Elementary graduations are a big deal not just for children, but for parents as well. You don't need to wait until their high school graduations to host a celebratory party. Whether your children are graduating kindergarten or moving on to middle school next year, throwing a party for their class will show that you are proud of their academic accomplishments and it will acknowledge their growth and maturity.
Face Painting
Kids love to get their faces painted, so what better way to break the ice and get everyone in the school spirit than by hiring someone to paint faces with school mascots, colors and congratulations? You can set up the table in the foyer or the front yard and require a face painting as a ticket into the celebration.
Graduation Cap Desserts
Create these sugary desserts in the shape of graduation caps. All you need is mini peanut butter cups, fruit roll-ups and chocolate-covered graham crackers or any other flat, square chocolate cookies. Turn the peanut butter cups upside down and place the crackers or cookies on top. Cut the fruit rolls-ups into strips thin enough to act as tassels. Cut the bottom of the strips into a fringe before placing it on top the treat. You can make these desserts the night before the graduation party, or you can offer to allow the elementary students to create their own.
Guess the Baby
Collect baby pictures from all the children in the graduating class. Arrange all the pictures on a poster board, with each picture clearly numbered. Host a contest during the party to see who can guess which babies are which of the graduates. Supply numbered answered sheets for the guests. Whoever identifies the most babies correctly wins. Make sure you have wrapped up a small prize to award the winner at the end of the party.
Award Ceremony
Team up with other parents or your child's teacher to create awards for each graduate who plans to attend your party. These awards could be written on diploma-style certificates for a graduation theme. Create certificates to be given to the most artistic child, the funniest student or the best at certain subjects--such as the student with the highest math grades, the best spelling test scores or the most creativity in creating short stories. Make sure that every graduate attending will be receiving an award. Children will benefit from having their strengths confirmed and the awards will give them something to focus on as they continue their education, especially during the delicate transition from elementary to middle school.
Tags: butter cups, children graduating, Make sure, middle school, peanut butter