Grand daughter starting secondary school

Zoejory

ElaineI

Never thought this was a thing! We give the parents money towards shoes, uniform etc.

Oh thank goodness! We're the same.

I was beginning to think we were evil grandparents!

I don't give money towards shoes or uniform!!
I would if needed of course.

However, the right bag (!) is something which might be an expense too far for the parents.

I'm sure our worth as grandparents isn’t measured by the gifts we give. Maybe the OP doesn't see her DGD often and wants to have the opportunity to buy her something special. Either way, no one needs to feel guilty.

I must be the meanest grannie. I didn't give them anything.
My 4yr old DGD is about to begin school in a couple of weeks.
She washed her hands at mine using lavender and geranium handwash and said she would wash her hands often if she had that! So 3 guesses what she's getting.

Our eldest DGS starts secondary school in September his dad bought him a nice watch and a wallet. Knowing him he will have lost the wallet in the first week. ?

My granddaughter and step grandson are both starting high school I got them both a personalised card with names date school etc on them and my granddaughter I bought her a gold necklace with her name on it and them both a personalised socks lol off not on the high street my grandson is also starting nursery I got him the same

My granddaughter is also starting secondary school. I have bought a personalised photo frame, with her name and school at top and date at foot of frame

Start a trust fund ! She will need it!!

How about a watch? Funds for a school trip/ outing?
Ask her ....she' ll probably know exactly !! Or maybe wait until first half term to see if there is anything she would like ?

GD started secondary school last year she said nobody in her class uses fountain pens, they all use trendy sorts of roller ball pens.
Perhaps take her out for an afternoon and maybe buy her some of the things she'll need like pencil case etc or even a couple of items of uniform or sports kit which would also help out parents as an expensive time for them.

They’d use a new phone more or a new case for it if you can’t run to a new phone. No, I didn’t know it was a thing to buy presents for a new school either. Mine have missed out!

I'm always trying to get my DGC away from their phones so love to bombard give them something personal such as hand-knitted sweaters or money towards a school trip or sports gear. They've never complained and my eldest DGC has just left school and is about to begin 6th form college.

Will give money to help with school uniform for GS. At primary he had at least 3 jumpers. This year starting secondary he has 1. He commented to his Dad he only had one jumper. The reply was that with the cost of that 1 jumper he may well have it glued into his blazer to prevent it being lost!

I have never heard about giving children presents when changing schools. One of my .great grandsons joins his brother in secondary school in September.

Nor me Bijou.

Me neither Bijou although if handknitted jumpers count then I have knitted a few.
There were at least 2 school trips my own DC didn't go on because we just could not afford it.

Back in 80s, P7 children went to a holiday camp in the Trossachs for 2 weeks. I don't remember it costing anything or very little. Happy memories were made of this. I believe the camps are now commercially run.
Everything changes but it doesn't always improve.

Zoejory , if you are evil grandparents then so are we! Moving to secondary is simply that a move ! and a natural course of progression. I fail to understand why every day events must be celebrated, no wonder some children are growing up thinking they are the be all and end all and the most important members of society!!! For goodness sake of course they are leaving primary education and moving to high school,
that is the way our society works. My GS moves to hight school this year and we have bought his new school uniform as we did for his elder siblings. He was delighted with the gesture - as were his parents!!! but that's it - no gifts to mark the occasion. It is a big change I recognize that but moving on is life .

My eldest GD is also moving up to high school. She’s dyslexic and sometimes struggles but she loved her primary school and is excited and terrified in equal measures about the forthcoming change. She has a little charm bracelet so I’ve bought her a four leaf clover charm engraved with the words ‘luck’ and ‘courage’.

Buy her some shares and they will hopefully give her dividends for her life. Much better than gifts that wear out. Also it will teach the child that money can make money.

We have always bought a school blazer for our GC as they have progressed to senior school. Something helpful for the parents - our GD is moving on in September and DS and DDiL have spent over £300 so far on necessary uniform, exclusive of sports wear. This is a local comprehensive, a good school, but not Benenden - how do some parents cope?

baubles that is so lovely! Lucky girl

Nanny (me) is buying the first secondary school blazer for my DGS

Apart from buying uniform stationary stuff etc etc never ever thought it was a thing to buy presents for going up to a school
So this mother/ grandmother didn’t buy any children or grandchildren ‘presents’ for going up to school, going to college, or up to Uni Plenty of money to help on various projects and helped out with uniform or books but presents no I believe it’s just something that happens like going up a year
I m afraid I think this is a bit over the top in my opinion and
I m with the “Its just a normal step in a child’s life” grans

I also hate seeing nursery children graduating with mortar boards A friend put photos on FB recently oh so so silly

I sewed on vast numbers of name tapes for each GC moving up to secondary school. I supplied the name tapes, choosing the largest font in green so that it would be easy to identify their belongings. Long ago as a boarding house master’s wife I noticed that almost all name tapes were red or blue and in small script.

When I was at school you had a leather satchel or a briefcase for high school. DGD has a bag with butterflies on and a Frozen lunchbox to start school. Her brother is 8 and moved onto a Nike type bag. Glad their school does not insist on expensive things. Most of the uniform is from Sainsburys/Asda though little madam had specific ideas on dresses, pinafore, socks and shoes. First time in her life she has got patent shoes which I reckon will last a day before getting scraped! Her brother couldn't care less about clothes!

I think my grandchildren would have told me if it was a thing
? They don’t miss a trick.
I would help with the uniforms but my son in law loves buying them.