To think preschool "graduation ceremonies" are stupid

[tallslutnopanties]

Really? A graduation ceremony for pre-school? I don't find it cute, I don't think it's a nice idea. It's preschool and i don't want to see photos of it on facebook. AIBU?

[urbanproserpine]

I'm not sure but I was unaware of the existence of this until this week, when I have had at least three separate sets of pics of said ceremony on FB. My boys left their Pre school yesterday and (through my tears) I did not see any graduation gubbins.

Where has this meme come from? My son didn't have it either, nor did any of his contemporaries (Pre school class of 2010)

[Pochemuchka]

Nope. I agree with you.
To be honest I think 'graduating' from school at primary or secondary is a load of old shite and should be left until they actually do graduate, from university.
An expensive and superficial import from the states.

[tallslutnopanties]

didn't see the other thread- thanks euphemia!

Did think it was odd nobody else had noticed it!

[TheOneWithTheHair]

My friend works in a preschool nursery that does this. We both think it's stupid. If she spots this thread I'm sure she will add her comments too.

[PenisVanLesbian]

again? This is at least the 5th thread complaining and whining about something small children do for fun. Get. A. Life.

[whythelies]

FFS - its just a bit of fun, my DSs pre-school just had brightly coloured gowns, made their own hats and sang some lovely songs. There were given a certificate to commemorate their lovely time at pre-school. It was not a pretend graduation or anything but was actually lovely. The parents, child and staff cried lots.

I really can't believe anyone has that much of an issue with it TBH!

[whythelies]

Also we raised lots of money for the pre-school which is a community charity one from selling photos, mugs, raffle tickets and programmes for the 'graduation' concert. A great way to raise money!

[Tanith]

Actually, I doubt very much that the kids would care less one way or the other. This is something the adults do for fun, let's be clear on that.

Graduation ceremony with caps and certificates, or picnic with playground and paddling pool (like my DD's nursery does)?

I know which she'd prefer!

[PenisVanLesbian]

Or, in fact, both.

Mine enjoyed it very much, and is so delighted with his "graduation" picture that he shows it to everyone who comes in the house. And skyping far away relatives to make sure they see it too.

But sneering at four year olds is such fun, do carry on with another thread.

[whythelies]

DSs pre-school also did all the lovely fun things for the children after so good for parents and children.

It is most definitely for the parents but the children (well most of them) loved doing the concert. As long as the children are happy then it surely doesn't matter.

[ilovesooty]

Good grief. A money raising exercice? Obviously there are a greater number of ridiculous people about than I thought.

[kilmuir]

Stupid and tacky. Yanbu

[whythelies]

What's up with raising money for a charity?

[DefiniteMaybe]

I wish ds had had a preschool graduation. Or a certificate. Or anything to mark the fact that he was there, he had fun and now he's moving on.
It made me so sad on Thursday when he finished that they'd not even realised it was his last day. The only graduation he got was everyone shouting bye at him.
Still makes me want to cry now.

[whythelies]

Thats really sad definite. We had children finishing for about a week as lots of part timers, the staff cried everyday and the children all got presents, some staff even gave their own presents to their groups.

The thing is, its a lot of hard work to organise these things and sometimes small nurseries or pre-schools do not have the capacity to do it without additional volunteers, we certainly couldn't have done it.

Saying that, a proper goodbye or a certificate does not take a lot to arrange - did you get given his learning journey?

[whythelies]

Well said PenisVanLesbian

[herecomesthsun]

Ours just had a big party!

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

i thought dd1's was quite jolly. they wore mortar boards that they'd made and decorated the previous week. there was lots of cake and a bouncy castle. most importantly, dd1 enjoyed it. i'm sure it was "tacky", but so's Christmas, and tonnes of other things beloved of small DC.

[Astr0naut]

I think it's bonkers. Unless it's a cynical move by photo companies to get more custom.

One of my friends has a picture of her dd in full on cap and gown. She's four.

A party, yes. But graduation, to me, suggests years of hard graft and real achievement; not pissing about in a sandpit for a year.

[whythelies]

A full gown and cap and professional photos is maybe taking it a bit too far but I really can't believe this is a subject that actually bothers people enough to start a thread about - what is the actual problem - no one actually thinks they have graduation, my 4 year old won't even remember and I know the difference between leaving pre-school and graduating so all's ok for me really!

[ilovesooty]

A party, yes. But graduation, to me, suggests years of hard graft and real achievement; not pissing about in a sandpit for a year


Exactly, and making money out of it (whether or not it's for charity) simply reinforces how stupid, pointless and tacky the whole exercise is, imo.

[Macdog]

My dd wore a mortar board that she made. Nursery provided gowns.
They put on a show for parents, and we were given a photo of the class and staff, and a DVD of some of the work they'd done during their time there.
It was all harmless, and a nice way to mark their leaving nursery and moving up to primary school.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Nobody is sneering at the children.

It's the idea of a graduation that's so silly. Why not just have a leaving party. Ds had a teddy bear's picnic. Simply done and all the dcs loved it.

[ilovesooty]

And a party is age appropriate a graduation isn't.