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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Graduating from Kindergarten

84 replies

BioSuisse · 20/06/2014 13:03

My friend just posted a photo on FB of her DS 'graduating' from Kindergarten. He was wearing a hat and gown. Seriously.

AIBu to think that this is very daft?

OP posts:
MrsWinnibago · 20/06/2014 13:05

yabu

everlong · 20/06/2014 13:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mrsjayy · 20/06/2014 13:07

Och its silly but exciting and a nice thing , a fewvlittlies I know have recently graduated from nursery I think its sweet yabu and grumpy

PinkHamster · 20/06/2014 13:08

Aw, that's adorable.

Cardinal · 20/06/2014 13:08

Yes, I think it's ridiculous.

Andrewofgg · 20/06/2014 13:09

Was it made an excuse for an expensive and competitive party?

If not YABU!

Original poster
BioSuisse · 20/06/2014 13:09

Academic dress is surely for academics, not 4 year olds.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/06/2014 13:09

It's a sweet little way to end the time at pre school.

DS "graduates" in a few weeks. They all wear cap and gown, a power point is shown of photos of things they have done in the year. Parents are all given a cd of pictures of their child and each child gets up on stage to get a certificate and then they sing some songs
It's lovely. Corny maybe but sweet and the kids love it.

sillystring · 20/06/2014 13:10

I think I first saw this about 15 years ago. I was a bit Shock at first but when I actually sat through the little ceremony and they all had gowns and caps on, well, it was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen.

Original poster
BioSuisse · 20/06/2014 13:12

The had a party and a cake. Not sure who was invited, TBH the room didn't appear full, so i doubt the whole kindergarten attended.

OP posts:
JeanSeberg · 20/06/2014 13:12

Still doesn't make it right.

JeanSeberg · 20/06/2014 13:14

It's ridiculous and makes a mockery of an actual graduation.

Why not just have an end of year party?

Oh yes, because we must embrace all things American.

51st state.

ikeaismylocal · 20/06/2014 13:15

It sounds lovely! Obviously if yiur children were offered the chance to "graduate" from kindergarten you'd be within yiur rights to say no but I don't see why you'd have any negative feelings about someone else's child doing it.

AggressiveBunting · 20/06/2014 13:16

We have that in Hk. It's a bit OTT but I think its nice to mark it and it helps the kids understand that they're leaving. The old gimmer in me says ' we never had that in my day' though Grin

Sirzy · 20/06/2014 13:17

It's ridiculous and makes a mockery of an actual graduation.

Seriously? How?

Does children playing house make a mockery of families? Or them pretending to drive make a mockery of getting your driving licence?

Original poster
BioSuisse · 20/06/2014 13:21

Don't live in UK so thank god my DCs won't be graduating from Kindergarten. When my DD left, sorry 'graduated' from her Kindergarten last year, she gave her teacher a kiss good bye and a homemade present and that was it.

OP posts:
AmberLav · 20/06/2014 13:22

I'm with Sirzy on this, it helps the children move on, after all some of them will have been at nursery for 4 years, and it's a big step!

CallMeExhausted · 20/06/2014 13:25

I will be heading to the graduation ceremony at my DD's school in about an hour.

It is a very specialised school for children with complex medical and developmental issues who cannot be supported in mainstream or specialist schools.

The only children who are recognised are the ones who are transitioning full time to a community school - so they have truly graduated. It is important recognition.

I have heard of American schools that have "graduation" ceremonies with cap and gown for every year. How asinine is that?

It cheapens the effort to get there, but must be doing booming business for the miniature cap and gown rental industry Hmm

Nanny0gg · 20/06/2014 13:27

Mark it by all means, but a graduation ceremony?

Do they go to a ball in a stretch limo afterwards?

Talisawasnotsupposedtobethere · 20/06/2014 13:30

Oh, my ds is starting pre school is September and when we went to visit I saw a poster for this year's 'graduation'.

I sooooo hope they do the hat and gown thing, I would be all over that!

OneLittleToddleTerror · 20/06/2014 13:31

AggressiveBunting university friend just posted a picture of her daughter getting a 'best in class' award in her kindergarten graduation ceremony in HK. That really is over the top.

RoganJosh · 20/06/2014 13:31

I think it's cute but needs a different slant. It's not as if graduation from kindergarten is an achievement.

rootypig · 20/06/2014 13:32

YANBU, nice to mark the occasion but this is absurd. I'm dreading this about living in the US. Won't be able to keep my sarky English mouth shut.

jopickles · 20/06/2014 13:36

no one is giving them a degree certificate or suggesting they have gained some amazing academic achievement but leaving nursery (where some of these kids have been since they were a few months old) and going to school is a big thing for children so why not celebrate it and let them feel special and act grown up for the day. My daughter will be doing this in a couple of weeks and no doubt I will shed a few tears and act like a proud mum and gush over her for a few hours and I will certainly make no apologies for doing so

Original poster
BioSuisse · 20/06/2014 13:37

rootypig ha ha! I used to live in the US. My sarky English mouth got me into a lot of trouble at times!

OP posts: