Parties for Graduation & End of School

 GRADUATION PICTURE FRAMES Have kindergarten "graduates" make frames with craft sticks or craft foam, to hold a picture of them on their first day of kindergarten. Fill goodie bags with a zipper pencil case containing school supplies -- pencil, eraser, ruler, glue stick, stickers, etc. Have the kids decorate T-shirts, each child putting a handprint on each classmate's shirt so the entire class is represented. Write (with fabric paint) on each shirt "[Name of preschool] Class of 2003." The younger kids can decorate brown paper bag backpacks (you would make them prior to the party) with crayons or stickers. If there's an actual graduation ceremony, give them something they can wear to the ceremony, such as Class of 2003 pins. For my daughter, we gave each of the kids those plastic clappers/noisemakers, and the parents used them to cheer during the ceremony. The kids thought it was great! -- Chris

 EDIBLE DIPLOMAS Press crustless bread paper-thin with a rolling pin, spread thinly with flavored cream cheese, roll very tightly, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate to hold its shape. Just before serving, tie with a piece of string licorice. -- the80lady

 FUTURE THEME Start with a theme like "Leap into the future." Decorations all have to do with rocket ships. Popcorn balls make good moon rocks. And serve Tang, of course. Major activity: Put together a time capsule. -- idagriff

 WEARABLE MORTARBOARDS Using cheap plastic bowls (18 to a package at the $1 store), attach a same-color square of poster board with a brass fastener. Make quickie "tassles" out of embroidery floss or inexpensive yarn, and attach to the brass fastener. If they slide off the child's head, attach ribbons using staples or a hole punch, and tie under the chin. -- the80lady

 EDIBLE MORTARBOARDS Unwrap a mini peanut butter cup and invert it. Put a dab of brown tube frosting on the smaller part (was the bottom, is now the top), and on top of this put a square of chocolate-covered graham cracker cookie (or whatever other square or rectangular brown cookie you can find). Now take a 2-inch length of Fruit Roll-up, fringe it, then roll it tightly to resemble a tassle, pinching it to make it stay. Affix it with another dab of brown tube frosting to the top of the "mortarboard." -- the80lady

 MORTARBOARD BOX Get inexpensive round papier-mache boxes at the craft store and paint them black. Attach a square of black poster board to the lid with a brass fastener, then make a "tassle" from yarn or embroidery thread. Fill with little candies. -- the80lady

 ALL-OUT SCHOOL'S OUT! We hold these school parties outdoors, with relay-type races, little carnival-type games, and ALWAYS a water balloon toss and other water games. A favorite uses a Ping-Pong ball. Fill a 2-litre empty soda bottle with food-colored water for weight, then put the ball on the open top. Using a large water gun, try to knock off the ball. You can also do a variation of a bean bag toss but with sponges soaked with water. Kids can get soaked too! Be sure to end the day with ice pops. -- talie001

 END-OF-YEAR SLEEPOVER A big hit at my 11-year-old daughter's sleepover party was "breakfast bags." The night before, each girl decorated her own paper lunch bag with markers, crayons, stickers, and her name, then lined up for a kitchen buffet of breakfast foods to put in the bags (small boxes of cereal, fruit, yogurt, juice boxes, small boxes of chocolate milk, cereal bars, etc.). After they filled their bags, they stowed them in the fridge for the next morning; when they all got up they just went to the fridge and fetched their breakfast bags, which they brought back to their sleeping bags & ate from in one big group! They all loved it! They also painted night shirts, which they really enjoyed. (Take LOTS of photos!) -- MM321