Return gifts for school entrance celebrations. When and how should you return gifts? 5 recommended return gifts

If I receive a gift for entering a school, is it necessary to send a thank-you gift in return? Or is it unnecessary because the gift is for a child?

The custom of giving gifts to celebrate a student's entrance into school varies greatly between regions, but nowadays it is common to give a gift in return after receiving a gift.

This time, we will introduce etiquette for giving gifts to celebrate a child's entrance into school, including the best time to give gifts, how to write the gift tag, and how to choose the mizuhiki.

Is it necessary to return a gift for a school entrance celebration?

"Naiwai" is the custom of giving gifts to relatives, friends, parents, siblings, etc., to share in the happiness of a happy event such as a wedding or birth.

In modern times, the idea of ​​giving uchiiwai as a token of gratitude for gifts received has become more common, but traditionally uchiiwai was something given before receiving gifts, and was not something given as a token of gratitude.

The same goes for gifts in return for entrance ceremonies; as the child receiving the gift has no income and is therefore unable to give something in return, the general rule is that there is no need to give a gift in return for the gift.

However, as mentioned above, it is becoming more common to give gifts in return in modern times, so it is generally better to prepare a gift in return for the entrance ceremony.

However, when giving a gift in return for a child of the same age, if the recipient has a child of the same age, the gift for the entrance ceremony and the gift in return for the entrance ceremony will overlap, so to avoid any complications, it is considered good manners to limit your return gift to a thank-you letter or phone call.

Time to return gifts for entrance celebrations

When you receive a gift such as a gift for entrance to school or birth, the general rule is to send a thank-you gift within one month.

Sending a gift too late can be considered rude to the recipient, so make sure to send the return gift no more than one month after receiving the entrance gift.

Return gift amount for entrance ceremony

The amount of the gift will vary depending on who you are giving it to.

For example, in the case of the child's grandparents, the best gift they can give is to see their child in his or her finest form.

Therefore, you can send an album of the recipient's special entrance ceremony photos, or include a photo in your thank-you letter showing what you bought as a gift, and this will help convey your gratitude to the recipient.

You want to avoid making your grandparents feel like they have to go to the trouble of giving a gift in return, so it is good manners to keep the gift moderate.

In addition, gifts for relatives and acquaintances celebrating the graduation of a child are generally given in return for a third to half of the amount.

Items engraved with the child's name were popular as gifts for newborns, but for school entrance gifts, items with the child's name engraved are less popular; instead, everyday items such as gift certificates and towels, which will be discussed later, or gift catalogs are more popular.

Manners for gift-giving for school entrance

There are various types of noshi used for celebrations, such as "musubikiri" and "bowmusubi". Musubikiri is used for celebrations that a person does not want to repeat, so it is used for weddings and get-well gifts.

For gifts to celebrate entrance to elementary school, junior high school, high school, and university, we use mizuhiki in a bow, which can be tied and retied any number of times, as it is a happy celebration that can be repeated many times.

Additionally, the standard way to wrap a gift tag is to place it on the inside of the wrapping paper.
On the noshi, write "Nuchigai" (celebration gift) above the mizuhiki, and write the child's name below the mizuhiki.

5 recommended gifts for entering school

So far we have been introducing the etiquette for gift-giving in celebration of a child's entrance into school, but when it comes to choosing a gift for a child's entrance into school, many people are probably worried and wondering, "I don't know which one to choose."

When giving a gift to celebrate a child's entrance into school, be sure to choose something that the recipient will enjoy, and avoid choosing something that will be difficult to use, such as something with the child's name on it.

Here are five popular gifts for school entrance celebrations.

1. Gift certificates

Cash or a nationwide gift certificate are classic gifts for celebrations that suit anyone.

When you are unsure what to give to someone, such as an acquaintance you are not that close to or a relative you have only met a few times, many people choose to give a gift certificate, which is a popular and traditional way to give a thank you gift.

2. Towel

Towels, which are used in every household, are a particularly popular gift for celebrations.

When choosing towels as a gift for a new student, we recommend a towel gift that is soft to the touch and highly absorbent.
A gift set of high-quality towels that are a step above the rest and are not something you would buy for yourself is sure to be appreciated by anyone.

3. Snacks and sweets

If the recipient is a company associate, neighbor, or someone who lives with their family, sweets and desserts are popular.

When choosing sweets or desserts for a school entrance gift, in addition to choosing items with a long shelf life, choose items that come in small packages so that they can be enjoyed down to the last bite without worrying about shelf life.

4. Coffee and Tea

Among coffee and tea, instant coffee sticks and tea packets that can be easily consumed on the spot are particularly popular.

Instant coffee and tea bags are recommended because anyone can enjoy making them without having to worry about special equipment or the temperature of the water.

Also, if you're not sure whether the recipient prefers coffee or tea, choose a gift that includes both.

5. Gift catalogue

With a gift catalog, you can give a gift catalog based on the value of the gift, and the recipient can choose the item they like from the gift catalog.

Recently, gift catalogs that come with photo books and thank-you postcards with your child's photo on them are available, making them a great gift for grandparents in celebration of their child's entrance into school.

Summary

When sending a gift in return for a student's entrance ceremony, it should be sent within one month of receiving the gift.
Also, when writing a gift tag for a child's entrance ceremony, use a bow-knotted Mizuhiki string, write "Celebration" on top of the string, and write the child's name underneath.

If you're having trouble thinking of a gift to give in return, try checking out the gifts we've introduced.