Graduation gifts are some of the toughest gifts to pick out, especially when you’re buying for your teen’s friends who have become almost as dear to us as our own kids. We asked our seasoned moms what they love to give their kids’ friends and here are some of their answers. Some of these gifts can be bought in bulk, which makes giving to a large number more affordable.
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Graduation Gifts for Your Teen’s Friend Group
Ikea Frakta bags (available to order on Amazon) are truly the most amazing bags we have ever used for packing and moving. College-bound grads will have loads of stuff to take to school and giving them one of these lightweight and durable bags will be a huge help. This is THE bag that every Grown and Flown parent has gotten for their own kid – their friends (and parents) will love this when they move in.
Shop Fanatics for the largest selections of official NCAA merchandise for over 500 colleges and pro teams, too. Check out these college logo face-coverings that come in 3 packs and singles, too.
A First Aid Kit filled with basics is a must-have for college students. Target has these cute bags that are FREE when you purchase 3 or more first aid items for each bag.
Teens are expected to leave home with a foundation in financial literacy but few of them already have answers to the all the money questions they will face once they are living on their own. See why the one reviewer at the New York Times calls Napkin Finance “one of the best financial aid primers I have read in years.”
Inexpensive Fleece Throw Blankets from Lands End (approx. 4 ft x 6 ft) are available in an array of colors and patterns and can be monogrammed, too. If your budget permits, there are also larger blanket options which can also be personalized. Machine-washable.
Teens need new socks to go off to college and our favorite sock brand is Notes to Self. College students – really, anyone, can start their day with positivity when they reach for a pair of these incredibly comfortable and durable socks from you. NOW: Grown and Flown readers can take 12% off a purchase of $75 or more (and free shipping)when they use GROWNANDFLOWN at checkout.
My son loves his Handheld Clothes Steamer that he borrowed from a roommate for graduation; now he wishes he had taken one to school with him as freshmen. Forget packing them off with an iron and ironing board – this is the solution to dealing with wrinkled clothes.
This lightweight and practical Collegiate Drawstring Bag has a mesh backing and a front pocket with zippers. Look at the drop-down menu to see if a bag is available for the colleges where your teen’s friends will be attending; if not, find a bag in the school colors.
Here’s a gift idea for the moms of grads, those friends who’ve been with you every step of the way! The Grown and Flown book has tips for what to buy for college, how to move in and…how to say goodbye.
Choosing one of these tumblers from the Tervis Tumbler Collegiate Collection for each of your teen’s friends is a thoughtful way to celebrate where each is heading off in the fall. They can be personalized, come with a lifetime guarantee, and are affordable.
Send your teen (and their friends) off with a slender book of love and life lessons with The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Written and illustrated by beloved British artist, Charlie Mackesy, this is a 2019 bestselling (New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more) fable with with gorgeous illustrations throughout.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the mole.
“Kind,” said the boy.
Everyone can use this practical tool set that contains all they’ll need to set up their dorm rooms and college apartments.
Your daughter and her friends will always remember a special piece of jewelry from Kendra Scott, especially if the stones are personalized with the colors of the college each girl is attending. There are dozens of different stones to pick from to create unique necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
Kids appreciate and need money and there are many clever ways to “dress it up.”
- Fill a mason jar with dollars and add decorative touches in the colors of each college.
- If you are truly creative, consider making a dollar wreath like the one below.
- And if you are not particularly crafty, simply write a check made out for $20.20 and place it in a card or a favorite grad book.
A laundry bag filled with detergent pods, Shout “color catching” sheets, mesh lingerie bags and/or a stain remover stick is a gift that all students can use and appreciate when they finally break down and do their laundry.
For the young women on your list, add one of our favorite grad books, Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone, by author/illustrator and mom of two daughters, Becky Blades. You’ll be giving your grad what she wants but doesn’t know she needs: her mother’s loving counsel.
Another great book idea for boy or girl grads is The Naked Roommate. Now in it’s 7th Edition, this book includes everything any young man or woman might encounter as a freshman.
A new water bottle is a very practical graduation gift and these Hydro Flasks come in many different colors, sizes, and price points. They are one of the most popular brand on campus and will help keep your teen from needing to buy water in expensive and wasteful plastic bottles.
Everyone needs flip flops for the gross communal dorm bathrooms and these Showaflops come in loads of cute designs, available for both men and women, and are antimicrobial with slip resistant soles.
Making copies of a favorite friend group and placing them in frames is a sentimental, and inexpensive gift. An Acrylic Photo Frame like this one would be a good choice and these are available in packs of multiple frames.
This YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Tumbler is virtually indestructible and it will keep your teen’s drink cold (or hot) for hours. They are available in a wide range of sizes, styles and colors. Personalize with college logos, or monogram. 
It’s a disaster and safety risk to run out of battery life on a cell phone, so keep your college kids covered with this small, light, high-speed and top-rated Power Bank by Jackery.
College kids will be so glad they packed along an umbrella the first morning they have to walk to class in a downpour. They can all use a Travel Umbrella 
that folds to fit in a backpack. This one by Repel gets the highest ratings from the New York Times but they also make many different umbrellas in petty colors, too.
Our final idea is something that all grads need Thank You Cards to write to the many people who have helped them reach this milestone. We have used Minted for our holiday cards and personalized stationery and think their one-of-a-kind designs are gorgeous. You will find something for your son or daughter, niece or nephew, or any family friend. FREE custom envelops and recipient addressing.
Gift Card Graduation Gifts for Your Teen’s Friends:
Gift Cards:
- College book store for books, supplies, and more
- Bed, Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, or Target for dorm shopping
- Grub Hub so they can order out when they are tired of the dining hall
- Uber for when they need to come back to the dorms late at night
You Might Also Enjoy:
21 Absolutely Fabulous High School Grad Gifts for Girls
High School Grad Gifts for Guys. They Will Love These!
