graduation presents

[harried mother]

What is a standard rule of thumb about graduation presents for high school seniors? Cancun? Hawaii? Laptop? Money and how much?

[Darren Scott]

Appropriate means something different for every family and for every student. It's important to think about what High School graduation means. It's an ending, but it's also a new beginning. Set them up for what is coming next in their life. A car if they need it (and you can afford it) is appropriate. So is a wardrobe for College or a new job.

If you're simply rewarding your student for hard work and outstanding results, maybe a vacation is appropriate. But remember that they are not adults, and still need supervision. If your student barely squeaked by due to not trying very hard, maybe they deserve less. Only you and your economic situation can decide what's appropriate.