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!

you mean, they didn't have a prom????

My DD1's Pre-school had a "Graduation". It was just a disco where they had a children's entertainer and they wore their party frocks then at the end the Pre-school staff dressed them up in the Graduation gowns and the children went to collect a certificate and their learning journey.

It was cute! Most of the children looked really proud of themselves.

Sorry for the crap grammar - that second sentence was far too long!

DD had her graduation photos the other day. She refused to wear the robe and hat

I had never heard of this before my DD's nursery told us that they were planning this. But hey, The kids who did wear the gown and hat looked sooooooo cute!

Well, I'm American and somewhere there is a picture of me in a cap and gown and holding my scroll. I'm 43.

It's a horrible horrible American thing, congratulating our children on a job well done on their first year of school. How very dare we?

Fucking Americans. Bringing over fun, cute things for the British to do...

I have to say the children where I work having been very excited about it for weeks and it is all about a bit of fun for them and marking another milestone for their parents. All harmless fun.

Tee2072

Do you think we British haven't enough of our own 'cute' things to do without having yours imposed upon us? Perhaps you should look to what we do and import some into your own country rather than try to take over the world by shoving your way of life onto the rest of us.

Anyway, my GSs graduated from pre-school in South Africa and I have photos of them in caps and gowns (6 yars ago was the earliest).

I really don't think it matters where it originated from, it is meant as a bit of fun for the children and a chance for the paretns to celebrate the next stage in their child's lives.

what are they graduating from though? What is this obsession with doing "grown up" things at a very early age? When I were a lass we wanted to do grown up things but it wasnt pandered to by the adults and in some cases made an industry of.

What is this obsession with doing "grown up" things at a very early age?

I find it all so sad-I don't know why we do it to them.
Apart from the fact they are not 'graduating'-they move on purely through age.

Agree StealthPolarBear and RuleBritannia.

Why don't they just have an end-of-year party?

Here's the thing RuleBritannia, American isn't sending these things over. We don't send over a care package of American things to be done. Or even ring up and say 'you must start doing XYZ because we do.'

You British see these things, whether on TV or the 'net or what have you and decide they are cute and want to do them.

So, yes, perhaps it is that the British don't have enough cute things and must steal them from the US. Because the US is certainly not forcing y'all to adopt them.

THat is basically what ours is, the hat is just so they can have a photo at the end for their parents. The main point is the party for the children to have fun.

What is this obsession with doing "grown up" things at a very early age?

The area I live in it is to introduce children to the idea that education is a good thing and should be celebrated. They also do a sleepover in the local uni library.

Agree with the anti's. They are not graduating from anywhere. They haven't done three/four years hard work to complete a degree? They are leaving play school. Why compare the two things?
You can still be proud of their growing up without wearing a mortar board in a naff (and expensive) photo.

Oh I agree Tee, what do we think the American agenda is exactly in "making" us do these things? It simply reflects more American TV IMO.
Love the idea of a sleepver in the library! But small children visit libraries. Small children do not graduate from University. The "aspiration" thing when I was little was all that you got to do these things when you were big

Exactly Stealth!

I know of no treaty between the UK and the US that includes the words 'and if the US does something, the UK must do it as well'!

Honestly, if want these 'Americanisms' to stop being added to British culture, stop watching our TV and movies and reading our magazines.

hmmm....still not convinced. Do you have a photo of them as a fireman? Did they dress up in graduation gowns at any other point, or just when they "graduated"? Why not just move through school in the normal way with end of year discos with fizzy drinks and crisps and save the actual, ceremonial stuff for the appropriate time, to mark what it is intended to mark?
I do realise the sky won't fall in from this.

and I bet they call it "college" in nursery too.
Grown ups do things that mean something to them. Children emulate that - young children often get married using net curtains. That is play. When it is organised and managed by grown ups to a schedule it becomes, IMO, a ceremony in its own right, and also an opportunity for marketing and money making. It won't be long before all 7 year olds get "married" with £3000 dresses, sit down receptions and professional photographers - but it will just be "a bit of fun" and "for some nice photos of them"

agree totally Stealth.
Our pre-school are having a picnic in the park. Nice!
They don't need a ceremony (for what?) or photos of them 'graduating' when they haven't.