Preschool Graduation Tips & Tricks
Are you gearing up for a pre-K graduation? If so, it’s time to get all your ducks in a row. Here’s everything you need to know to celebrate your little child’s big day.
Celebrating Your Child’s Achievement
The transition from preschool to kindergarten is a major milestone for children. Your child learns valuable skills all year long and has every reason to smile. Now’s your chance to reinforce their love of learning with a preschool graduation party.
Your child development center will host a graduation ceremony, in which they will celebrate your child’s achievements with their teachers, center staff, and families. However, there may be limited space for attendees. If you want to include more friends and family members in the celebration, you can consider hosting a graduation party for your child.
Who Should I Invite?
The guest list can be as large or small as you’d like without getting over your head. Here are a few potential guests:
- Your child’s friends (neighborhood pals, school friends)
- Parents’ friends
- Family members (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)
- Pre-K teacher(s) or aides
Generally speaking, send out invites to your child’s favorite people plus a few of your favorites. Do consider the size of your venue (i.e., how many people fit in your living room?) and your total budget (i.e., how many people can you feed?). As always, do what works best for you.
Preparing for the Party
Now’s the time to get down to business. (Don’t worry, it’s just fun stuff!) Here’s what you’ll need to make it official:
Invitations
Tell friends and family they’re in for something good. Mix and match the following invite options to include everyone on your list.
Phone
Phone invites are a little unusual, though they do have their place. Consider calling elderly relatives or out of-town guests to make sure they’re in the loop.
Text
Perhaps the most informal of all, texts are easy to send and difficult to lose. You could also consider texting a reminder the day of the party.
Invites in the digital age have never been easier. Send a celebratory email or customized evite to techsavvy peeps.
In-Person
Keep things casual and tell people in person. This option works well for fellow parents, classmates and teachers, among others. Just make sure to keep track so no one gets left out accidentally.
Snail Mail
There’s something special about physical invitations, so feel free to stick to tradition. Choose from standard invites, blank cards or a simple note in the mail. Be sure to save one for your child’s scrapbook or memory box!
The Details
Your invite is only as good as its message, so read it over before sending. Don’t forget any of the following:
- Who – Your child and/or family
- What – A pre-K graduation party!
- When – Exact date and time
- Where – Your venue address as well as any special instructions (parking, directions, etc.)
- RSVP – Include a date to RSVP by, the number of guests in attendance, potential allergies as well as your name and contact information.
- Pro tip: Add a mini map of your block/neighborhood including your address and phone number.
Food—and Cake!
No party is complete without food! The real question is what to serve. Create a menu based on the time of day, total budget and number of guests. Stick to some party favorites for easy entertaining.
Snacks
- Chips, pretzels or crackers
- Meat & cheese tray
- Fruit salad
- Fun-size candy
- Granola bars
Drinks
- Juice
- Chocolate milk
- Sparkling juice cocktail
- Bottled water
- Tea
- Coffee
Cake
- Sheet cake
- Cupcakes & decorative frosting
- Dirt cake, etc.
Gifts
Gifts may or may not be part of your event. No matter your policy, it’s polite to tell guests in advance. Here are a few gift-giving possibilities for reference:
- Age-appropriate books and/or picture books
- Educational gifts to practice numbers, letters, and words
- Interactive clocks
- Building blocks or playing bricks
- Memory games
- Board games
- Stickers Pencils, markers, or other creative school supplies
- Child-safe toys in time for summer
MECK Pre-K Is Your Public Pre-K Option
Throwing a pre-K party for your grad is as easy as choosing a pre-K school. If you live in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, you have access to MECK Pre-K! MECK Pre-K is high-quality, free pre-k education open to all four-year-old children in Mecklenburg County. Classrooms are located in licensed child development centers. Classes are taught by licensed teachers and highly qualified assistant teachers.
Please note, children need to turn four years old on or before August 31 of that school year to be eligible for MECK Pre-K. If you have any questions for our English and Spanish speaking staff, please feel free to contact us. To reach out, simply email info@MeckPreK.org, call 704-943-9585, or complete our online form. We’d be happy to hear from you!
MECK Pre-K is administered by Smart Start of Mecklenburg County and funded by Mecklenburg County. Smart Start mobilizes resources, forges partnerships, and supports families to improve early childhood health, education and development, and ensure that children are prepared for kindergarten.