Do people give gifts for middle school “graduation”?

[Anonymous]

My 8th grader is finishing middle school, and going on to high school at the same school. They have an assembly type thing, and I thought I would “celebrate” by taking him and his sibling out for ice cream or making his favorite dinner. Something like that.

But, I have a sibling who likes to give gifts, more often than I do, and sometimes that can lead to awkwardness. So, now I am wondering if this is an event at which people who like to give gifts do so. Not to your own kids but to other people’s kids that you are close to.

[Anonymous]

People who like to give gifts will always do so. I have an 8th grader and the thought of gifts had not crossed my mind until I read your post.

[Anonymous]

When my kids graduated middle school, I gave them a token gift. I wouldn’t have thought about giving other kids middle school grad gifts. It’s definitely not in the same category as high school or college graduation. Did your sibling for K or grade school graduation? I think it’s more comparable to those.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Ice cream and maybe
Something else they like movies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my kids graduated middle school, I gave them a token gift. I wouldn’t have thought about giving other kids middle school grad gifts. It’s definitely not in the same category as high school or college graduation. Did your sibling for K or grade school graduation? I think it’s more comparable to those.

No, she did not give gifts for those occasions, but she has given my kids, and/or expected me to give her kids for other occasions that I would not think about giving a gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who like to give gifts will always do so. I have an 8th grader and the thought of gifts had not crossed my mind until I read your post.

+1 especially since it's not a graduation. It's a promotion to the next grade. Big difference.

[Anonymous]

I bought DD a shirt from the high school she will be attending

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who like to give gifts will always do so. I have an 8th grader and the thought of gifts had not crossed my mind until I read your post.

+1 especially since it's not a graduation. It's a promotion to the next grade. Big difference.

"promotion" is even a bit much.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! Hopefully she agrees with all of you and won’t do it.

[Anonymous]

+1 to ice cream after the promotion ceremony. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 to ice cream after the promotion ceremony. That's it.

OP here,

I am not asking what I should do for my own kid. I’ll do ice cream or make cookies or something along those lines. I am wondering about what my sibling will do for my kid.

[Anonymous]

That's it, ice cream. Make it more fun for them. Ice cream with friends at least. Ice cream party, special sundae party. All their efforts for no reward. It's especially important if you know they had a hard time struggling or had loads of homework and projects. People celebrate differently. Don't worry, the sibling will not outshine your reward.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a big gift giver but if I was going to my niece or nephew's 8th grade graduation I'd probably give $20 in a graduation card.

When DD finished 8th grade, I wouldn't normally think to give a gift. However, one of her three best friends was moving out of state right after that so I gave all four girls a photo collage with pics of them from K-8th.