Gifts For 8th Grade Graduates

Graduation gifts make kids feel special and grownup.

It is a big moment in every parent's life when your son or daughter graduates from the eighth grade. The eighth grade is an academic rite of passage that signifies the student is ready to enter high school. It is customary to give your graduate a gift in honor of his hard work, and to celebrate his achievements. Find something that your child will appreciate and enjoy, and that speaks to the occasion.

Vacation

Summertime is here, and this will be your eighth grader's final summer before becoming a high school student. Celebrate the excitement with a family vacation. Make plans to go someplace that your son or daughter would enjoy, such as the beach or a big city. The vacation can be a surprise if you are able to successfully keep the plans a secret. If the element of surprise is what you're after, present your son or daughter with a wrapped box on graduation day, and put a map with a circle around the travel destination into the box.

Jewelry

For many girls, the thought of graduating eighth grade and going to high school creates a sense of maturity. You can complement this notion by giving her a piece of jewelry that will make her feel special. She may even wish to wear it on her first day of high school. When giving the gift of jewelry, make sure that you know what your daughter's style is, as well as what is trendy. Chances are your daughter will have her own unique taste and won't want jewelry that is outdated. Another jewelry idea is to buy your daughter a necklace with the date of her graduation engraved in the pendant.

Electronics

Many eighth-grade kids are into electronics, such as iPods, portable DVD players and cell phones. For a graduation gift, give your child a new electronic device that he has been wanting. If you have the financial means, you may even consider buying your child a laptop or personal home computer, which will come in handy for all the homework to come in high school.

Hobby-inspired Gifts

If you know that your child has a particular hobby, such as weightlifting, surfing, bicycle riding, drawing, painting or photography, find a gift that encourages his passion. A new surfboard waiting at home after the graduation ceremony is ideal for the surfer, as is a new camera for the budding photographer. Hobby-inspired gifts will make your child feel special and will give him something to do over the summer break.

Framed Picture Collage

A framed picture collage takes work to prepare, but can be a sentimental gift for an eighth-grade graduation. Start by collecting photos of your child and his friends throughout their eighth grade year. Assemble the photos in a creative way and glue them to card stock. Find a glass frame to put it in so that your child can hang it on the bedroom wall.

Tags: your child, your daughter, high school, eighth grade, that your, feel special