Looking for a meaningful gift for your child at the end of their school days that costs very little and but will be something you all treasure? I’d read about this tradition on the internet somewhere, and knew that it was something I wanted to do for my boys once they started school. We’ve been going for 3 years now, and I wanted to share in case you want to start one too! While you could make it a surprise for them, I haven’t kept it a secret from them as I love them being able to look back at the messages any time they want!
The Ultimate Graduation Gift is as simple as finding a beautiful book about graduating, growth, or being you, and having your child’s teacher(s) write a sentiment in the book at the end of each year. You could gift this book to your child at the end of Primary School, or keep going right through til the end of Secondary School, the choice is yours! Keep reading for some book title inspiration!
We started in Kindergarten (the year before formal schooling), and have so far continued through Prep and Year One. I think we will continue until Year 6 and gift it to our child then, but you really could continue on as long as you like! The book we have purchased is The Adventures You’ll Have, which is a customisable book from Hippo Blue. The story specifically uses our child’s name throughout, which I adore. If you don’t have time to order a book, or are looking for something at a different price point, I’ve rounded up 9 other books that you could use here. The Wonderful Things You Will Be is probably my pick of the bunch!
I typed up a note to attach to the book so that it could be left on the teacher’s desk without needing to explain what you’re after. If you have a large envelope or mail bag, pop it in there for extra protection from accidents! Once the teacher fills in their section, they can pop it in your child’s school bag to return it. I always recommend doing this at least 2 weeks prior to the end of Term 4, to give them plenty of time to do it (they’re usually very busy with report writing!).
