The 30 Best Preschool Graduation Gifts That Are Sentimental, Fun & Sometimes Just Silly

Ready thy Kleenex, because a few years from now, this shirt’s going to yank at your heartstrings. You’ll see how the shirt they were once swimming in now fits, and how their handprint has grown over the years—and eventually, your kid will get a kick out of it too. (Sure, it starts with kindergarten, but that's where I invite you to go rogue and kick things off with their preschool print on the sleeve or front.)

Summer vacation is on the horizon, which means you’ll both be looking for fun things to do. That’s where a KiwiCo subscription comes in handy—each month, a few set of crafts and activities is sent to your door, all age-appropriate and easy to follow. (It’s one of the few projects that holds my daughter’s attention from start to finish—and she actually plays with the toys and gadgets she’s made for months afterward.) You can buy a single box or up to a whole year’s worth, if you’re not ready to commit to a regular subscription.

Let your kid document the day with their very own instant camera. In testing, I’ve found this one is intuitive enough for younger kids to easily use (thanks to the simple buttons and viewfinder), and it prints images with a sticky back, so they can easily scrapbook—or cover their door in memories from the day. And honestly, what kid doesn’t love stickers?

Even preschoolers can get a little anxious about the thought of leaving their friends and teachers behind for a whole new school. Let them bring this bear to graduation—or their last day, if it’s OK with the teacher—to have their pals sign their names on. (Or, if they’re still working on forming letters, doodling a little picture.)

You’ve already got three copies of Oh, The Places You’ll Go (it’s a classic!)—but what about this underrated gem? The illustrations are charming, and so is the story itself, which will assure your kid that they’re brimming with all the skills they need to be whoever they want to be. Bonus points if you get their teacher to write a note in it.

Because nothing is funnier to a preschooler than farts. (And this one actually blasts smoke rings that smell like toots…or bananas.)

Let them practice their cutting skills on something other than their bangs. This kit features three craft projects designed to help kids learn to use scissors—something that will serve them well as they head into kindergarten.

Looking for something all your kid’s friends can enjoy? These handmade kits contain tubs of nontoxic play dough studded with graduation-themed rings and baubles. It’s a fun, Pinterest-y favor to hand out…without requiring you to stay up all night making your own DIY dough.

If you know play dough—even the flour-based kind—will not fly in some friends’ homes, consider this gift instead: It features a card nodding to the classic Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, along with a rainbow-colored pencil.

They’re less pokey if you step on them than LEGOs, they’re a fraction of the price of Magna-Tiles—and your kid will still be entertained all afternoon (or OK, at least half an hour) building all sorts of castles and villages with ‘em.

Surprise ‘em with a post-graduation trip to the splash pad (or beach) and ice cream. That’s a gift enough, but you’ll really set them over the moon with a swimsuit featuring the hottest show for the under-five set, Bluey. (Which happens to be made from recycled materials and blocks out 97 percent of UV rays.)

This book is as fun to create as it is to flip through. Enter the grad’s name and design a protagonist who looks like them, then Wonderbly will turn it into a hide-and-seek book, all fitting a graduation theme, that’s delivered to your door. The illustrations are incredibly detailed and engaging; so much so that my daughter has spent over an hour (!) trying to find herself—and other surprising characters—throughout its pages.

Because their future’s so bright they’ve got to wear (UV-protected, BPA-free, durable-yet-bendy) shades.

Remember Yak Baks? Imagine that, only charming. This colorful little bird can record and play back secret messages, as well as sing songs and chirp.

It’s a coloring book your kids can wear—and will be comfortable doing so, thanks to the thick, bamboo viscose-and-spandex blend fabric. You’ll want to stick a piece of cardboard inside the shirt so the colors don’t bleed through as your kid draws, and wait 24 hours before washing it, but the end result is a colorful keepsake they’ll be psyched to wear.

Create an extra special bedtime routine with this little projector, which tells classic little Golden Book stories like The Poky Little Puppy and Tawny Scrawny Lion. You can buy all kinds of story cartridges to mix things up, and it can be used in a read-along mode (providing projected images and sound effects) or as a white noise machine and nightlight at bedtime.

As stimulating as a fidget spinner or popper, these bricks promote literacy by encouraging kids to press a letter block, feel it pop and practice the sound it makes, then connect it to other letters to form words. Each 42-piece set comes with a storage bucket and activity guide to promote early reading.

You can never start saving for college too soon. This wooden bank can be customized to include the grad’s name on the outside, so everyone knows whose pennies (and the occasional candy wrapper) belongs to.

It’s like hot potato but extra goofy—essentially, you’ve got to shake a chicken to learn what silly activity you’ll need to perform (like tiptoeing around everyone or reciting your ABCs), then do it and pass the chick before the timer goes off. It’s a race of ridiculousness that will have everyone giggling in no time.

Snap some photos of them crossing the stage, then let them choose which pics to turn into viewfinder images for this projector flashlight. It’s way more fun than a standard photo album.

Parents swear by this book for helping ease kids’ fears about kindergarten, as it covers what they might expect from their first day—and how to prepare for it. (That said, some bemoan its lack of a real plot, but acknowledge that it handles things like learning to count or losing a first tooth well.)

You could spend hundreds on a party at one of those bounce house emporiums at the mall…or you could spend a little less and create one in your backyard. That doubles as a mini water park and deflates when not in use. Just sayin’.

Her most treasured jewelry may involve plastic pony beads, but that doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t need a special place to stow them. When the cloud-shaped box pops open, your grad can watch a tiny unicorn twirl to the tune of the Blue Danube Waltz.

If that jewelry box could use an upgraded keepsake to stow inside, might I suggest this custom nameplate necklace? The box features a special “kindergarten, here I come!” message, but the jewelry itself—available in stainless steel or an 18-karat gold finish—can be worn well after they receive their pre-K diploma.

They’ve entered their “knock, knock” era, so help them craft their own knee-slappers with the help of this book. It breaks down the art of coming up with jokes in a kid-friendly way. Some concepts may be a little hard for nearly 5-year-olds to grasp, but you two can workshop those ideas over time. (Because you know their antics aren’t slowing down.)

You’ll be looking to entertain family in town for the big graduation party, and there’s no easier way than by busting out a deck of cards to play Old Maid or Go Fish. Make things easier on little hands with these fun, cat-themed card holders.

It’s the next-best thing to a golden ticket, promise. This tackle box features 12 kinds of gummy and chocolate candy from New York’s iconic Dylan’s Candy Bar. Good luck getting them to avoid eating it all in one sitting.

It’s got a kitten. And glitter. And is on theme. Yes, it’s gaudy, but you know she’ll love it. (And it can be a good compromise to wear under that scratchy cap and gown.)

As if a graduation lei loaded with candy wasn’t exciting enough, this one features a plush Squishmallow as well. Toy, treat and symbol of all they’ve achieved? Check, check and check.

Graduation is but a stepping stone to your future…You can create a great speech based on this gift, though I’ll be honest with you: Your grad is likely hearing Chattermax’s warbles as they think, PAINT! BLUEY!! CRAFT TIME, NOW!!!