<p>What are you getting your son or daughter for their high school graduation??</p>
<p>A new laptop then I’ll get back the one he has taken over. When I graduated high school I got a typewriter!</p>
<p>My daughter is getting a laptop. When I graduated high school, I got a calculator.</p>
<p>We paid for him to take a 4 night/5 day senior class trip to Disneyworld.</p>
<p>My husband wants to get him Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock. Grandparents are getting him the Mac he wants.</p>
<p>sweatshirt and sweatpants from the college daughter is attending!!!</p>
<p>plus, am making a “memories” photo album on shutterfly…like a yearbook, with a page or two of photos for each year of life, a section with photos of friends thru the years, vacation memories, etc…</p>
<p>Laptop and a bunch of small things just for fun</p>
<p>Thinking of: digital SLR camera? acoustic guitar? netbook? jewelry?</p>
<p>We wanted to get him something nice, because he went to a tough high school and worked hard. But part of me said…how about the 200K+ we are giving you to pay for college tuition as a present??</p>
<p>So we ended up getting him a halfway decent bike. Which got stolen on the first day of school.</p>
<p>Yeah same as Busdriver…4 years of college should be enough. He buys his own stuff from his own money = the iphone app sales.</p>
<p>We gave our kids grad parties & let them keep their gifts. We’re also supporting them for their 4 years of expensive private U. We also bought each kid a laptop, tho we didn’t call it their grad gift, just part of their “school supplies.” D deferred hers after she graduated until she was going to the U she transferred to, so she could bring a new laptop there. (It died & we’ll have to get a replacement this summer–a full refund was given by the extended warranty because it was charged on AmEx Costco.)</p>
<p>I also made S a cool “desk kit,” which is a zippered pouch that has all the little things that I find essential and that he often “borrows” from my desk. It was the 1st thing we needed when we moved him into his dorm room. It had scissors, several types of tape including duct tape, scotch tape, strapping tape, stapler, envelopes, postage stamps, mechanical pencils, eraser, sharpie permanent marker, and tons of other things you don’t think of but are really handy. I gave it to other grads that year & they all loved it!</p>
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??? Don’t understand – are you saying some people throw their children graduation parties and DON’T let them keep any gifts that are brought for them?</p>
<p>Other people (relatives & a couple close family friends) gave D & S $$$; H & I gave/are giving them 4 years of debt-free undergraduate education. D’s school “gives” all students a laptop; S had one from HS – which is pretty much dead now after freshman year, so we will buy him a new one.</p>
<p>When I graduated HS (in the dark ages) I received a typewriter and a debt-free education.</p>
<p>I agree that the best gift is going to college itself! Not sure if it will be cost free for him. We will likely do some loans, but maybe the type parents pay for, not student loans. I love the idea of the desk kit. We have already purchased a lot of those things, but I think I will make a kit for some of his good friends. </p>
<p>He is thinking about getting a netbook, rather than a laptop. He will be bringing his Mac for the dorm. He is an avid guitar player, but electric only. We may buy him an acoustic for college. Hopefully he will get a deal at the studio he works at. Grandma might help with that too.
So many things to buy…thanks for the great ideas.</p>
<p>My son is getting a new laptop, and a digital camera.</p>
<p>My S is getting a laptop (same as D 3 years ago - but less expensive for more power).</p>
<p>Dad and daughter are visiting relatives in Europe for two weeks. We also made her a memory book (photo album) with pictures from when she was a baby. We did the whole thing online and had it printed and it looks awesome (and wasn’t expensive).</p>
<p>We paid for scuba certification/lessons with some gear. This was for graduation/Eagle Scout recognition. Paying for college is the best graduation gift.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree that helping as much as the family can with the costs of college ed is an incredible, invaluable gift to the HS senior. That was the “big” gift for both our kids.</p>
<p>Also gave both kids the small multi-tool that has a scissors, screwdrivers and other useful tools all in one device, on a lanyard so they won’t lose it as quickly. They both have used it extensively.</p>
<p>My H is taking my S on a 9 day mission trip to Guatemala. We think it’s important for him to realize that not everyone lives as we do here in the US and hopefully S will come home with his eyes opened and a greater appreciation for the world he lives in.</p>
<p>I got the kid a couple of books off his infinite Amazon wishlist…avid reader. He’s a little nervous about the trip so he’ll probably be happier with the books! </p>
<p>And yes, paying for college is the ultimate graduation gift! :)</p>
<p>Yes, I agree, paying for college and a laptop are pretty big gifts. Just wished my d didn’t already know she was getting these things. The keepsake and memorabilia items are good ideas, although I 'm not very savvy with computers. Like the desk kit idea too. I know when I got married my mother-in-law gave me many invaluable kitchen items I never would have guessed I needed.</p>