your front door. Create a large collage of photos of your graduate through the years, and use it to cover the front door of your house or create a photo wreath.
- Cheer on wheels. Make your own (or order online) “2021 Grad” car sign. Affix the sign to your car with magnets or slide it in the back window. When other drivers read the message — something along the lines of “Honk for me, I’m a 2021 senior!” — you’ll hear the celebration all summer long.
- Collect words of wisdom. Ask friends and family members to write their best life advice on a slip of paper. Stick them in DIY fortune cookies or create a scrapbook with the messages alongside photos of each participant.
Elementary School Grads
The move to middle school is worth celebrating. While there may not be a formal celebration at school, there are many ways to mark the occasion at home.
- Plan a virtual party. Is your grad a gamer? Set up a time for them to play online and chat with their friends. Prepare special snacks and drop them off at each participant’s house beforehand. Not into video games? Arrange a Zoom call with all their friends and plan a trivia game.
- Write a special letter. Have your child write a “Dear future me” letter. Look online for templates, which let students fill in details about themselves, their goals, and their current likes and dislikes.
- Host a movie night. Plan an outdoor movie night for your grad’s friends. Make special snacks and set up a concession stand. Make grads feel like VIPs by having them enter via red carpet.
Preschoolers
Moving up to kindergarten is the first big step in your child’s education. If you’re looking for fun ways to make it feel extra special for your little one, consider the following ideas.
- Bake a cake. With your graduate helping every step of the way, bake a cake from scratch and decorate it. Let your child choose the flavor and decorations, then have fun getting a little messy in the kitchen.
- Break out a pinata. When you’re a kid, nothing says “celebration” more than a pinata. Fill it with your child’s favorite treats and small toys and watch the fun unfold.
- Have a scavenger hunt. Create a hunt in which your graduate will have to follow clues to find a special gift. For extra excitement, hide each clue along with school supplies your child will need in kindergarten.
- Make a keepsake. Create a special keepsake using your child’s handprint. As the years go by, it’ll be fun to look back and see just how small they were when they were preschool graduates. For inspiration, check out the Northeast Ohio Parent Pinterest boards.
Ideas for All Ages
Some things, like those listed below, are fun for graduates of every age.
- Plan a photo shoot. Get together with your child’s closest friends and hire a professional photographer to organize a socially-distant photo shoot for graduates. (Remember to bring caps and gowns, if applicable!)
- Organize a parade. Close to graduation day, have your child and their friends decorate cars and slowly drive around the neighborhood honking and celebrating. Or invite friends and family to drive (and honk!) by your house in honor of your graduate.
- Host a backyard BBQ. Host a socially-distant outdoor event with a kid-friendly menu. Held open house-style, people can come and go as they please, which will reduce the number of guests present at any given time.
- Create a photo banner. Gather photos of your graduate at all ages, then mount them on a banner to hang on the stair railing, mantel or other prominent place in your home. Leave it up for the summer for a daily smile.
Plan a special family dinner. Get the whole family dressed up and make a toast to the graduate. Let your grad pick the menu and get out the fancy dishes — after all, this is an occasion to celebrate!
