Whether the tween in your life is excited about entering high school, graduating is a big milestone to celebrate. One way you can congratulate the young graduate this year is with an 8th grade graduation gift.
Whether they love playing video games or enjoys studying stars, we rounded up the best middle school graduation gifts for every kind of tween. There's bound to be something here that will make them smile, no matter what they're into these days.
Gift ideas for 8th grade girls
If they enjoy reading for fun, get them a thrilling page-turner they’ll be totally engrossed in. This YA bestseller combines contemporary themes with fantastical twists, all involving a resilient teen who’s the embodiment of Black girl magic. Once you’re done with this read, we don’t doubt you’ll want to read books two and three of the Legendborn Cycle, “Bloodmarked” and “Oathbound.”
When associate SEO editor Kamari Stewart brought home this brain teaser, she says that her middle school-aged sisters were "obsessed." And it's not hard to see why! The TikTok-viral game promises to deliver hours of brain-bending fun as they attempt to solve 200 2D and 3D puzzle challenges.
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger says this brand was a favorite in her household during the first years of high school. "There’s a number of different words/phrases you can choose from, or you can customize it to say something meaningful to them," she says. "They’re made with mud and clay, helping them to be durable and can withstand most things other bracelets won’t."
This bracelet's inspiring message encourages your soon to be high schooler to make a positive impact in the world.
Stewart says that she was gifted a name plate necklace for Christmas when she was 13, "but I would’ve loved it for graduation or any other day really," she adds.
This Amazon option is affordable, highly-rated and perfect for your tween.
Help them up their selfie game before they hit the high school halls. This rechargeable LED ring light has earned countless rave reviews from various Amazon shoppers for how “professional and polished” it makes their photos look.
Why settle for one gift when you can surprise her with several? This bestselling gift box from Etsy includes lots of items teen girls love, from a scented candle and lip balm to a sweet heart necklace. It can also be personalized and sent straight to her doorstep.
What 8th grade girl wouldn’t love a neon light to spruce up her bedroom? This LED wall light is easy to use, budget-friendly and would look great in any room.
A chic handbag is a great gift for any teen. This crossbody bag is trendy thanks to the subtle pastel color and faux leather make, and it also has a secure zip closure so she can keep her things safe and sound.
If you want a little more flair when upgrading their wallets (or getting them their very first), Thread Wallets offers plenty of playful patterns like the one pictured here. This slim wallet holds just the essentials like their school ID and lunch money, and it has a key ring so they can hook it on to their house keys and (hopefully) won't lose it.
Starbucks is all the rage to tweens and teens. Make sure they can get their favorite before school drink and snack with friends by giving them a gift card this graduation season.
Stewart has been using this dry erase board for over a year now and has been loving it. While it’s great for any age, it’s a good way to help your teen stay organized as they start high school.
“It’s an easy way to write out my tasks for the day and keep them in sight, which helps me stay focused,” she shares. “Since it’s a whiteboard, I can easily erase and update each day. It also has a little drawer on the side that I use to store my extra dry-erase markers.”
With summer just around the corner, a trendy pool float is a perfect 8th grade graduation gift. Jasonwell makes a bunch of fun floats including a rainbow unicorn, a flamingo, a dinosaur and more.
With high school comes early wake up times. This bestselling sunrise alarm clock acts as a sunlight stimulator and gently wakes them up by slowly brightening up their bedroom. Just to be sure they’re awake, an actual alarm will go off at the end of the light’s cycle.
If she has a smartphone (or you’re getting her one soon) gift it with a fun phone case. This “Triple Stars” Casetify case is colorful, fun and easy to spot when it’s buried in her backpack.
You can't go wrong with a Lululemon belt bag! The viral bag is at the top of everyone's gift lists — so there's a good chance that your new grad has their eye on it.
Many people appreciate how versatile and surprisingly roomy it is. And according to Shop TODAY editorial operations manager Jillian Ortiz, it really lives up to its name. "I bring it with me EVERYWHERE. Whether I am taking my dog for a walk or have a formal event to attend, you will see this bag attached to me.” She adds, “It’s not too big, but somehow it manages to hold everything — my phone, wallet, headphones, keys, gym lock, Advil, an extra pair of headphones — you name it.”
At this age, they’re experimenting with different scents trying to figure out their signature. Steer them in the right direction with this scent that senior editor Jess Bender says smells “so fresh and youthful.”
Add a pop of color to their jewelry collection with BaubleBar's Pisa Bracelet. You have the opportunity to customize the bracelet with their name, their new school grounds or anything of your choosing in a vibrant text.
No matter what school year they’re graduating from, this time is an important moment of growth and transition in life. This graduation necklace made by Dear Ava symbolizes the hard work she accomplished to get to the next level.
For the graduating beauty guru in your life, gift them an organized place to stow all of their collection. The organizer promises to store large to small items and can be swiftly transported from room to room via its handle. Plus, it comes with a storage box for brushes.
Her TikTok For You Page is probably flooded with "Get Ready With Me" videos from girls her age using products like Drunk Elephant (whether or not they should actually be doing that is a different story). She'll love this gift card to Sephora so that she can keep up with the trends.
Going into high school, she'll want a signature piece of jewelry. This pendant is sure to become the piece they won't want to leave the house without. Keep in mind that this is just the pendant, so you'll have to purchase the chain separately — but that just means you can choose the one that suits their aesthetic the best!
Help her prepare for high school with a brand new backpack. This option from the buzzworthy brand Fjallraven may look small in size, but it's sturdy enough to hold her most prized necessities. Best of all, it comes in several hues to match whatever her current aesthetic is.
Gift ideas for 8th grade boys
If he or she loves to help their parents in the kitchen, this teen-friendly cookbook is a great way to give them inspiration for the summer ahead. It’s packed with cooking fundamentals, useful hacks and 100 different savory and sweet recipes.
Throw Throw Burrito is a rousing game for all ages, but we know your young grad will love it too. Described as "the world's first dodgeball card game," they'll have a blast ducking, hiding and maneuvering away from those squishy, bright-eyed burritos during game play. Just make sure to hide all your fragile decor beforehand — things are bound to get super rowdy!
This tabletop lamp includes two realistic life-like jellyfish with color-changing lights. It’s designed as a calming lamp, and it’s small in size so it could easily fit on a nightstand or a crowded desk.
While he’s likely to want to spend all of his time playing video games, it’s important to get him active and outside once in a while. This razor scooter is the perfect way to get some fresh air.
Whether it be for listening to tunes while they’re getting ready for their first day or during summer break, this Bluetooth speaker will have them covered. For instance, the brand says the design is entirely waterproof and can play continuous, quality audio for up to 24 hours. And it doesn’t hurt that the cost is unbeatable, too.
A beloved shoe across generations, the vinyl-made version of the iconic unisex Birkenstock is a favorite amongst a younger crowd. They’re designed to be lightweight and waterproof while featuring the brand’s anatomically shaped footbed.
Forget taking the bus — they can cruise to high school in style with this mini skateboard. It’s crafted out of a durable Canadian maple wood and includes a cushy EVA foam stomp pad to dampen out bumpy surfaces underneath their wheels.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for the grad in your life including preschool, kindergarten, fifth grade, high school and college.
