Gifts for Preschool and Kindergarten Graduation | 2023
It’s time to celebrate your little one’s graduation – one of their very first major educational milestones! Whether they are graduating preschool or kindergarten, we are honored you have come here, to The Gift Guide Go-To, to find the best graduation gift for them – gifts they will truly enjoy and that help commemorate their finishing preschool or kindergarten.
So much growing up will have happened in this past school year, emotionally, physically, and academically. Your little graduate has developed a greater sense of independence, a better ability to be a contributing member of a larger group, and has likely expanded his or her friend group. They have gained greater control over their fine and gross motor systems. And academically, first and foremost, we hope they have deepened that love for learning. In fact, many children will have learned to read and have begun to exercise mathematical reasoning skills in and out of the classroom. It’s an exciting time, in short!
We have kept all of these brilliant preschool and kindergarten accomplishments in mind as we curated our list of Great Graduation Gifts for Little Ones. Five- and six-year-olds love to play, but they still thrive within the boundaries of structure. That doesn’t mean they need (or like) step-by-step activities, but rather respond to play that is inspired — that which is facilitated, not directed, e.g. Most importantly, you will find a broad range of gifts that are both functional and developmentally appropriate. We have covered a vast area of interest, so shopping for a just right preschool or kindergarten graduation gift is a little bit easier for you.
In choosing the best graduation gifts for preschoolers and kindergarteners, we have assembled this collection of our tried-and-tested favorites.
Surprise Powerz Dolls - Codie the Coder Doll
Codie is one of four fantastic dolls that promote a love for science. Each doll represents a different ethnicity and area of interest: Astro the Astronaut, Vera the Vet, Maria the Mathematician, and Codie the Coder. The plush 16” dolls each speak 75 phrases in their area of expertise with the gentle squeeze of their hand. They engage the child in conversations, games, and songs all while building authentic STEM experiences and vocabulary. Based on GGGT first-hand testing, the dolls were a huge hit with little ones and proved a great way to celebrate academic success.
Once Upon a Pancake for the Youngest Storytellers
This exciting book is unlike others: it isn’t finished! With the help of a grown-up, pre-readers and pre-writers work together using the exciting written and visual prompts to write a creative story. For children who can already read and write on their own, this is a wonderful independent task that they can celebrate and share when they are finished. As a hands-on-testing experience (and an enjoyable experience), we have spent hours of fun completing the many story prompts within, resulting in a unique project revealing a young one’s creativity. Some of the stories are written phonetically and independently, others were dictated by our little ones because their hands tired out. The stories’ prompts are silly but incredibly intentional. They teach story elements like character, setting, problem, and solution and progression, helping children to write and illustrate a beginning, middle, and end. Make this an educational and exciting graduation gift pick; it’s a wonderful way to celebrate their growth as a reader and writer.
Melissa and Doug School Time!
Five- and six-year-olds learn best through active play and hands-on experiences. Imaginative play in particular is a wonderful opportunity for them to process the world around them. As they graduate, perhaps about to venture off to a new school, reenacting school year experiences can help with the transition and allow them the opportunity to celebrate their successes and pretend to be one of their favorite people – their teacher!
Osmo Genius Kit
Osmo is one of Gift Guide Go-To’s Favorite toys for its versatility. If you’re not familiar, it’s a stand and mirror combination that turns either your iPad or Fire Tablet into a hub for endless fun and interactive learning games. It is truly a system that will grow with a child for years to come (we know from years of hands-on experience). The Genius Kit from Osmo makes a perfect graduation gift for preschoolers and kindergarteners because it allows them to practice skills they have learned, and even mastered, in an independent, interactive, and intentional way. From leveled Tangram challenges allowing children to experiment with size and shape, to manipulating lines in front of the screen to complete physics puzzles; from creative drawing to practicing leveled math equations (counting, adding, subtracting, and even multiplication) through the use of manipulatives; and from authentic spelling and vocabulary practice to fine motor practice, this kit is a meaningful and developmentally appropriate use of a screen.
My Book About Me by Dr Seuss
A child’s first graduation is the perfect time to begin a new tradition, and this is one of our favorite ways to do so. This exciting and silly memory book prompts children to document their year and their growth. From pages for tracing their hands to ones that mark their least favorite foods; from noting their favorite book to asking if they have ticklish feet; from a prompt to count the amount of zippers in their closet to a checklist of silly noises they can make and on it goes, this book is a developmentally appropriate and entertaining way to capture a snapshot of their personality at graduation time. (And from experience, the books are a true trip down memory lane for adults and kids alike when you can compare their first iteration from Pre-K or Kinder to those from upper elementary school.)
A Desk of Their Own
A creative space of their own – what a wonderful way to commemorate a child’s graduation! A desk is a piece of furniture that you don’t require as a little one, but as you become more mature it becomes a rite of passage. Whether your graduate likes to spend their time building LEGOs, coloring, using figurines to engage in imaginative play, or flipping through books. At GGGT we believe a great kid desk has two important properties: first it is size appropriate and second it is inexpensive, meaning it is okay to be covered in crayon marks, glue, and paint.These are both very important in helping your little graduate develop a sense of independence and self-reliance.
Skillmatics Rock Painting
Here at the GGGT we have never met a Skillmatics creation that we haven’t loved, but there is a special reason we have picked this one to commemorate preschool graduation — but let’s first let’s talk about the kit. It comes with everything you need (even the rocks) to paint pretty rocks: paint, googly eyes, glitter paint, and rhinestones. It even has wonderful transfer stickers that give a child an outline to fill in with designs like rainbows, stars, suns, ice cream, and a ton more. (Or 40, to be exact.) Now, let’s talk about the why behind the pick: These cute rocks bring happiness. Here at GGGT, we had an experience that sparked the idea behind this pick: on one of our very first days of our little one’s preschool tenure, they came across a beautifully painted rock. They picked it up and it brought a bright smile to their face. It provided them with a sense of happiness and comfort as they tucked it into their pocket and set off on their new adventure. This inspired us to think how we could do that for others. The idea is that, with the permission of the preschool’s director, the graduate can place decorated rocks around the outdoor area of their old campus to provide the little graduate a sense of closure, while simultaneously “paying it forward” and spreading happiness to a new student the following year.
Back to School Bracelets
Perhaps you want a graduation gift that is sentimental and focuses more toward the transition of the next school year? Then this is a good gift pick for you. This bracelet is a comfort item that can be introduced over the summer to help bring reassurance as kids venture into a new beginning at summer’s end. This simple tool can give them the boost they need for success in the months to come. And the GGGT always loves a literary connection; in this case The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is just right.
Classic Kite
Flying a kite is an age old delight. It will feel like “a big kid gift” to your young graduate, honoring their newly made transition, as we all know kite flying is serious business. With that said, it actually can be quite difficult but this model is not only durable but flies in very low wind and is easier than most kites to launch. Developmentally speaking, older five- and six-year-olds thrive with physical, outdoor play, but they tend to tire quickly, making a kite a great way to engage those developmental needs. Short bursts of high energy fun, but a game you can easily stop and come back to as they want.
Personalized Pencils
Traditionally by age 5 and 6, children have graduated to a pincer grip (the same way we hold a pencil) and no longer need oversized writing tools. With these pencils, the implements are just the right size and so very special because they say the child’s name! This gift pick is a great way to celebrate their academic accomplishments and to celebrate their writing and drawing accomplishments while encouraging them to keep up the creative work!
Looking for more from the GGGT? Check out our curated list of toys that promote imaginative play, toys for 5 year olds, and a whole lot more.
