High school graduation marks an important time in a young person’s life, when they first get to taste a little of bit of freedom and independence, whether they are shuffling off to college or into the job market. No more bells telling them when classes are over, nor teachers tracking their daily attendance. It’s a big deal.
To celebrate this major milestone, many parents give their grads a gift. But this shouldn’t be just any gift: to truly commemorate the shift from childhood to adulthood, the move from dependence to independence, give them a jaw-dropping gift that shows your support. Here are four ideas for that perfect “wow” grad gift!
A New Car
This is the classic big grad gift for a reason: it signifies them driving off on their own path, exploring their own road from the driver’s seat. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive new car; you can get affordable used luxury cars for a very decent deal. You don’t even have to go through a pricey, traditional financing model, and in fact, your recent grad might prefer the short-term flexibility of either a car lease or a car subscription service. If your new grad is leaving home, a car subscription is the superior choice because it allows them to drive a new car each month, no strings attached.
A Ticket to Backpack Abroad
Traveling is one of the highest forms of education. Especially for young people, traveling can be a profound formative experience, one where they gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives, and test what it’s like for them to support themselves. Obviously, you will want to coordinate with your kid before flying them off to a far-flung part of the world, so as not to upend their plans completely, but they will more than likely be excited by the idea.
A College Wardrobe
Is your grad heading off to college or university in the fall? Then now is the perfect time to let them revamp their look to reflect the person who they want to be. College marks a moment in a young person’s life when they get to try out being an adult, and – believe it or not – clothing is a large part of that process. Go shopping with them, or, to give them some space, just load up a prepaid visa and let them loose in the mall.
A New Laptop
Especially if your grad is going off to pursue higher education, they will need a solid, reliable and up-to-date piece of tech at their fingertips. A new laptop therefore can be the perfect grad gift. It’s functional, in that it facilitates their schoolwork, but it’s also fun, in that they can play games, watch Netflix and browse the internet. For guidance, check out this list of the year’s best laptops, which includes computers in all different price ranges.
When your kid is finished throwing their graduation cap in the air this year, when all the celebration is finished and it’s time for the ride back home, make sure something special is waiting for them at home. Whether it’s a car, a plane ticket, new duds or a new laptop, get them something that celebrates their upcoming independence.
