Celebrating Educational Milestones

July 18, 2017


By: Sylvie Tremblay

The weather's warming up, summer's on the horizon, and the school year is coming to a close – it's time to celebrate! Whether you're toasting a kindergarten graduation or an upcoming first year away at college, we've got the goods to help students. If you're not sure what to give, don't worry – here are a few ways to celebrate the four major educational milestones in style.

Kindergarten


To celebrate your child's first major educational milestone, consider gifts that will help them explore and expand their creativity. Shop the craft supply aisles to create a customized arts-and-crafts kit. Stock up on Crayola – the Ultra-Clean washable markers, washable watercolor paint sets and arts and crafts brushes will help your child create vivid artwork to be proud of, and that's easy to clean up! Pick up some a supply of dustless chalk – it's perfect for creating sidewalk art after school.

Check out the choice of kids tablets if you're looking for a more high-tech gift.  Kids can play games, listen to music, and run educational apps. These devices generally offer enough "growing room" to provide for years of enjoyment, and many come with an extended battery life, so they're perfect for preventing boredom during long car or plane trips. And many come with protective cases to protect the tablet in case of drops. In addition the Office Depot optional protection plan may cover accidental spills or drops.

Middle School


A customized locker kit will certainly add to a middle school child's excitement for the next school year. There are stylish locker basics available, from removable shelves for extra storage to mirrors and magnetic pencil boxes. They come in a variety of colors to appeal to all personalities. You can take locker decor to the next level with magnetic locker chandeliers, hanging locker shelves, beaded curtains and shag locker rugs – enough to make any locker seriously stylish.

Pair your customized locker kit with an eReader so your child can enjoy reading outside school as well. Digital ink technology makes it easy to read in artificial or natural light so your child can get some fresh air during reading time – no squinting at the screen. The Most have generous storage options. 

High School


Hello, high school – hello, high tech! High school is the perfect time to invest in your child's future with tech-friendly gifts like a powerful laptop that will help him or her succeed in high school, college and beyond. There's a wide variety to choose from - with different screen sizes, resolutions, hard drives, memory and processors. A wide range of prices exist, so keep your budget and the student's needs in mind.  There's ample storage and great graphics available as well. They'll use a laptop to do homework, projects, a resume and so much more. And, it's easy to store documents, videos, music and other files. Some of the popular laptops feature a 360-degree flip touchscreen, and can switch between laptop and tablet mode for reading and homework on the go. They're great for displaying in both stand and tent mode for class presentations or group work. Complete the package with a pair of high-quality headphones designed for comfort, especially when listening to music through a long study session.

College


Achieving the next big educational milestone – starting college – calls for a major celebration. Ideally, you can celebrate with gifts that offer a mix of fun and practicality. College is a great time to invest in a new laptop with generous storage and powerful processing. These investments not only prepare students for college but will power their performance after graduation as they enter the workforce.

For college students heading out on their own for the first time, nothing quite matches the excitement of furnishing their own place, whether it's a dorm room or an apartment. Help them out with stylish and functional home furnishings.  Consider a  coffee maker, microwave and other useful and fun items they and their roommates will need.  So, whatever the year, make educational milestones more memorable. It's easy! 


About the Author 

Based in Ontario, Canada, Sylvie Tremblay is an experienced journalist and blogger specializing in nutrition, fitness and lifestyle topics. Tremblay has been published on websites like LIVESTRONG.com.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.