to have never seen a 'graduation' photo for pre-school before?

[TiaMariaandDietCoke]

Tonight a couple of old school firends have posted photos of their 4 yr old DCs who finished preschool today - in full graduation robes, mortar board and scroll. I was a bit and I have never seen or heard of this before - is this new? is it another Americanism brought over to the UK?

Before anyone asks, no, I'm not bothered by it, just very curious as to whether this is new or if I've had my head under a rock until now!

nope never heard of it but might have to borrow DHs professor gowns for DS3 when he leaves preschool

I first heard of it when my friends who have kids older than mine moved from nursery to school. It's awful, so Americanised. I'm ashamed to say I picked up my copy of DS' yesterday .

Our nursery did this and the £20 photo is going straight back. Mortar board, scroll and everything. I couldn't buy it as it just makes a mockery of real graduations. I have a graduation photo and the colours represent my university and the scroll is my certificate...its not flipping dressing up. He hasn't graduated from anywjere.

Awful.

Definitely digging out my mortar board and gown for DD.

DGDs nursery did this when she left last year. They looked daft.

I loved my DS's - but they didn't charge for them, just printed them out on paper and laminated them.

DS looks so cute - I like to think it is aspirational.

BramblyHedge, when did you graduate? In my graduation photo the 'scroll' is actually a white tube the photographer provided. Certificates arrived in the post a few weeks later.

I have heard of nursery graduations, but I had no idea they actually dressed in mortar boards etc. I think it would look hilarious. Quite fancy it!

Oh God - have I started something? (having visions of hordes of MNers dressing up Dcs as mini graduates)

It's really none of my business but it just seemed, well... a little odd to me. As Brambly says, they haven't graduated from anywhere and they're all trussed up in clothes that just look far too old for them (although I will admit that one of the pictures in particular was incredibly cute!)

Hadn't thought of the money making side of it - £20 for 1 photo? I'd rather take them out for a nice day out and take my own photos of them in their own clothes - but maybe I'm just not getting it!

It's probably an Americanism, think it started here a few years ago. My DD "graduated" from nursery last year. The staff made the mortar boards and gowns for them and their key worker handed them a scroll, a small present and a big hug.

I thought it was lovely. Why does everything "new" (or American!) have to be sneered at?

It's nice to mark the occasion though, isn't it? A day out with you taking a photo doesn't really represent anything. I agree the mortar boards sound ridiculous (though sweet). My DD just left nursery without any anything, which I thought was a bit sad.

x-posted MsVestibule. I bloody love Americans and their Americanisms. We have to put them down because they come up with so much of the good stuff.

Around here this has been happening for years. I think it's a lovely idea, it makes the children feel special and marks the move from nursery to school. It's up to you whether you buy a photo, no different to school or sports teams.

As to whether you are unreasonable never to have seen one - I have no idea

It's just a nauseating photo shoot

"I couldn't buy it as it just makes a mockery of real graduations."

:o

Oh noes! A mockery of graduations - how awful!

They'll be doing one at dd nursery. She's already told them "I'm not wearing it, it's silly" miserable moo, that's my girl.

I don't see any harm, it's just dressing up innit?

I don't like it. Graduating in robes with mortar boards and scrolls is something to aspire to. I have photos of ds's last day at pre school and nursery, he is hugging his friends. That is how it should be.

My nieces had them in their West of Scotland nurseries. Gowns, mortar boards, scrolls, unbelievable.T

To be honest, my sister stays in a shithole sad little Lanarkshire town, and she doesn't see anything wrong in this.

I have never come across it anywhere else, ever

And I hoik my judgey pants right up to my ears and say..tacky as fuck

MsV, I'm not sneering - I genuinely wondered if that's where it came from - I have spent some time in the US and didn't see it there either (granted I wasn't around many DCs while there though!!)

Graduated in 2000. I am fairly sure it is my certificate but I may be getting forgetful in my old age and could be wrong...which lessens my point a tiny bit I guess! Maybe I am being cynical....I might scan the photo and then return it incase I change my mind (yes I know that is very very wrong).

Sounds mad to me. I don't know why they can't just leave things to be special at the right time.

Tacky, yes I agree,AmI, harmless still IMO.

And sorry, my nieces didn't look cute or sweet, they just looked awkward and silly

I received a photograph of my Dn in full graduation regalia - He is 4

He looked cute but I did wonder what the fook was going on

BonnieB - see, that's the sort of pics I like to see of pre-schoolers on their last day - to my mind they are much more natural and meaningful - and make lovely reminders for when they get older of their wee firends at that age [sentimental]

I thought it was a silly idea too...until I recieved ours the other day. I think she looks ADORABLE in her mortar board.

She however has instructed me to hide the picture away and not let anyone see it ever. She has her dignity