<p>A friend of mine had a great idea. We are a “group game” family and play games often when we get together with our group of close friends. Friend decided to give graduating seniors a bunch of games to take to school with them. Now I need a good idea to give back!</p>
<p>The games are a great idea, all the college kids I know love game night.</p>
<p>After we got son’s post office box number, I sent him monogrammed stationary with his return address on it to him at school. Don’t forget stamps and maybe a little address book with grandparents, aunts, uncles, SIBLINGS. Son has found having the ability to dash off a thank you note is almost brainless. And Grandma loves a real thank you note.</p>
<p>But for graduation <em>beyond the laptop that is a given need</em> our kids’ HS has a book written about the history of the school. It’s like a coffee table kind of book. I bought that and then had most of his favorite teachers sign it much like a yearbook. It’s a small school, granted. But the things they wrote were inspiring and truly touching and personal to my son. HUGE hit.</p>
<p>And while he didn’t “want” one for his 18th birthday (which fell in December of his senior year), he has now - almost done with his freshman year - really found the use for a wrist watch so as to avoid always pull out his cell phone to check the time. We did give him one for Christmas, but we didn’t invest much since we didn’t know how much he would really like it (having never worn one). As it is, I will definitely be getting him a really good watch for his college graduation. </p>
<p>I second the vote for monogrammed towels, gift cards for local eating establishments and the book store. His girlfriend’s parents gave him a lovely wallet (which was later stolen from the gym but the idea was a good one). So maybe a nice money clip would be good too although college students are undoubtedly broke. Games - Bananagrams was impossible to find this past holiday season. Great game, and compact.</p>
<p>I gifted DS my most prized possession. A $.50 tie clip representing the highest academic honor one can achieve as a college graduate in his academic field. I told him he could keep it but not wear it in public, and that should he earn his own, I’d like it back. Otherwise it was his to keep.</p>
<p>Modadunn, I used to give young men a monogrammed silver money clip. Beautiful and useful. Unfortunately with flight rules now, most men don’t want to throw their cash into the scanning bin so publicly. Wallets are better unless you know the student only flies on rare occasion.</p>
<p>My sister gives her nephews and nieces her standard present: a health care kit. Inside, it has: Alka seltzer, Pepto-bismal, aspirin, aleve, tylenol, band-aids, thermometer, an ace bandage, and a special envelope with $100 inside. The kits look very useful, and of course the kids love it.</p>
<p>^^Great gift–it reminds me of the story of someone stuffing money in glove fingers and the kid being so miffed about getting gloves that he/she didn’t try them on to find the $$$. By now, the nieces and nephews know what else is in the first aid kit.</p>
<p>great ideas, everyone!! keep sharing, I love reading this thread!</p>
<p>Here is something we did for our kids last year that might prove of inspiration:<br>
We bought them rollerboard suitcases, wrapped them, and as they were opening the suitcases and looking in all the pockets, etc., we had tucked in the body of the suitcases the type of envelope that a plane ticket comes in. Inside, instead of a ticket, I put a list that they were being kidnapped for seven days, we were leaving tomorrow morning, and that they needed to pack for a warm climate (and then I listed specific items they needed to ensure they packed) … so go pack already! It was a lot of fun. We’re a “kidnapping” type of family – my H has kidnapped me on several occasions for both local and out of town trips – so just a thought for anyone so inclined to adapt the idea.</p>
<p>For some reason, no one on CC likes this idea, but my D had been wanting a class ring since she was a sophomore, so that was our grad gift to her last year. </p>
<p>Her favorite thing that we got her during dorm-shopping season would also make a good grad gift: A lapdesk so she can do homework while sitting on her bed. She uses it every day. </p>
<p>Pizzagirl, that kidnapping idea is awesome!</p>
<p>LasMa, is there a particular lapdesk that you/she like? D has always wanted one (yep, for doing homework in bed).</p>
<p>I can’t remember the brand, but we got it at Bed Bath & Beyond. She likes that the bottom is filled with micro-beads, but it’s not crammed to full with them; apparently this makes it mold really comfortably to her legs. It has a cupholder too.</p>
<p>^ Thanks very much! I’ll hit BB&B and see what they have. I know what you mean about those micro-beads…I’ve seen that somewhere. And a cupholder? Oooh-la-la!</p>
<p>my D will be attending a local state college - she will commute, so no dorm room supply list, she has a new ipod, a smartphone, not sure about needing a laptop yet, etc. etc. - really has what she needs at this point and we had no clue what to get her for graduation (2.5 weeks!!) until I remembered she had a “fake” Tiffany bracelet she mentioned a while back and how she would love a “real” one. Its a very simple style, but she loves it. (so do I but…)</p>
<p>Since we don’t frequent Tiffany’s, it was weird just being in there … well long story short, got her the very simple bracelet we know she wants but figured she’d have to wait till “whenever” to actually get.</p>
<p>A simple pleasure, but she is clueless that we are getting this for her (I hope !)…the real one !</p>
<p>Gave my neighbor/hs graduate 30 various Bed Bath Beyond coupons I’d been squirreling away for her plus a card.</p>
<p>they also have really cute lap desks at The Container Store, if there is one in your area. My kids love theirs!</p>