Here are the most thoughtful and PRACTICAL gifts for new high school and college grads
I still have the blanket that my brother gave me when I graduated high school and the rolling cart for my classroom my mom got me when I finished my undergrad. They were practical graduation gifts that have gotten years of use. Looking at the current needs of kids and young adults, there are some fantastic products that won’t even break the bank but could make a huge impact on their lives.
In fact I think I still have more gifts from my graduations that I do from getting married. There were just so many practical gifts that I received and they made a big impact for both college and my later career.
So whether you’re planning on finding a gift for a teenager or a twenty-something, this is a great list!
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Fantastic graduation gifts all young adults need now
Instant Pot
Our family has three and honestly the one I love the most is my 3 quart instant pot. It’s the perfect size for kids in a dorm or their first apartment and allows them to cook from frozen, gives them a “burner” to sauté on, and make the ever-troubling problem of cooking for one less inconvenient.
And for a fast paced life, they can get things done while the food is cooking, and have a healthy meal in no time.
Related: How to make the most of your Instant Pot with this comprehensive guide
An external hard drive
At Costco this last week my husband and I were able to buy SIX TERABYTES of storage that included a personal cloud for little more than $100. And with so many papers, photos, and important documents being digital in today’s world, this gift could literally save them one day.
Getting Things Done
This is a book. A great book.
Most people don’t even read it until their 30s, but like learning to do taxes and budget, we all have to learn how to be productive in what we do. It gives us more time to serve those around us and spend quality time with our families.
A Goal Setting journal or productivity pads
Best Self Co. is one of my favorite productivity brands. In fact, we have two perpetual year calendars from them, several goal setting charts, and even a few other great products from them. But for a new grad (whether high school or college), the journal is the way to go. Encourage them to not just have a dream, but to plan it out.
I was once told that strategy without tactics will get you nowhere and tactics without strategy will leave you thrashing. So why not have both so they can tackle their dreams and make a huge difference?!
Small toolkit
I still have this small burgundy toolkit my dad bought me when I moved into my first apartment. In fact my husband even raids it for the pink hammer all the time. It’s practical and relevant for any age or gender and enables them to so much on their own.
And if you gift them a little coupon to teach them how to do a certain job, even better!
Related: What “soft skills” are proven to help teens excel in the future?
HP Sprocket photo printer
We all know how many photos wind up in the graveyard of our phones. So this great device allows for photos to be printed on the spot onto a sticker. It’s just a more fun gift that’s also really practical.
Board Games
Again, this is more on the fun side. But can I tell you that both in college and after I didn’t pour into relationships with friends like I wish I would have? Now as an adult with a family, we buy up games to be able to invite over friends and spend quality time with them. We even write the date and names of people who played inside the lid. So gifting some really awesome games is actually empowering them to cultivate and invest in friendships, learning to spend quality time.
Check out these great games:
More gift guides
Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 6 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
What a helpful list! I noticed that the items in here are just so simple yet they are useful for anyone who will be entering college. I will definitely take your suggestions when the times come for me to give my graduation gift to my nephew.