Lovely childcare

Unforgettable graduation certificates for preschool! A collection of fun, handmade 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 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.

The certificates presented at the graduation ceremony are etched deeply in children’s hearts as the culmination of their time at the preschool.

Why not gift each child a one-of-a-kind, handmade graduation certificate that lets their individuality shine?We’ll introduce ideas for certificates you’ll want to incorporate at your nursery or kindergarten—from versions with a heartfelt message from the principal, to ones where the children dye washi paper themselves, and even unique concepts that go beyond paper like mobiles or board games.

We hope you find a graduation certificate that becomes a lifelong treasure for both the children and their families!

Memorable Preschool Graduation Certificates! A Fun Collection of Handmade Ideas (41–50)

Try to get creative with the form

When you hear “graduation certificate,” most people picture a rectangular one, right? That’s why choosing a non-rectangular shape can make a big impact and add an element of surprise.

The key question is what shape to choose, and one idea is to take inspiration from the children’s favorite things or hobbies.

For example, if a child likes soccer, you could make it in the shape of a soccer ball; if they like the piano, in the shape of a piano.

Or you can find something they all have in common and draw inspiration from that.

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Unforgettable Preschool Graduation Certificates! A Fun Collection of Handmade Ideas (51–60)

Handwritten

Deliberately showcasing a handmade feel is one effective approach.

Among these, our top recommendation is creating hand-drawn graduation certificates for preschool.

This involves writing “Graduation Certificate” and the certificate’s content on a base paper such as construction paper.

The charm lies in the warmth of something handmade and the ease of expressing originality.

Try changing the traditional layout of the certificate or adding illustrations—feel free to be creative.

You can also include a message inside that conveys gratitude and affection.

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Certificate with a cherry blossom frame

A graduation certificate with a cherry blossom frame inspired by springtime blooms will stand out with its elegance and become a memorable keepsake.

When creating it, keep in mind that there are many varieties of cherry blossoms; choose which blossoms to illustrate based on the certificate’s size and shape.

It’s also important to check details like the paper stock used for the certificate.

Once you’ve finalized the frame design, draw it carefully with an eye for balance.

Writing the school name and the child’s name by hand adds warmth and is highly recommended.

Give it a try and create a graduation certificate that will be remembered.

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Made with colored construction paper

It’s also lovely to make a graduation certificate by cutting and pasting colored construction paper.

First, decide on the design.

There are many choices to make: vertical or horizontal text, a simple look or a pop and playful look, and so on.

If you’re using construction paper, I recommend layering cut pieces to create a three-dimensional feel.

Even with a simple design, there are many elements—like border lines—that you can make three-dimensional.

Or you could scatter cherry blossom petal-shaped pieces, which would be nice too.

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Made with colored paper

How about making a kindergarten graduation certificate out of colored paper? Start with the words “Kindergarten Graduation Certificate,” then try adding text like a traditional one.

You could also get creative by adding illustrations or colors.

Think of a certificate that will make the child who receives it feel happy.

Another nice point about this idea is that it’s easy to display in a room.

Of course, you can frame it and display it like a conventional graduation certificate, or simply prop it up against the wall.

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Include in part of the album

[Finished Product] Graduation Album

Include in part of the album

If you’re planning to send an album, incorporating the preschool graduation certificate into it is one option.

You can arrange photos of memories from enrollment onward, and then attach the graduation certificate in the latter part of the album.

Alternatively, you could place the certificate in the middle so you can add photos from the graduation ceremony afterward.

It’s fine to paste it directly onto a page or to attach a pocket and store it inside.

It’s lovely to be able to look back on it together with lots of cherished photos.

Even when they’re grown up, seeing it will bring back memories of their kindergarten or nursery school days.

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Create with a smartphone

A must-see for teachers with iPhones/iPads! How to create certificates with Pages

Create with a smartphone

Using a smartphone or tablet might help you make graduation certificates more efficiently.

If you create a design with an application, you can then produce certificates for everyone just by changing the names and wording.

If you want to incorporate photos or illustrations into the design, working digitally also makes the process smooth.

Another benefit of going digital is that you can make unlimited revisions.

If you use a personal smartphone, please be careful with handling personal information.

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