My immigrant parents who couldn't really afford much got me and my sister a pearl necklace and earrings as an 8th grade graduation gift. We both wore them in our class pictures and I remember being touched at the gesture given how tight money was, feeling grown-up and fancy, and really cherishing those pearls (that were cheap Service Merchandise types, haha).

I plan on getting a similarly meaningful gift for my 8th graders. I want them to remember this as a stepping stone toward adulthood, as well as how special I tried to make them feel. The same way my parents did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:nothing 8th graders don't graduate.

Exactly

Agreed. Nothing for my 8th grader. Dinner out with grandparents, but that’s something we would just do anyway. Maybe she gets to pick where?

Anonymous wrote:As Barney once said, "A great big hug and a kiss from me to you." If you're really feeling eccentric, especially in this economy, take them to a dinner or a rollercoaster weekend. The real gifts come for high school, college, the master(s) and maybe even the PhD. Only families where high school isn't commonplace give big gifts for "promotion".

Sure Scrooge McGee. Nice way to cover for your joylessness. Plenty of families where college and grad school are the norms celebrate the milestones of academic life between pre K and grad school. You should try it.

Anonymous wrote:Are you giving your 8th grader a graduation gift? Our 8th grader is graduating with straight As of all 3 years of MS. We want to give a graduation gift but are stumped at what to give. Any suggestions?

In our middle school, 80% students got straight As. Good for kids morale and boost kids confidence.