High School Grad Gifts They'll Actually Use

High School Grad Gifts They'll Actually Use

We're rounding up recommendations from parents for the high school grad gifts that will be appreciated the most! For when you want to celebrate the accomplishments of the seniors in your life with a gift that will actually get put to good use. These thoughtful gifts for teens will come in handy as they are heading off to college and (gasp!) adulthood.

Check out our list of high school graduation gift ideas from parents, and add your own tried-and-true picks!

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    Amazon Graduation Gift Card

    Beth Wood:  Give the graduate in your life the gift of shopping! They can stock up on supplies for their new dorm room or buy new clothes for the upcoming school year. Amazon even has special gift cards for graduates, which come in a cute graduation cap box.

    Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker

    Beth Wood:  The mini Keurig is a great high school graduation gift idea for the coffee lover going off to college! Using this single cup Keurig they can make their own coffee, tea or other warm beverage right in their room without taking up a lot of space. Buy them a stock of their favorite K-Cups and a fun mug to accompany the coffeemaker!

    Tee Shirt Quilt

    Beth Wood:  Collect your high school graduate's favorite t-shirts, sweatshirts or jerseys and turn them into a quilt that they can take with them as a wonderful keepsake.

    MantraBand Bracelet

    Beth Wood:  Commemorate high school graduation with this lovely bracelet featuring wise words from Dr. Seuss: "Oh, the places you'll go!" The lightweight bracelet is adjustable to fit any wrist and can be stacked with MantraBand's other bracelets with a variety of inspirational messages to guide her on her journey.

    Moleskine Notebook

    Erynn:  An upgrade from the standard composition notebooks, these decidedly grown-up Moleskine ones make wonderful high school graduation gift ideas. These gorgeous multi-use journals can help graduates keep organized, plan events, or just jot down their thoughts upon becoming a full-fledged adult! There is no limit to the uses of a Moleskine journal, especially for artistic or literary types.

    Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones

    Beth Wood:  Dorm rooms can get noisy! Get your grad a set of noise cancelling headphones to use when it gets too loud to study or they want to listen to their own music in peace. A great high school grad gift when they're heading off to college!

    Oh, the Places You'll Go!

    Beth Wood:  This all-time favorite Dr. Seuss story addresses life's ups and downs and is one of the best high school graduation gift ideas. If you think ahead, you can purchase a hard cover version of this book when your child begins elementary school and secretly ask their teacher at the end of each school year to write a little message to your child on the inside front and back cover pages. Present the book at their high school graduation for a wonderful keepsake!

    Monogrammed Laundry Bag

    Beth Wood:  Send your graduate off to school with a personalized laundry bag! The drawstring closure, hook for hanging and shoulder strap make it a great bag that is easy to carry. The bag comes in several bright and fun colors and patterns and can be personalized with graduate's name or initials.

    S-Zone Duffel Bag

    Beth Wood:  Think of all of the short weekend trips college kids take! Get them a nice sturdy weekend duffel bag as a high school graduation gift to make traveling easier on their next adventure!

    Starbucks Gift Card

    Beth Wood:  Starbucks gift cards are the perfect high school grad gifts for those who need a steady supply of caffeine! Their gift cards always have fun graphics to choose from and can be purchased in any denomination you choose.

    National Geographic Atlas of the World

    Shila:  A really nice world atlas makes a great graduation gift -- it can be very inspiring! A nice hardcover atlas can serve as a centerpiece, or a coffee table book for decades to come. You can write in the card or sign the book, "the world is at your fingertips."

    Lyft Gift Card

    Kristy Pepping:  What college student-to-be couldn't use a car ride home after a night out? Or what if they need a few items at the local mall and don't have a car? Why not give them a Lyft gift card for a graduation gift? Any denomination would be much appreciated! The great news is this gift card can be emailed directly to them so perfect if you're across country from the graduate.

    Monogrammed Makeup Bag

    Beth Wood:  Help your graduate stay organized in the dorms with a makeup bag personalized with her initials. Add a Sephora or Ulta gift card for an added treat!

    Catstudio Embroidered College Pillows

    Beth Wood:  Give your high school graduate a keepsake representing their future school. Each pillow collage shows colors, mascots, landmarks, and stadiums representative of their specific school. If your budget is a bit lower, handy zip pouches are also available for corralling pencils, lip balm, keys and other essentials.

Primary photo:   RODNAE Productions on Pexels

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.