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Original poster

Nursery Graduation

30 replies

wingingit1987 · 17/07/2023 14:37

My daughter graduates from nursery in a few days. I picked her up a starting school sticker book and a teddy as a little gift and never gave it much thought beyond that. My friend (her son is in the same class) has got balloons ordered, afternoon tea booked, hiring a bouncy castle for the garden, several gifts bought for her son etc. she thinks it’s poor that I’m not making as big a deal of it. Is graduating nursery more of a “thing” than I realised?

OP posts:
CourtneyB123 · 17/07/2023 14:40

My son also finishes nursery soon onto school, his nursery are having their own graduation thing for them, I haven't even thought more about it to be honest. But everyone does their own thing I suppose. If you feel comfortable gifting Teddy etc to your daughter then so be it. They're only what 4/5, think it's different when they start attending school and moving up the years/transitioning to high school etc x

SaturdayGiraffe · 17/07/2023 14:42

The things she is doing aren’t for her son, they’re to reflect attention onto her.
Insecure, and not worth any forced competition.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 17/07/2023 14:43

It's not a thing, I'd have to laugh if a friend said that to me

Fine if she likes to throw a party but ridiculous to suggest another child is missing out if their parent doesnt

I wonder what she thinks about children who don't even go to nursery

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Jijithecat · 17/07/2023 14:45

It's not a 'thing' as far as I'm aware. You just do what you're comfortable with doing.
My children had a 'graduation' organised through nursery. As it was a private nursery they stayed on for the summer after they'd 'graduated' and went to school in September. If I were to talk to them about graduating nursery now they'd just look at me blankly.

ThreeRingCircus · 17/07/2023 14:45

I have never heard of this! When DD1 finished nursery they did a little graduation ceremony and had their photo taken on the day with a BBQ for parents at pick up time. DD2 has hers in a couple of weeks and they're doing the same. I've not done anything extra, up to you if you want to but your friend sounds totally OTT.

mindutopia · 17/07/2023 14:47

Your friend sounds bonkers. I definitely didn't get either of mine anything. They got a gift from the nursery and I think the nursery hosted a little tea for the leavers and parents. Job done.

CaptainMyCaptain · 17/07/2023 14:47

When I was teacher in a school nursery class it never occurred to me to do a graduation. I think it's bonkers.

Merrow · 17/07/2023 14:47

DS1 got a photo taken at the nursery with a mortar board, that was it! A nice silly thing that the nursery did, it didn't occur to me to do anything myself, and as far as I'm aware no one else did.

CaptainMyCaptain · 17/07/2023 14:47

We had an end of term party but that's it.

ell32 · 17/07/2023 14:49

It's definitely not a thing!

What you've got is perfect. She's clearly trying to show off imo.

I hadn't even thought about getting my LG a leaving nursery gift. I have a little gift for starting school but that's it!

Don't worry about it❤️

newuser9090 · 17/07/2023 14:49

My daughter finished on Friday. I bought my her a teddy from Tesco that she had looked at a couple of times.She was more than happy with it and def wouldn't haven't expected anything else!

gogomoto · 17/07/2023 14:50

Since when was leaving nursery a thingGrin

Well obviously they leave but graduating?? You graduate university, not preschool.

I swear people overthink things these days. I could understand going out for tea at pizza express or those ghastly pubs with ball ponds, but balloons? Since when do kids like afternoon tea, they prefer pizza!

BadGranny · 17/07/2023 14:53

Graduation? From nursery? Bloody ridiculous!

SquigglePigs · 17/07/2023 14:53

DD's nursery did a Graduation thing. A play that they'd been practicing for a while, and a couple of songs. Then they appeared in little gowns. They brought home little things they'd made, which were adorable. We went and watched and cheered her on but it never occurred to me to do anything else outside of it, and neither did anyone I know. Your friend sounds a little OTT.

Inkypot · 17/07/2023 14:54

In the kindest possible way- they're just leaving nursery not graduating.
Graduating would suggest they've worked their way to that level, like a degree.
We had a leaving ceremony with a nice tea for all the parents. The children received a certificate, their school tie and a small sapling to plant at home 🌱
It sounds like your friend is making a fuss to have pics on social media etc, there's a lot of parents where I live who go over the top with it too. Madness.
It sounds like you have it right, your daughter will love her teddy and colouring book. That's all they need at 5 years old, then the excitement starts in August when they start primary ❤️

Pkhsvd · 17/07/2023 14:56

My DDs nursery did a graduation and it was sweet but it never occurred to me to do anything outside of nursery for it. Even for my actual graduation from university it was just a meal out after….

Aria20 · 17/07/2023 14:57

None of mine had a nursery graduation... the youngest is 5 and only left last year. I didn't do anything for it or buy her anything lol. She chose a new lunchbox and pencil case for starting school though.

PuttingDownRoots · 17/07/2023 14:57

My cousin "graduated" from nursery in the 90s... its not a new thing. Its just a bit of fun to get a silly photo, and a bit of a party for them. A bit of cooing at the growing up photos.

However no one I know got them "graduation" presents.

JenniferBarkley · 17/07/2023 15:05

Our eldest's nursery graduation was lovely, a special morning for them to celebrate and enjoy their parents coming in (they love that at that age, don't they).

And then we.... went home? Every chance she went to her day nursery for the afternoon as we had to work, I don't actually remember.

Your friend sounds insane. No one showed up at ours with a present. Several parents were in uniform having ducked out from work.

elliejjtiny · 17/07/2023 15:12

Dc2 was the only one of mine who had any kind of leavers ceremony. He got a certificate and his folder with all the photos they'd taken. No gown and mortar board though. Dc5 got a leavers party and when they went home they were each given a bag with a CD with all their photos on, a new book, a good luck card signed by all the staff and their name label from their peg. It was a SEN preschool so they kept it very low key. Dc1 just got his file to take home, Dc4 was ill so I just picked up his leavers bag on another date and dc3 didn't go to preschool. I don't know anyone who did anything at home. I remember when I was young me and my siblings got a glass of lemonade each when we came home from school on the last day of the summer term which felt like a huge treat at the time.

itsmyp4rty · 17/07/2023 15:15

I don't even understand why finishing nursery is called a graduation. Just have a party and stop putting grown up words onto little kids stuff.

Hugasauras · 17/07/2023 15:15

Our nursery had a special barbecue for the school-leavers with some photos and all the 3-5s did a little show with some songs for parents and that was it. I haven't heard of anyone doing graduation parties outside of that! Wouldn't even occur to me.

JenniferBarkley · 17/07/2023 15:17

itsmyp4rty · 17/07/2023 15:15

I don't even understand why finishing nursery is called a graduation. Just have a party and stop putting grown up words onto little kids stuff.

Because it's cute. The kids wear their cap and gowns and feel special and grown up.

No one actually thinks they have achieved an academic milestone by aging out of nursery.

forgotmyusername1 · 17/07/2023 15:21

mine got absolutely nothing - the joy of covid year
left abruptly in march 2020 - never went back

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 17/07/2023 15:24

DS left nursery 10 years ago but I picked him up, thanked the staff, may have got them a little thank you gift I can’t remember, wiped away a little tear and went home 😂.

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