Graduation is always a big milestone, a transitional moment, a celebration of one period ending and another beginning. Graduating from eighth grade is, in many ways, saying farewell to childhood as one prepares to enter high school. For the 8th grade graduate in your life, consider giving one of these gifts in celebration of this transition.
8th Grade Graduation Gifts
A Camera to Elevate the Selfie: Fujifilm Instax Mini 26 + Rainbow Film Bundle
Today’s eighth-grade graduate has probably never taken a picture with anything other than a smartphone. This camera is a fun to use, updated blast from the past. It has a selfie mirror and we all know that this age group is all about the selfie.
They will be able to instantly print their selfies to share with friends or display in their room or locker. There is also a close-up lens, an intelligent flash, and a few different useful customization options. This camera bundle even comes with really fun and unique film.
The outside frame of each photo is one of a rainbow of colors rather than the traditional white you usually see with polaroid-type photos. Give this gift before the actual graduation day and they will be able to capture and commemorate the day through photography.
A Reminder to Embrace Play: Punisher Skateboards 9001 Cherry Blossom Complete Skateboard, Red, 31-Inch
Graduation from eighth grade is a sign of growing up, a sign that this young person will be an adult before you know it. That said, it’s important to not let go of childhood altogether.
Remembering to embrace play is good for health and happiness. A skateboard is a fun reminder of the joy of play but in a cool, age-appropriate way.
This is a quality board that is good for both beginners and advanced skaters. It looks great and it is solidly constructed and durable. The top of the board is covered with Heavy Grit Skateboard 80AB Grip Tape, providing excellent traction for control and safety. Speaking of safety, you might want to give a helmet as well to keep that young brain safe.
An Artistic Escape: L.Louise Art Acrylic Paint Set with Easel, Brushes, Paint & More
If a skateboard isn’t really their kind of thing, this art set is another way to encourage the 8th-grade grad to continue to embrace play. This is an elevated, more grown-up version of a child’s art set.
With the easel, stretched canvas, paint, and other tools, your young Picasso can explore their inner artist. This art set even comes with access to a helpful painting instruction video. This is a great set for a beginner and might even inspire a more serious interest in art. The only thing that could make this set better is if it came with a carrying case.
A Roadmap for the next year: The High School Survival Guide
One great idea for an eighth grade graduation gift is the High School Survival Guide written by Jessica Holsman. This book provides students entering high school with a roadmap to studying, socializing, and succeeding in high school.
Making it one of the most perfect gifts for your graduate. The book is filled with an abundance of tips that cover every facet of high school. Your graduate will learn vital tips to improve their study habits, grades, and social life.
Engulfed with all the information you may wish you knew before entering high school, this is the ultimate guide for your eighth grade graduate.
Tips for acing high school: The Secrets of Top Students
Another great gift idea for your eighth grade graduate is the Secrets of Top Students written by Stephanie Weisman. Similar to the High School Survival Guide, this book features an abundance of tips, tools, and techniques to ace high school.
This book is full of innovative strategies to help students maximize their learning potential and get the grades that they want. Additionally, students are provided with resources to help them throughout college as well.
In addition to preparing your graduate for high school, this gift is also great if your graduate loves to read.
Words of wisdom to wear: Two-Tone Sterling Silver Be Graffiti Charm Necklace
If you have a daughter, niece, or sister graduating from the eighth grade, consider purchasing this two tone necklace as a graduate gift. This sterling silver necklace features a two piece pendant engraved with a few words of wisdom.
The word “be” is engraved on a rose gold charm, while the words “kind, free, true, brave, strong, happy, thankful, and compassionate” are engraved on a silver charm. In addition to being a stylish and thoughtful gift that your graduate will love, this pendant has great positive messages that your child can read daily.
Autographs To Remember This Special Year: Jumbo Graduation Autograph Hound
A Jumbo Graduation Autograph Hound is the perfect gift to give your eighth graduate to congratulate them on their special day. With this hound your graduate is sure to remember the day and all the special people who helped them celebrate it for years to come.
This cute pup is 20 inches long and comes with lots of space for the signatures of your love ones. Additionally, the pup comes with a special autograph pen to save you time trying to find one. While this may seem like a small gift idea it is a quality gift that is perfect for any graduation.
Keyring Keepsake: Infinity Collection Graduation Keychain for Girls
In addition to the other aforementioned gifts, your daughter, niece, or sister will love this keychain as a gift for their eighth grade graduation. Engraved with a powerful message, this keychain is a unique gift that will be cherished for years to come.
While it may be a small token of your excitement for the recipient, it is the perfect eighth grade graduation gift to show your graduate how much you care. While students may outgrow clothes or spend their gift cards, this keychain may withstand the test of time.
Sweet and lasting reminder for any proud graduate: Aurora World Plush Graduation Bear
Another great gift idea for your eighth grade graduate is the Aurora World Plush Graduation Bear. This teddy bear is the perfect symbol of your love and appreciation for the graduate on their special day.
Additionally, this gift is very versatile and perfect for everyone, regardless of whether they are male or female. This gift features a teddy bear dressed in a graduation cap and holding onto a diploma tied with a satin ribbon.
With a fluffy touch and an adorable face, this teddy bear will be a gift your graduate will remember for years to come.
A Great Looking Way to Dream: Splosh Change Box Coin Money Travel Fund Savings Jar
One of the most fun things about this age is that they tend to have big dreams and enjoy imagining the future. It’s also an age where it’s important for them to learn the practical side of how to achieve some of those dreams. Learning to save and manage money is part of that.
The 8th-grade graduate might feel like a traditional piggy bank is for little kids. This is essentially a piggy bank but it has a much nicer and more grown-up aesthetic. With a world map in the background and the words “Travel Fund” on the front, it’s a perfect way to dream about places they want to go.
The design also lets them keep an eye on how much they’ve managed to save with the clear display. There is also an “Adventure Fund” option if you prefer.
A Fun Hands-On Challenge: WOLFBUSH 6Pcs Ultimate IQ Test Metal Brain Teaser Puzzles
Graduating eighth grade is a celebration of an academic accomplishment. Why not give a gift that includes an intellectual challenge that might be a bit more fun than all the tests and homework they’ve completed? This 6-piece set of metal and wood brain teaser puzzles is perfect.
This is a hands-on way for them to test their smarts. It’s also a way to put their patience to the test. Some of these puzzles might take a long time to solve. They are great for fiddling with when waiting around or whenever you need a distraction. Solving these puzzles will give them a feeling a victory and accomplishment that they can be proud of.
A Cool Display: Cinema Light Box Color-Changing Set With Letters, Numbers, & Images
This fun gift will allow your special soon-to-be-high-schooler express their personality. A cinema lightbox, it can stand on a desk or be mounted on the wall.
It comes with a mix of black and colored letters and numbers as well as 86 emojis and symbols. They can write the message of their choice to display and can change it up as often as they’d like.
There is a remote control that controls the light and the color of the light, with a choice of 16 colors with shade variations. There is even the option to have the lights flash. You power the lightbox with either the included micro USB cable or 6 AA batteries.
A Musical Adventure: Official Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Starter Kit, Light Mahogany
This is the perfect age to learn a musical instrument and the ukulele is a fun one to try. This kit includes a beautiful mahogany instrument with Italian Aquila Super Nylgut strings. It also comes with a tote bag to carry the instrument in and a quick start playing guide.
The real value with this kit, though, is in the included online lessons and the access to the great Kala ukulele app. The app includes a tuner and the lessons will have them strumming their favorite songs in no time. The price is right for this ukulele kit and it offers a ton of value considering the quality of the instrument plus the learning tools.
Pool Party Accessory: Jasonwell Giant Inflatable Unicorn Pool Float with Rapid Valves
Graduation tends to come right at the start of summer so a summer-themed gift will always be welcome. To help your 8th-grade graduate kick the summer off right, check out this awesome giant unicorn pool float. The material is raft-grade so you won’t have to worry about it instantly getting a hole or tear in it.
The unicorn is huge and it can hold 2 adults, so it could probably hold at least three or so 8th graders. The Rapid Valves for filling it with air are really nice, allowing you to blow it up 5 times faster than a traditional float. You can also use an air pump or air compressor to fill it up.
Your young graduate will think of you when they take this to either the pool or beach for a day of fun under the sun!
License to Travel: Merax 3-Piece P.E.T Luggage Set Lightweight Spinner Suitcases
Graduating from eighth grade is a sign that someone needs to start acquiring more things fit for a young adult. It’s time to retire their kid-sized luggage and upgrade to something nicer. This 3-piece suitcase set is ideal. The suitcases are all spinners.
They are quite lightweight and extremely durable. You have your choice of colors so you can select a favorite color or choose one that will easily stand out at the luggage carousel.
These bags can be locked with the included combination lock. With small, medium, and large sizes, they will be ready for a quick overnight trip or a longer vacation. If you really want to score big with your graduation trip, give these suitcases plus a little trip together somewhere fun!
A Cool Alarm Clock: Clocky, The Original Runaway Alarm Clock on Wheels
Getting up is hard to do. It seems to be especially hard for teenagers. Your eighth grade graduate will likely both love and hate this gift. It’s certainly more unique and fun than a traditional alarm clock and the idea sounds pretty cool at first.
But on those tough mornings when bed and sleep have too strong a pull, they will probably hate this clock. On the other hand, it will get them up! Available in a range of colors, this alarm clock with wheels is like a kind of robot. It doesn’t just ring to signal that it’s time to get up.
It rings and then runs away! It’s impossible to just reach over and whack the snooze button when the alarm clock jumps right off the nightstand and starts cruising around the bedroom. This clock is durable enough to withstand hitting the floor hard and running into furniture. It runs on four AAA batteries.
A Fun Board Game: Munchkin Deluxe
This fun and unique board game involves killing monsters and stealing treasure while ruthlessly trying to beat your opponents. You can play with 3-6 players.
To complete the game, you can expect it to take 1-2 hours. This game is all about adventure and silliness, a perfect combination for most kids in this age group.
Examples of the silliness you can expect include the Boots of Butt-Kicking, the Drooling Slime, and the Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment. The cards feature fun and engaging illustrations and the instructions are pretty easy to understand, especially once you get started actually playing. Although this game might encourage backstabbing, it’s really a fun way to bond with your opponents.
A Fun T-Shirt: Straight Outta Middle School T-Shirt
A play on the classic Straight Outta Compton album and associated gear, this shirt is made for those leaving middle school in the rearview mirror.
The shirt is available in a few different colors and in a range of sizes. Depending on the color you choose, the shirt is either 100% cotton or a mix of cotton and polyester. This fits true to size and makes for a fun shirt to wear underneath graduation clothes or at a grad party.
Even if the thought of high school is a bit scary, most 8th-grade graduates are thrilled to be saying goodbye to middle school. This shirt celebrates that fact in a fun way.
Elevating the Smartphone Camera: AMIR Professional HD Cell Phone Camera Lens Kit
A lot of kids around this age really enjoy taking pictures. Today’s smartphone cameras are pretty great but they do offer some limitations. This lens kit for smartphones helps you elevate what the phone camera can do.
These lenses will work with the majority of smartphones, including iPhones and the Samsung Galaxy series. You get a Macro lens and an Ultra Wide Angle lens. The lenses attach to the phone with a simple clamp design. These come with a little carrying bag to keep the lenses clean and safe when not in use.
Fun for the Backyard: Baden Champions Badminton Set
For the athletically inclined, this badminton set lets the young person have a full court set up in minutes. In no time, 2-4 people can battle it out over the net.
The set includes the net and all the hardware you need to set the net up, 3 nylon shuttlecocks, and 4 tournament-level quality badminton racquets. The net is bordered in a bright yellow that makes it easy to see, especially on really bright days.
The whole thing easily fits into a nice included carrying case. This means that your yard doesn’t have to be dominated by a badminton court at all times. It also makes it easy to bring with for badminton at the park or a barbecue or party.
High-Flying Fun: DBPOWER MJX X400W FPV Drone with Wifi Camera
For the kid who loves video games, they will likely relish the idea of flying a drone in real life. The remote control lets you nagivate the camera-equipped quadcopter drone in all kinds of fun ways. You can even do 360° flips. The WiFi HD camera means you can take pictures and videos from above.
When you mount your smartphone to the remote, you can see the drone’s bird’s-eye view in real-time. There are a few different modes and speeds, including one that’s ideal for beginners. Just be sure to let the kid know about any rules or regulations about operating a drone in your area.
If you need to find a gift for an eighth grade graduation, one of these gifts is sure to fit the bill for the kid on your list.
Which gift do you think they’ll enjoy most? Let us know! Share this list with friends who are also on the hunt for an 8th-grade graduation gift.
Is there a gift perfect for celebrating graduating eighth grade that isn’t on this list? Tell us about it in the comments section!
