Forget over-used gifts for your high school graduate. Ultimately, the perfect gift is one they’ll really want to use—but you hope they never do.
Intrigued yet? With graduation right around the corner, it’s time to start putting together the ultimate gift (or gift basket!) for the special grad in your life.
Gift-giving is both an art and a skill.
It can be learned, but it requires being tuned into the recipient’s wants and lifestyle.
Listening is paramount, as is common sense.
While classic graduation gifts like a watch certainly make sense, why not try out these ten unique graduation gifts instead for a guaranteed hit:
- Police scanner. We really hope your child knows what to do if they get pulled over by the police. But to help avoid that, a scanner might be in order. Many are perfectly legal to own and use, such as the Uniden Portable Handheld Scanner Radio. These devices are popular to figure out where cop cars are hiding, but that’s just one use. Stay tuned in to what police and fire departments are talking about as well as marine stations, NOAA weather reports and more.
- Personal breathalyzer. These aren’t the types installed in cars, but rather the BACtrack Element Pro is like what police use for field sobriety tests. They’ve become a popular gag gift for under $100 and are even popular at alcohol detox centers (which your grad will hopefully never experience first-hand!).
- Fake parking tickets. A variety are available in packs, like the BigMouth Inc. 5 pack fake parking tickets for under $7. It’s a great addition to a gift pack, and while you hope your young adult steers clear of real parking violations, these can be fun to use on friends’ cars—or when you find someone hogging two parking spaces.
- Homebrewing kit. Surprise! You don’t need to be 21 to use a home brewing kit. You just need to be 21 to enjoy the end results. Home brewing, like with the Homebrew Starter Kit from Northern Brewer, can be a great way to bond with your grad over the summer. It’s also a viable skill to have and just might start them on a passionate career path.
- “How to cheat in college” books. You don’t really want your grad to cheat in college, but if there are hacks to ethically get more done faster, why not? Check out The Cheat Code by Brian Wong or The Shadow Scholar: How I Made a Living Helping College Kids Cheat by Dave Tomar for additions to your grad gift basket.
- College team flasks. Available from a variety of retailers, including Etsy vendors which really go all out customizing items, it’s the send-off gift that will have everyone on their dorm floor jealous. While you hope they don’t fill it up with any adult beverages until they’re 21, you’re guaranteed that it will be on prominent display year-round.
- A fake ID. Believe it or not, you can order allegedly scannable fake IDs online at the aptly named. It is, apparently, legal to purchase such a product—though of course illegal to actually try and use. It promises rave reviews from the recipient, but tread very carefully here. It’s more gag gift than anything else.
- Drinker beer and soda guzzler hat. Available on Amazon and at a variety of e-tailers, putting “soda” in the products title makes it a little less of a risky gift. This is a classic joke at sporting events, like those upcoming college football games, but more in the gag gift realm than anything else.
- Never Too Hungover You can tell them not to drink in college, to match alcohol with water drink by drink, and to take it easy all you like, but kids will be kids. This highly rated hangover prevention is safe to combine with alcohol (of course) and helps with hydration.
- Fox Labs pepper spray. At nearly $20, it’s worth every penny. This is the same spray police officers use and it’s available in 4 oz. bottles and keychain sizes. It’s the gift you really hope your grad never has to use.
No matter what you get your grad this year, remember that it really is the thought that counts.
Send them to college safe, secure, and armed with everything they need to ensure it’s the best years of their life.