Graduation Ceremony: A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Will Move Both Adults and Children
Graduation day from kindergarten is a special day to celebrate the children’s growth.
If possible, you want to liven up the venue with memorable surprises and events, right? But when it comes time to prepare, many people may find themselves wondering, “What kind of ideas would be good?” So here, we’ve gathered ideas you can put into practice right away—surprise performances, decorations to brighten the ceremony, and handmade gifts.
Let’s work together to create a graduation ceremony that brings smiles to the children, their families, and the teachers alike!
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- Nursery/Kindergarten: A Collection of Performance Ideas for Thank-You Parties — Heartfelt Presentations That Touch Teachers
- Ideas for handmade gifts for teachers to give at the preschool graduation ceremony
- [Thank-You Party] Surprise Ideas That Will Delight in Nursery and Kindergarten!
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- [Graduation Keepsakes] Gifts for Teachers and Children: A Collection of Heartfelt, Memorable Present Ideas
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Ideas for Performances at Thank-You Parties! Fun for Both Parents and Children
- [Graduation Ceremony] A collection of handmade corsage ideas you can make with your child
[Graduation Ceremony] A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Will Move Both Adults and Children (11–20)
Photo booth made with balloons
At graduation ceremonies, you take lots of photos not only with your family but also with friends and teachers.
Many people want to capture a wonderful, memorable shot.
So how about creating a balloon photo booth as a surprise idea for the ceremony? Try combining various items like flowers, animals, and characters the children love to make a frame.
Setting up a sign with the date and the nursery or kindergarten’s name would also make a nice keepsake!
A message from children to their parents
The messages from the children to their parents at the graduation ceremony are such a moving, heartfelt moment.
Have the teacher call each child’s name one by one, and invite the parents to come to the front.
It’s best if the children think about and prepare the messages they want to share in advance.
If they’re unsure what to say, teachers can ask guiding questions to help the words they want to express come out.
Since it’s a special occasion, preparing an individual message card for each child will help them feel confident on stage.
Also, play some background music to set the mood.
Wishing you a wonderful graduation ceremony.
Presenting my dream
At the graduation ceremony, how about a surprise from the graduates to the adults? During the diploma presentation, each child could announce their dream for when they grow up.
Even though it’s a surprise, the children might practice at home as they prepare for the ceremony.
Still, seeing them stand up on the day and confidently share their dreams will be moving.
They may also practice a lot at the preschool, but on the day of the ceremony, both parents and teachers are sure to be touched by how much the graduates have grown.
Touch for next year’s senior kindergarteners
At many preschools, current students also attend the graduation ceremony.
How about a “touch ceremony” where the graduating children can interact with the current students on their final day at the preschool? In this video, each graduate enters holding their diploma in the order their names are called.
They go along and give a touch to each of the current students who are waiting.
It also carries the meaning of passing the baton to the current students who will be the oldest class next year.
Create a graduation ceremony that will be memorable for both the graduates and the current students.
Graduation movie from the children
A popular and moving surprise is a graduation movie! You can show the children’s growth so far with a slideshow of photos, or choose a theme like “Memories from daycare” and have each child share a comment—it’s up to you what to include.
It does take time for advance filming and editing, but videos can be shared, so you can watch them again after the ceremony and keep the memories alive.
Create a wonderful graduation movie packed with all those special moments.
An arch made by parents and teachers
Here’s a surprise idea I highly recommend for the exit at the preschool graduation party! Have the adults hold flowers and form a long floral arch.
Let the children walk through it.
It’s a simple idea—just holding flowers—but it’s incredibly moving and sure to delight kids who love going through tunnels.
Since fresh flowers can make cleanup difficult, artificial flowers are a better choice.
Lately, there are lots of lovely artificial flowers at 100-yen shops, so be sure to check them out!
[Graduation Ceremony] A Collection of Surprise Ideas That Move Both Adults and Children (21–30)
Sign language dance
Here’s a song I recommend for preschool graduation ceremonies: the ever-popular “Arigatou no Hana” (“The Flower of Thanks”), loved by children and adults all year round.
The lyrics and melody are easy to learn, but the words may also convey the importance of “things you can’t see.” How about teaching the graduating children both the lyrics and the meanings of the sign language as you practice, and then performing it at the ceremony? From the second verse onward, having both children and adults sign and sing together will make lasting memories—so please try singing it in sign language with the kids.