[Graduation Commemorative Gifts] Handmade Presents That Kids Will Love! A Collection of Easy-to-Make Ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Many people may be thinking of giving a heartfelt, handmade keepsake to mark the special milestone of preschool graduation.

There are many ideas for graduation mementos, such as clay pendants, photo frames that are fun to decorate, and handkerchiefs with names embroidered on them.

In this guide, we’ll share lots of handmade graduation gift ideas that kids will love.

From simple projects you can make easily to ones you can take your time with, we’ve got a wide range—feel free to use them as inspiration!

[Graduation Keepsakes] Handmade gifts that kids will love! A collection of easy-to-make ideas (71–80)

Flower pocket

Something infants can make! Here’s an idea for a flower pocket.

In addition to a cute flower design, it includes a pocket made from a paper plate.

Try slipping in a letter, message card, or photo and giving it as a gift to parents.

You’ll need construction paper, round stickers, patterned origami paper, ribbon, tissue paper for flowers, a paper plate, and paint.

After cutting the construction paper into a flower shape, add patterns with finger stamping.

Children in preschool classes can also paint with brushes in any colors they like.

It’s sure to become a gift that shows each child’s individuality.

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thanks tag

For those who want to express gratitude to graduating kindergarteners, thank-you tags are also recommended.

First, prepare cookie cutters, paper clay, string, and a straw.

Start by kneading and mixing the clay to create your preferred color.

Cut out shapes with your favorite cookie cutters, then use the straw to make a hole near the top of each piece of clay—this is where the string will go through.

Finally, write a message or stamp on the clay, let it dry, and you’re done.

You can also decorate with beads or other embellishments to your liking.

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Message bouquet

https://www.tiktok.com/@hii_hoiku_seisaku/video/7470135662969195784

A pop-up surprise for the kids! Here are some message bouquet ideas.

Many preschools decorate the graduation ceremony venue with colorful flowers, don’t they? This time, let’s make the messages with a flower theme too.

Create flowers from construction paper, attach stems made from origami, and finish by wrapping them using items like doilies—done! It’s an idea that’s fun to make and delightful to receive.

And message bouquets are guaranteed to look great in photos!

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[Graduation Commemorative Gifts] Handmade Presents Kids Will Love! A Collection of Easy-to-Make Ideas (81–90)

Pencil holder as a preschool graduation gift

Many preschools may have the tradition of preparing gifts from current students to those who are graduating.

How about incorporating the making of a pencil holder as a perfect graduation gift? Use paper tubes, empty snack containers, or paper cups, and decorate the surface with torn-paper collage to create a colorful pencil holder.

Using a variety of papers—construction paper, origami paper, wrapping paper, tissue paper, or chiyogami—makes the tearing textures enjoyable in different ways.

Add a felt ball border and attach a message card to finish it off.

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utatane

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Handprint photo frame

ameblo.jp

This photo frame incorporates handprint stamps into a paper plate decoration to highlight the memories captured in the photo.

By choosing handprints from around the same time as the photo, you can use it as a way to look back and remember how small their hands were then.

The color of the handprint should match the design and decorations of the paper plate, and because it’s a bold accent, place it with the overall balance in mind.

It’s a photo frame you’ll want to make regularly, as if watching over your child’s growth.

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kappamaki

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komamori

Incorporating children’s drawings into graduation keepsakes is a classic idea.

With a service called “Komamori,” you can get help creating such mementos.

This service embroiders handwritten drawings and text into charms shaped like protective amulets.

Since their own drawings become accessories, kids are likely to enjoy it, too.

Another plus is that you can design various patterns, such as arranging lettering to celebrate graduation.

Combining drawings and text could be fun as well.

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kappamaki

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personalized pencils

There are various opinions, but it seems that the way you hold a pencil as if pinching it off the desk is the basic form for holding a pencil correctly.

In nursery school and kindergarten, children probably drew and wrote a lot with pencils and crayons.

Even with plenty of pencils, it never feels like enough for something you’ll use for so long.

So how about preparing personalized pencils as a keepsake? All the new first graders will surely use them starting this spring.

Personalized red and blue pencils aren’t seen very often, so they might be a surprisingly big hit!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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