"Look Mom, I Graduated": Pre-School Graduation Parties Can Be the Best!

June is quickly arriving, and many a graduation party is being planned. Why not plan a simple and fun party for your little preschooler who is graduating and going on to kindergarten? I am a teacher, and the mother of two sons, 18 and 11, so I have a few suggestions to make a preschool graduation a special day for your child.

First, I would keep the party small. Family and a few friends are ideal. Don't forget to include a few of your child's friends too. Keep in mind to gear this celebration with the children in mind. Remember, too much, too long, too much sugar, leads to too much chaos, too much confusion, and too many tears.

It is ideal to have a small party at home following your child's preschool graduation day. It could be for lunch, immediately following the formal graduation procedure, or dinner, after your child has relaxed and "chilled" at home quietly after his big day at school. Which ever time you choose, remember to start with decorations that will please the children. I recommend using art work that the children attending the party have done themselves, for placemats. These can be laminated in "Kinko's", and the children can take these home at the end of the party.
(Obviously, you would ask the parents before hand to give you one or two samples of their child's art work)
You can purchase party hats, plates, and cups with a graduation design or even use a cute teddy bear. The dollar store usually has these items. Balloons can be attached to each child's chair, so they can leave with a balloon and not have to cry. (Keep the colors the same so no one fights about which color balloon they want).

Great music to play is Raffi's song, "I Wonder if I'm Growing". The opening lines are:
I wonder if I'm growing
I wonder if I'm growing
My mom says, yes, I'm growing
Bit it's hard for me to see

My mom says eat your sandwich
It will make you grow up tall
But when I eat my sandwich
I'm hardly bigger at all

This is a perfect song for children and adults, since boys and girls like Raffi, and the adults will "tear up" at his words. This song can be found on "The Singable Songs Collection 20th Anniversary Special Edition", 1996.

There are coloring book pages about graduation that can be found online. Children can sit at the table or on the floor and have fun coloring. Each child should be given his own box of crayons as a gift. This will definitely stop any fighting over crayons, and children always love to receive new beautiful art supplies.

Another great game is Pin the Tail on the "School Bus", or "Big School",or "Kindergarten Class", or "Kindergarten Bear", etc.... You can find a large poster of one of these pictures, or draw it on poster board. Let the children pin the tail on this school related picture instead of the traditional donkey. Prizes should be given to each child, regardless of who wins. The winning child may pick their gift first. I love to have a box or bag called the "Treasure Chest" where assorted inexpensive toys can be found. ( call this the "Kindergarten Treasure Box")
Make sure if you have four children at the party, then you have four of each toy. Sometimes, children want only to have what their friend picked. Always have more games planned than needed, for you never know how quickly the children will go through your choices." Pass the Hot Potato", is always fun, as is "Musical Chairs". I like to use a cute graduation bear for the hot potato. Make sure when the game ends, you have a bear for each child. (You can purchase small bears from the dollar store and tell them this is their very own kindergarten bear who they can keep in their backpack on the first day of school. This is a great way to bring a little piece of home with them on that very first day! (remember, they would have had this bear all summer long) Another winning activity, is to put music on, and play "The Freeze Dance". When the music stops, they must "freeze". You can play all of these choices over and over again.

A great calming activity is to read the children a great book about entering school. Make sure you bring props to pass out while you read the story. As a reading specialist, I can assure you their attention will be wonderful if you have small giveaways that correspond to the story. They will be glued to the book, and you will be able to get the message across that school is something to look forward too, not fear.
Here are some great book choices:
Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild
Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson
Tiptoe into Kindergarten by Jacqueline Rogers
I Love You All Day Long by Francesca, Rusackas
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn ( This book is frequently read to children on the first day of school by the teacher. You may want to save it and have your own copy to read to your child when he comes home.)

Food and drink should be kept simple and to the children's liking. Hotdogs, pizza, popcorn, chicken fingers, pretzels, and maybe even an ice cream cake with a picture of the kindergarten bear, wearing a graduation hat, and diploma. You can see how easy it is to keep a theme going, once you get started. Water, juice, punch can be served. Juice boxes are the best way to go, so that spilling is kept to a minimal. You can choose to have a salad, fruit platter, and cheese and crackers, to add if you wish. In addition, you can serve something else for the adults, or stick to your simple menu. Sometimes, by adding one or two adult choices, you can really wow all of your guests, not just the children.

Another fun activity to save until the end is the pinata. Fill it with school supplies and candy. This way you have saved the sugar rush till the end, and the party will always finish on a high note. The pinata can be found in the shape of a school bus, or bear to match their kindergarten bear.

Now, I believe you have the makings of a great preschool graduation celebration. I will list websites that will help too.

Wishing your child a happy graduation, and enjoy the party!!!!! Let me know how it was!!

www.carnegielibrary.org
www.barnesand noble.com
www.amazon.com
www.raffinews.com
www.preschoolcoloringbook.com
www.rexanne.com