Flowers for DD’s preschool graduation ceremony?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Team DH too. My toddler is not in preschool yet but when she is, I really hope her school does not have a "graduation" ceremony. Sorry, but a graduation for a preschool or kindergarten is like the whole trophy-for-everyone mentality.

My DH is French and he said there's no graduation ceremony for even high school.

Whaaaaaaat. You people are no fun. Preschool graduation has nothing to do with accomplishment. It’s more about celebrating a milestone. A fun gathering of families and teachers celebrating the end of the first school experience.

[Anonymous]

I always thought the graduation was really more of a means to help the kids transition...not a celebration of accomplishment. My kid went to the same daycare/preschool for the first 5 years of his life. The "graduation" helped him feel like a big kid and ready for K.

[Anonymous]

We went out to dinner after.

[Anonymous]

The ceremony was cute. The kids sang, etc. No one brought flowers for the kids. People brought gifts for the teachers. We did not.

[Anonymous]

OP, do what you want and ignore the naysayers. I wouldn't go all out but if you want to buy your kid a $6 bouquet of flowers at Safeway AND a $3 ice cream cone, go for it. It's ok to celebrate small accomplishments and there is no harm in making your child feel special. It may not be a big deal to adults but it can be for the kids--this is their first big ceremony and that's special to a 5 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do what you want and ignore the naysayers. I wouldn't go all out but if you want to buy your kid a $6 bouquet of flowers at Safeway AND a $3 ice cream cone, go for it. It's ok to celebrate small accomplishments and there is no harm in making your child feel special. It may not be a big deal to adults but it can be for the kids--this is their first big ceremony and that's special to a 5 year old.

Exactly this. It is a fun celebration for them and is a milestone to a 5 year old. They are heading off to a new school with new kids and new teachers. Why not have fun and celebrate with flowers/balloons/ice cream, etc.? No one is suggesting a graduation party with gifts (which would clearly be excessive). And of course, no one needs a flower or balloon. But it is fun to celebrate the small moments and the big ones. My dd just graduated college but I remember her pre-school graduation. The kids sang a few songs, got a certificate and celebrated with their families. We gave her a flower AND had a picnic lunch with other families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, do what you want and ignore the naysayers. I wouldn't go all out but if you want to buy your kid a $6 bouquet of flowers at Safeway AND a $3 ice cream cone, go for it. It's ok to celebrate small accomplishments and there is no harm in making your child feel special. It may not be a big deal to adults but it can be for the kids--this is their first big ceremony and that's special to a 5 year old.

Exactly this. It is a fun celebration for them and is a milestone to a 5 year old. They are heading off to a new school with new kids and new teachers. Why not have fun and celebrate with flowers/balloons/ice cream, etc.? No one is suggesting a graduation party with gifts (which would clearly be excessive). And of course, no one needs a flower or balloon. But it is fun to celebrate the small moments and the big ones. My dd just graduated college but I remember her pre-school graduation. The kids sang a few songs, got a certificate and celebrated with their families. We gave her a flower AND had a picnic lunch with other families.

+1. Life is short and it’s been a rough year. Your kid won’t be spoiled by receiving a bouquet of flowers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH said no, “it’s only preschool.” I said yes. We have not been to one of these.. do parents bring flowers?

Your expectations and aspirations for your daughter are very low if you think this is an achievement that merits flowers.

You sound cheap. It’s not diamonds, it’s flowers. You can buy a mini bouquet from Trader Joe’s for $3.99. I bought both of my girls flowers for their birthdays this year. Sometimes I randomly bring flowers home from the grocery store. It’s sad that you think it needs to be a high honor or achievement for your little kid to get flowers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH said no, “it’s only preschool.” I said yes. We have not been to one of these.. do parents bring flowers?

Your DH is right. It is a non event. Give the kid an ice ceam cone.

NP here but seriously what’s the difference between a cheap bouquet of flowers and an ice cream cone? What I’d OPs kid really likes flowers? I don’t get why people are so adamantly against flowers? I have a kid who is graduating from preschool and we’re not buying her flowers because she just got some for her birthday, but some of you are crazy!!

[Anonymous]

OP, I think the idea of flowers is fine!

I do have to warn you though- my dd recently had K graduation (I didn't get flowers, got a balloon for home) and the school wisely handed them a blank paper 'diploma'...because they find that kids like to crumple things! They gave the certificates out to parents after. Plus, my dd got an award and teacher took that too or goodness knows it probably would have ended up under a chair somewhere. After the ceremony, the kids had juice and cookies, so their hands were full then.

Maybe give them to her at home, lol.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I didn’t realize so many responses. I did bring flowers to the ceremony. A whopping $5 half a dozen light pink roses for her. FWIW, I was the only one who brought flowers. Other parents and grandparents brought gifts. We couldn’t do ice cream or picnic after as DH has to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a balloon is a cuter idea. And ice cream.

Balloons are terrible for the environment. I hate balloons and judge anyone who buys them.

Judge away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I didn’t realize so many responses. I did bring flowers to the ceremony. A whopping $5 half a dozen light pink roses for her. FWIW, I was the only one who brought flowers. Other parents and grandparents brought gifts. We couldn’t do ice cream or picnic after as DH has to work.

You and DD could have done ice cream.