Lovely childcare

[Graduation Party] A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Will Touch the Hearts of Teachers and Children

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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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.

After the graduation ceremony, many of you may be wondering what kind of surprise would best liven up the thank-you party or the celebration.

Because it’s a special day for both the children and the teachers, you want to create moments that will truly stay in their hearts.

So this time, we’re sharing surprise ideas that are perfect for a kindergarten graduation party.

From venue decorations to touching performances, we’ve got plenty of ideas you can enjoy right from the preparation stage.

Use these as inspiration to create a wonderful event filled with smiles and heartfelt moments!

[Graduation Party] A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Will Move Teachers and Kids (1–10)

Hugging with the teacher

H23: At the preschool graduation thank-you party, “a hug with the teacher.”

Hugging with the teacher

Once the new year begins, it will soon be graduation ceremony season.

Many of you are probably thinking about what to give the teachers at the thank-you party after the ceremony.

How about a surprise where the children give the teachers a hug? Each child can hand a flower to the teachers along with a short message as a gift! After giving the flower, a hug with the teacher will surely make them happy.

The key is to keep it hidden from the teachers until the very last moment on the day! Set the scene with lovely music and make it a thank-you party that both children and adults will remember.

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Same-day edit video of the kindergarten graduation ceremony

(Nursery School) Wakana Nursery School Graduation Movie – Same-Day Edit – March 18, 2017 – Mito

Same-day edit video of the kindergarten graduation ceremony

How about creating a video on the day of the graduation ceremony as a keepsake for the children? In this example video, interviews with the teachers who took care of them, scenes of the school building, and pre-recorded footage of the children are included.

After that, film the graduation ceremony itself and edit everything in time for the thank-you party.

It’s also a great idea to give the finished video as a graduation gift.

If there are parents who enjoy video production, it can be fun to plan the project from scratch—so please discuss together and create an original piece.

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Bouquet presentation

This is a timeless classic, but it’s also the best surprise for expressing gratitude, isn’t it? The moment when the children hand the teacher a bouquet must be deeply moving for the teachers.

The fact that flowers eventually wither over time also feels symbolic and has a fleeting charm.

You could research the teacher’s favorite colors or flowers in advance, or let the children choose the flowers themselves.

It would be wonderful to fill the bouquet with your love for the teacher.

Choosing long-lasting preserved flowers is also recommended.

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Murakami Shinpei

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[Graduation from Kindergarten Party] A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Will Move Teachers and Children (11–20)

Chorus of Guardians

Graduation Ceremony Chorus @ MYPK (Mizukino Kindergarten Fathers' Association)

Chorus of Guardians

Children’s choirs are a classic, but you don’t often get to see a parents’ choir.

So how about surprising everyone at the graduation party with a chorus performed by all the parents? For the song selection, it’s best to choose something familiar to the real stars—the children.

If it’s a song they know well, they might even sing along.

Seeing the adults sing their hearts out will feel fresh to the kids, and that effort will set a good example for them.

Be sure to deliver a powerful song.

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Photo spot

With advances in technology, we can now take DSLR-quality, finely detailed photos with our smartphones, making photography an even closer part of our lives.

For graduation parties and thank-you gatherings, set up a photo spot and encourage everyone to take lots of pictures.

Classic ideas include inflating plenty of party balloons to create a fun backdrop or preparing slightly upscale floral decorations.

If you brainstorm together, you’ll likely come up with endless great ideas—like a mosaic made from everyone’s memorable photos or a large message board as the background.

The key to a photo spot is to keep it compact.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Handmade piñata

Get the party going with a celebration for kids! We’re introducing the piñata, a party favorite often used overseas.

A piñata is like a paper ball you break open with a stick, filled with candies and small toys.

It’s gradually becoming popular in Japan too, so give it a try! You’ll need: a balloon, thin paper (hanshi), wrapping paper, paints, crepe paper, colored paper, wood glue, wire, and candies.

First, brush wood glue diluted with water onto the thin paper and stick it onto an inflated balloon.

After drying for a day, decorate it with colored paper, then cut the balloon to remove it and fill the shell with candies and toys.

Poke holes to thread the wire through, seal the opening, and you’re done!

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Message video from kindergarten graduates

Parents in tears! Nursery school memory photo album [Graduation Ceremony Screening Movie]

Message video from kindergarten graduates

It’s common to play a memory video, but how about taking it a step further and creating a movie that includes messages from the graduates? Have the children put their feelings—like gratitude toward their moms and dads and what’s on their minds—into messages, and pair them with lots of memorable photos.

The children’s growth and the fact that they’re graduating is moving enough on its own, but adding messages from the kids themselves makes it a surprise that will leave everyone amazed and in tears of joy.

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