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Graduation ceremony for four year olds. Madness?

40 replies

MummyPenguin · 19/07/2007 16:42

It seems odd for me to be posting in the pre-school section as I haven't had a child at pre-school for years, but.. saw a picture in my local paper of some four year olds who have had a full on Graduation ceremony on departing pre-school for primary. We're talking mortar boards(is that what they're called? The hat type thing - you can tell I didn't go to Uni ) and cloaks and certificates for 'graduating from their early years education.'

All seems a bit or is it just me?

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bobsmum · 19/07/2007 16:48

OTT with mortar boards I think!

Although ds(4)also had a "graduation" at his nursery at the end of term. He had to dress up as a pirate and got a big pack of felt tips. Does that count?

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MummyPenguin · 19/07/2007 16:54

That sounds very normal.

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Pamina · 19/07/2007 16:56

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brimfull · 19/07/2007 16:57

barmy ,we are becoming very like the usa. LOads of things I love baout usa ,but this is not one of them

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tiredemma · 19/07/2007 16:58

Glad ds's nursery doesnt do this odd thing

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Pamina · 19/07/2007 16:59

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MummyPenguin · 20/07/2007 13:30

Is it? I do know that it's a mutli-lingual nursery (not in the sense that kids graduate being multi-lingual but that they have lots of different nationalities there) and is called the Al-Abah something...

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bobbysmum07 · 22/07/2007 00:04

You know, the people who run/work in this nursery are only trying to do something nice for the kids and parents.

No need to be so nasty.

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2shoes · 22/07/2007 00:05

sounds really sweet

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REBELlatrixlestrange · 22/07/2007 00:12

One of the two local (state-run) pre-school nurseries does this.

I always though it was quite cute.

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ktmoomoo · 22/07/2007 00:27

my nephew had one of these it was so cute , i think it a lovely idea xx it a big step leaving nursery it a good way to mark the occation xxhe hAD a picture taken they all wore the hats and gowns too

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PrettyCandles · 22/07/2007 00:32

PMSL at the little tots in their mortar boards and gowns . What excessive nonsense!

Dd's nursery hold a Leavers' Party at the end of every term, all the children get to wear fancy dress (or whatever they want) and those leaving for school get a present and a special goodbye and goodluck song sung to them by all the other children. Parents watch and take photos. Very sweet and unfussy.

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ktmoomoo · 22/07/2007 00:44

they loved it it made them feel special on thier last day xx

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Hulababy · 22/07/2007 21:48

If the little ones enjoy it and feel special, and are having fun then what is the harm? Leaving nursery can be a really big thing for little ones, why not make it a special day?

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portonovo · 23/07/2007 13:18

I think it sounds really nauseating. There are lots of ways to give 4 year olds and their parents a good send off without that nonsense.
PrettyCandles, our playgroup has a little event pretty much like you describe. Special enough for the children and their families but not over the top.

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EmmaLC · 24/07/2007 11:03

Hi, my son does not leave pre-school till next year (he isn't 4 till 10th Sept), but at the end of term they held a concert for all parents, friends etc. The children who where leaving, recieved certificates in a presentation, it was really sweet. Although they didn't wear gowns they all had hats that they had made at school.

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MyEye · 24/07/2007 11:08

dd's montessori did this (the mortar boards were made out of sugar paper, tho): bonkers. the children had no idea what was going on.

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bundle · 24/07/2007 11:21

dd2's nursery does this, I thought it was quite sweet

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puppydavies · 24/07/2007 11:41

ours did this, they made their mortar boards out of coloured paper and had a little ceremony where they were given their work books for the year and a uniform sweatshirt for big school next year. i admit i was a little at the idea but in practice it was sweet (and not even slightly poncy). the kids really enjoyed it and was nice way for them to say goodbye to teacher/tas (who had been in dd's words like mums) and to involve parents too.

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DangerousBeans · 24/07/2007 11:42
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oliveoil · 24/07/2007 11:43

dd1 did this and it was lovely

all the staff close to tears, children beaming

what is not to like?

you grumpy old gits

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puppydavies · 24/07/2007 11:43

can someone explain why they find it so terrible?

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oliveoil · 24/07/2007 11:44

(some people had camcorders but all you will hear on their soundtrack is me hissing at dd2 to SIT DOWN NOW 20 times)

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DangerousBeans · 24/07/2007 11:45

Not keen on treating children like mini-adults.
Or mini-teenagers.

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oliveoil · 24/07/2007 11:47
Hmm
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