Make your child’s senior year of high school extra special with a few of these graduation traditions for parents and families.
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We’re counting down the days until the end of school once again!
If you have school-age kids, you’ll want to check out my list of last day of school traditions. It includes tons of fun and easy ideas for your family do to at the end of school, whether your child is in kindergarten or high school.
But for high school seniors who are graduating, this is the last one.
Deep breath, parents!
It’s easy to get wrapped up in wanting every moment to be special, especially in These Times. I spent a lot of my oldest child’s senior year thinking about how many things they were doing for the last time. Or things that they were only doing this year.
But the thing is, we can’t make any moment perfect.
Looking back over the past 4 years, there were a lot of things I couldn’t control about their time in high school as a whole. (I’m looking at you, distance learning.)
So while you’re planning some really fun graduation traditions, don’t get too bogged down in the details. Do some things – but probably not all the things.
Plan some special moments, and snap photos, but one of the things about planning fun stuff for your kids hasn’t changed since kindergarten:
Your child is less worried about your photo-perfect moment and more interested in spending time with friends and family, no matter what they’re doing.
Okay, now that the parenting pep-talk is done, here are some fun graduation traditions you might want to try.
Graduation traditions
Family celebration ideas
These ideas are fun things you can plan for your high school senior to do with family leading up to the big day.
Celebrate the small things
Throughout their senior year, take time to celebrate the small things. While you’ll probably still have all the holidays together, now is as good a time as any to get silly and enjoy Talk Like a Pirate Day or Star Wars Day together.
Create a memory box or photo album
Start the school year by choosing a container (or just buying a photo album) to collect keepsakes from their senior year. As you go through the school year, remember to snap photos and save mementos from the big moments and the small ones.
Senior portraits
Your child’s school may host a photo day and provide tuxedo jackets and drapes (ours did), but whether they do or not, you can take your own photos. In addition to having a photo from every school year since kindergarten, this one will come in handy as a headshot for various professional situations.
Sending announcements
Plan to send graduation invitations or announcements a few weeks before the graduation ceremony. You can invite guests to attend the ceremony or reception, but a simple announcement is perfect when the family doesn’t all live close by.
Hosting a grad party
Like most big moments, it’s common to throw a party. You can go all out and throw a big bash, but odds are that your graduate will most appreciate a small celebration with close friends and family.
Family vacation
Instead of a party, save that money to spend on a family vacation between high school and college. If you don’t regularly take a summer trip, this one will be really special. If you do regularly take a summer trip, make this one your child’s choice destination.
Parent and child day
One thing that’s probably changed over the past few years is how much time you spend together, one-on-one. Before they graduate from high school, schedule one last fun day together. It can be as simple as getting an ice cream cone, shopping, or catching a movie together.
Movie night
Plan one last family movie night – and make it an all-nighter! Pick out a few of those bucket list movies you never got around to, or watch all your child’s favorites. Stay up all night eating junk food, then sleep in the next day.
Flowers or balloons
Surprise your child with flowers or balloons during the school year. You could send them to school on their birthday, bring them to graduation, or deliver them on any special day.
Senior class traditions
Class traditions are usually done at school or organized by school staff and parents, but your child and their friends can do these on their own too.
Decorating parking spaces
Before the first day of school, our high school had a special day for seniors who drive to come to campus. They each chose a parking spot and decorated it with paint. (Designs did have to be submitted to the school for approval in advance.)
First day of school photos
If you’ve been taking a photo of your child every first day of school, don’t skip this one! Even if you haven’t, this is the one to make sure you get.
Senior sunrise breakfast
Our PTA organized an early morning breakfast on campus before school one day. Food was provided and kids got to hang out together. It’s popular to do this one at the beginning of the school year.
Senior sunset
Similar to the sunrise breakfast, a sunset includes treats and hanging out. Senior sunset it in the evening, often at the very end of the school year.
Class song
Students get together a vote on a song that represents their class as a whole. It’s usually something popular and nostalgic. Think of the iconic Green Day song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
Yearbook signing
Even though I haven’t bought 14 yearbooks for each child over the school years, I think it’s important to have one from senior year. Teens can pass their books around the school to have friends and teachers sign them or write a special message. If you’re having a party, designate one blank page for guests to sign.
Senior wills
Senior wills are especially fun at small schools where most of the students know each other. Each senior designates an object, memory, or silly thing to leave to an underclassman.
Decorating caps
If your school allows it, students can decorate the top of the graduation caps. Use flat objects like paper and stickers to display a quote or message.
Senior pranks
Senior pranks are a fun way to leave a lasting impression on the campus. The best pranks are silly and creative – and not harmful to anyone. Most involve moving, hiding, or adding something silly to the campus. (Think a flock of 50 plastic flamingos on the front lawn.)
Graduation ceremony rituals
Your school may have its own traditions but these are common for graduation ceremonies.
Photo slideshow
Collect baby and childhood photos for a graduation slide show. Your child’s school might present these at a pre-ceremony event during school or at graduation practice. A word of advice: they might be adorable to you, but avoid any photos that might be embarrassing.
Tassel turning
During the cap and gown ceremony where your child receives their diploma, they’ll turn the tassels on their cap from one side to the other together. For high school, the tassel starts on the right and is moved to the left.
Tossing the cap
Usually done as a group at the very end of the ceremony, everyone takes off their graduation cap and tosses it up into the air. This can make for a fun photo op.
Taking photos
By this point, your grad is probably pretty tired of taking photos. This is really the last last thing, so snap plenty of photos at the graduation ceremony!
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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