Stumped For Graduation Gift Ideas? Local Seniors Weigh In On Hot Picks

Shopping for teenagers is no easy task. I speak with authority – after all, I used to be one.

But now that I’m the one buying high-school graduation gifts, it’s even harder. Do I buy a meaningful gift to celebrate the student’s scholastic accomplishments – or one of benefit once they get to college? Would choosing a comforter set be appropriate – or am I better off just slipping a check into a card?

Furthermore, what if they’re not going to college?

With graduation season looming, I took my questions to the experts: Graduating seniors from Lakes, Clover Park and Harrison Preparatory. All of the students I spoke with are student leaders at their schools – ASB officers, National Honor Society members, Daffodil Princesses, honor graduates – and are headed off to college in the fall.

And all of them had definitive ideas about what they would like as graduation gifts.

Indicative of just how excited they are about college, number one on the students’ lists was stuff for their dorm rooms: Towels, cups, plates, sheets, laptops, thumbnail drives, a stack of beloved DVDs … The possibilities are endless.

“Anything that will help toward buying necessities in the dorms,” one Clover Park graduate summarized.

But given how picky most teens are, it’s always a safe bet to put the spending control in their own hands – especially when you aren’t familiar with his or her tastes.

“Gift cards are always a wonderful idea even for those not going to college,” one Harrison Prep senior said.

That includes gift cards to places graduates can buy stuff for their dorm rooms – Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com – or even Visa gift cards so they can put the money toward the cost of books or a new computer or camera.

And, of course, cash is always a popular gift.

At the top of one Lakes senior’s list: “Money for a laptop.”

One senior from Clover Park said that she would enjoy getting some summer-related gifts, such as clothes, vacation money or even just a bubble-bath set.

“Anything that will give me a relaxed and fun summer before college starts,” she said.

That idea clearly inspired one of her peers from Harrison Prep, who added, “Cozy house slippers and robes.”

Along the same lines, gift cards to local restaurants they they will miss once they are at school, or to favorite stores are great gifts. While a graduate may feel obligated to save a cash gift to pay for books of  car insurance, a gift card to Nordstrom, Sephora or the Apple Store could be used for pure fun. After all, this is their last summer being a kid.

And, of course, the group had some unique ideas, too, including painter’s tape, baby wipes and Ziploc bags for the dorms; a full tank of gas; and a two-month supply of Top Ramen.

But the most entertaining idea was by far the least feasible:

“A portable Mexican mom to cook you Mexican food everyday would be a wonderful present, as well.”