35 Unique Middle School Graduation Gifts for Lucky Eighth Graders

There's nothing wrong with giving cash as a grad gift — they'll be able to use it on exactly what they want. But that doesn't mean you have to stuff bills in an envelope. This gift offers a big "wow" factor: The grad opens the box, and a helium balloon floats up with bills attached to the string. This kit comes with the gift box, two balloons, 36 bill sleeves and the balloon string — you have to supply the bills and the helium.

Somehow, they never get too old for Squishmallows. This Bigfoot, named Zozo, is just right for the occasion, with its rainbow mane and graduation cap. There's also a Squishmallow graduation owl, too.

This compass necklace charm will let them know that they can choose their own direction in life, starting in high school. You can get it in gold, rose gold or silver, or choose other graduation-ready charms, like interlocking circles, linked circles or a tree of life, all with the same inspirational quote on the card. Or, if you're Dr. Seuss fans, you can get the interlocking circles with a quote from Oh! The Places You'll Go.

If they're looking to transition their room from a middle-schooler's room to a high-schooler's, they might get a thrill out of seeing their name in lights! The size, color, font, symbol and backplate shape are all customizable, but no matter what they choose, it'll be a conversation starter.

Let them wear a little memento that shows them how proud you are. You can personalize it with their first initial, and then the rest of the bracelet is made with black agate and tiger-eye stones. It also has an adjustable size, so they can keep wearing it as they grow.

As they move onto high school, they might need to upgrade their tech to handle their bigger assignments. In Good Housekeeping Institute tests, users found Acer Chromebook laptops lightweight and easy to use at a more affordable price point than other laptops, which made it a great option for school.

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This little printer takes photos from their smartphones or social media and prints them onto 2”x 3” sticker paper, which they can use to decorate lockers, notebooks and laptops. (No separate instant camera needed!) They can also use editing software to add touches like borders and emojis.

If they're into changing up their looks, this travel makeup kit comes personalized with an initial, has pockets for all their brushes and uses adjustable dividers to keep everything organized. You can even fill it with some of their favorite beauty brands, like Sol De Janiero, Summer Fridays, Rare Beauty or Beauty Bakerie.

Versatile, cute and sleek, everyone from tweens to grandparents are clamoring for Lululemon's Everywhere Belt Bag. And we can see why: It's just the right size to hold the essentials, it comes in tons of colors and has an adjustable strap — reasons why it was named the best fanny pack by the Good Housekeeping Institute. You can also get a fleece version that has a fun, fuzzy texture to it.

Good Housekeeping Institute testers were truly impressed with how fast and how far this drone plane could fly. And yet, it was still highly rated for is ease of controls, and takeoffs were pretty seamless.

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They're growing up — time to get them an "adult" wallet. This has slots for cards and IDs plus cash, and it can hold everything they need without getting too bulky. It blocks RFID signals, and it comes in multiple colors and patterns.

Give them an accessory to wear that's uniquely theirs. This custom name necklace comes in three different metals — silver, rose gold or 18K gold-plated — and also several different fonts, including vertical and Old English lettering. An Amazon shopper's favorite, this has more than 8,800 five-star reviews.

Whether they're listening to music, watching videos or playing games, wouldn't everybody in the family be happier if they could do it through headphones? These connect wirelessly using Bluetooth, charge quickly and come in four colors (though the blue is definitely a standout).

Beaded bracelets: They're not just for Taylor Swift concerts anymore! These celebrate your grad with cute diploma and mortarboard charms and words like "bright future," and grads can mix, match and stack them. It comes in a set of 48 bracelets, so you can split them up and give them to your grad and a few of their best friends.

If they're video-game fans, enhance their gaming experience with this sweet setup. The X Rocker has two speakers in the headrest and a subwoofer at the bottom, so they can really feel the sound of their favorite games. When it's not in use, they can fold it up so it's not in the way.

They have lots of plans, lots of goals and lots of hopes for the future — give them a place to write them all down. This kit starts with a 70-page, spiral-bound journal, but then gives them tons of stationery supplies they can use to make it their own, including die-cut shapes, stickers, glitter tape, frames, and other fun art supplies.

They can make new art projects and learn the basics of 3D printing with this high-tech pen. It melts filament that kids can use to layer into different three-dimensional sculptures, turning what's into their imaginations into real-world objects.

Here's a cute gift that doubles as a fun activity: Kids can take this plush pup and ask their eighth-grade friends and teachers to sign it and leave a message for posterity. You can also personalize this one, adding a name to the ear.

Former middle schoolers are not immune to the "Stanley Cup" craze, so give them another 40-ounce tumbler to add to their collections. You can also add in some cute accessories, like a pouch or a charm, to go with it.

In high school, they're going to have to get to their classes on time. Give them a way to keep track of the hours without relying on their smartphones. This watch is rugged, water-resistant, keeps track of the date and also looks cool.