Host Your Child’s Graduation Party
From mid-May to late June, it is common to see exuberant
young people running around, black robes flying and mortarboards bobbing as they hurry to
their graduation ceremonies. Although the sheer number of graduates makes it seem like a
routine and ordinary event, that is not the case.
“Whether it’s at the high school or college level, graduating
is a major accomplishment,” says Penny Warner, author of “The Best Party Book: 1001 Creative
Ideas for Fun Parties” (Meadowbrook Press).
“You can salute the graduate in your life with a fun party,”
Warner says. “All it takes is a little planning and a touch of creativity.”
Warner says to remember that just because graduation day is
marked on your calendar, it doesn’t mean that everyone has the date memorized. So send
invitations early. You can write your party’s details on white paper in a calligraphic style.
If you roll up the invite and tie it in ribbons that are the school’s colors, it will look like
a diploma.
To keep the theme going, decorate the party site with mortarboards
(either real ones or those made from black construction paper) and posters from movies such as
“Animal House” or “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” You can also put out the graduate’s yearbooks so
that guests can leaf through them. And of course, integrate the school’s mascot as much as possible-
whether through pictures, props or costumes.
The final touch to your party’s aura will be the food. It won’t be so
much the type of nourishment that you provide. Delicious burgers, pizzas and sandwiches will make
everyone happy.
Rather, it will be how the food is presented that will charm everyone.
Buy or rent some serving trays, so that guests can help themselves cafeteria-style. You could also
use lunch boxes as serving trays, for a grade-school feel.
Your party’s attendees will naturally want to talk to the guest of
honor, the graduate, about his or her plans. But don’t forget to break out the party games so
everyone can feel involved and your graduate doesn’t get overwhelmed at all the attention.
A fun way to get everyone thinking about higher education is to play
a geography game based on colleges’ locations. Keep a reference book nearby, and shout out names
such as “Harvard” or “Duke.” Have your guests compete to see who can name the state that each college
is in. After a few rounds, change the game to see who can name the most school mascots.
When everyone is relaxed and in a jovial mood, offer a toast to the
graduate. Just make sure that only guests of legal drinking age raise glasses of beer or liquor. Ask
the graduate to say a few words, and have guests pass along their good wishes for the graduate’s future.
At the end of the party, hand out prizes to the winners of the games.
Pennants or banners with the school name printed on them are perfect awards. For everyone else, give
door prizes of pencils emblazoned with the graduate’s alma mater. Then thank your guests and give one
last salute to your graduate.
“As fun as it is, a graduation party is more than a gathering of friends
and family,” Warner says. “It’s also a celebration of an accomplishment and a hope for a bright future.”
Courtesy of Feature Source
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