30 Best Kindergarten Graduation Gifts for Smart Little Scholars
Whether they're coming from parents, from teachers or other supportive adults, kindergarteners will love these unique gifts.
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Graduating kindergarten is a big deal. For proud adults looking for gifts for 5-year-olds or gifts for 6-year-olds who have achieved this big milestone, there's a lot to consider. You want something that marks the occasion in a meaningful way. Maybe it'll have an educational component to it, to keep them learning over the summer. But, most important, it has to be fun!
With all that in mind, we rounded up the best kindergarten graduation gifts. Some of them are current and former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners or Kids' Book Award winners, which means they've been vetted by experts and real families. Others are best-sellers and editor's picks designed to delight your new grad. With these in hand, they'll march off into first grade with smiles on their faces!
Keeping a memory book is easy with this scrapbook, which encourages kids to keep track of their teachers' names and favorite subjects with fill-in-the-blank and check-box prompts. It goes through eighth grade, and they'll be amazed to see how their handwriting improves over time. No age recommendation given
Graduation day or any day, what kids want most in this world is another Squishmallow to add to the collection. This one celebrates commencement in style, with a mortarboard cap and a rainbow mane. In addition to Zozo the Blue Bigfoot, there's also Arella the Graduation Owl and Lemus the Elephant, both in graduation regalia. Ages 3+
Skillmatics My Storybook Art Kit
This activity will help them dream up their own stories over the summer, using things like prompts, vocabulary lists and art supplies they can use in illustrations. Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers loved filling in their "About the Author" section the most. You can get it in different themes, including adventure, unicorns and princesses or space explorers. Ages 5+
'Summer Is Here' Picture Book
School's out — time for vacation! This book is a celebration of all things summer, like blowing bubbles or having picnics. Good Housekeeping Institute families said their kids really enjoyed the writing, by the Newbery Award–winning Renée Watson. Ages 3+
It's LEGO. It's Bluey. It's summer. It's everything kids love rolled into one box! Little LEGO fans can build out the Heeler family car, plus a beach scene they can use for imaginary play. It comes with minifigures of Bluey, Bingo and Mum. Ages 4+
GeoSafari Jr. Talking Space Explorer
Let them delve deeper into some of the science they learned this year with this telescope, which uses actual NASA images to illuminate the night sky. In addition, the voice of Emily Calandrelli, Emily's Wonder Lab on Netflix, offers facts about what they're seeing. Ages 4+
Summer Brain Quest Activity Book
If you want to keep their minds sharp over the summer, this well regarded workbook has activities, games and exercises specifically designed to bridge kindergarten and first grade. It also comes with a map, so kids can track their progress. Ages 5+
Kids can learn the very basics of robotics and coding with this fun set. It includes everything kids need to build their own little robot buddy, plus a motorized rabbit that they can then program to find carrots. No screens needed! Ages 5+
They might get cash as a graduation gift from relatives — give them a place to keep it. Kids learn early budgeting skills as they separate funds for saving, spending and sharing in the three separate sections of this bank — it even comes with a paper passbook to keep track of deposits and withdrawals! Ages 3+
If they're saving up for something special, you can give them the cash in a ways that'll make them say, "Wow!" They'll open the box and a balloon will fly up, carrying a string of money sleeves with bills in them. You get the box, the balloon and 24 pockets for bills — you have to supply the cash and the helium. No age recommendation given
Skillmatics Foil Fun
Whether you need an indoor activity to do on a rainy summer day or a DIY project to keep all the kids entertained at a picnic, this activity was called a huge hit by Good Housekeeping Institute testers. Kids can rub sheets of shiny foil onto puffy, animal-shaped stickers, and the color transfers over like magic. Kids love mixing up the foil colors on the different animals. It comes in other themes, too, including dinosaurs, space, fashion and unicorns. Ages 4+
Graduating from kindergarten? Now that deserves a medal! Whether it's a class gift or for your grad alone, this cute owl illustration marks the occasion without being too grown up. No age recommendation given
Now that they've graduated kindergarten, they might want more of a "big kid" room. Give them a cool decoration — one that's uniquely theirs — by spelling their name in neon lights. You can choose the size, font and color to match their room. No age recommendation given
Waldo who? Kids will be amazed when they see their name on the cover and realize they have to find illustrated versions of themselves hidden throughout the pictures of this book. The story is a puzzle-filled trip through time, which also seems appropriate for a graduation. No age recommendation given
Kindergarten graduation means a million photos, hopefully with a cap and gown in tow. Give them a dedicated space to preserve that memory with a photo frame that announces just how proud you are. No age recommendation given
'First Grade, Here I Come!' Book
Add this to your summer reading list to get your little one ready for the next year. This book takes students through the first grade journey from the first day to the last, including everything from losing baby teeth to Pajama Day. Ages 4+
A bigger brain calls for bigger bubbles! In addition to the bubble solution and unique, two-handled wand, this set also comes with a book of tips and tricks for making gigantic bubbles. Summer activity sorted! Ages 6+
Remind them of all they've learned this year with this shirt, which makes it easy-to-read in checklist form. You can get it in nearly two dozen colors and a range of sizes, too. Sizes S to 6x
Kids can have their friends, classmates and teachers write their names or draw a picture on this stuffed pup, which will look great on a shelf or bed as your grad heads off to first grade. You can also get a bear or owl, and it even comes with markers. No age recommendation given
This bangle-style bracelet comes with charms depicting the year, a diploma, a crystal, an owl and a tassel. It's the perfect accessory for any graduation outfit. No age recommendation given
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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