Celebrating Your Hard Working, Quarantine Grads

Things may be getting back to normal, but sadly, it’s not happening soon enough, and the COVID-19 pandemic has still put a stop to a variety of normal celebratory activities that teens are otherwise able to enjoy. That being said, COVID-19 doesn’t have to stop all celebrations: There are still plenty of ways to celebrate your teen as they graduate.

The Little Things

Sadly, COVID has robbed us of so much, but there are always little things that you can do in order to acknowledge your teen’s incredible accomplishment of graduating high school. For example, check out graduation banners. They are a nice, customized, personalized way of publicly celebrating your teen’s hard work and making sure that the rest of the world knows what they have done. Of course, some teenagers may not appreciate this celebration, so make sure to check with your teen first!

There are, of course, smaller ways that you can celebrate, too. Spend a week doing nothing but ordering the teen’s favorite foods. Throw a massive ice cream party among your vaccinated friends or quarantine bubble. Honestly, what is more important here isn’t what you do – it’s that you do something that your teen will be able to appreciate. That’s a memory they will always keep with them.

Ask

This might seem silly, but it also might be the most important thing you can do: Ask your teen what they want to do, given the obvious limitations of the moment. How do they want to celebrate? Remember, you’re doing it for them. They may have an answer that is glaringly obvious, like skipping a party for a major possession, or they may just want something easy – like time with you. Regardless, make sure to ask them what will make them the happiest.

Small Parties

At this point, you may be able to host a small gathering. While it might not be exactly what your teen wants, there are safe ways to have smaller parties.

Of course, this can be complicated – and it certainly may not be risk-free. But, there are a few ways to examine such a get-together and lower the risk as much as possible. First, hold the event outside, if you can. You can investigate a tent or your own backyard. Make it clear that masks are required, and wait as late as possible, allowing the case count in your neighborhood to come down and more people to get the vaccine. You should also be cognizant of state and local laws, as some areas still have strong regulations in place against major gatherings due to fear of further spreading the disease. It goes without saying that you should respect all of these limits – even if you are hosting a private gather.

COVID has taken quite a bit from us, but it can’t stop joy itself. Take the time to celebrate your teen’s accomplishments, and do whatever you can to make this moment special for them.