| Your great plan for the summer was to go through all | | | | box. I recommend saving a sampling of school work, |
| your child's school work/art work they brought home | | | | not just the best, but some that are 'average'. |
| this past school year but yikes there is so much of it | | | | ·If the artwork that comes into the house is |
| where is the best place to start? First of all let's have | | | | bigger than your designated storage space or it begins |
| a little talk: | | | | to pile up quicker than you can process it, take a |
| ·Do not keep all of your children's art/school | | | | picture of it with your children holding it. What a fun |
| work. Just think; if you save everything your child | | | | memory to look back on. Buy a photo album and |
| brings home by the time they are in college you will | | | | create an 'art album' for each child. |
| have a two car garage full and over flowing with just | | | | Now the school work and art work is selected and |
| their paper work and it will be spilling into your home. (I | | | | contained here are ideas of what to do with the art |
| actually read about a woman who had saved | | | | work before it makes it to the 'archives'. |
| everything and this was the result). | | | | ·The fridge-as a professional organizer and |
| I believe it! I did some math figuring if you save just | | | | mother this is my least favorite place for art work as it |
| three (3) pieces of paper a week, times four weeks in | | | | creates clutter in the kitchen, but if you like that look, |
| a month times 9 months in a year (figuring school is | | | | then do it, but there are other wonderful ideas. My girls |
| not in session for 12 months) times 8 years in school | | | | grew up with their art work displayed in other places |
| (pre-school through 6th grade) that is a total of 864 | | | | and they are all adventurous, fun, interesting adults. It |
| pieces of paper. | | | | didn't hurt their egos is what I am saying. |
| ·So if you think you have to save everything | | | | ·Pin to a cork board or bulletin board. |
| your child ever does on paper, you don't. A very wise | | | | ·Create a gallery space in your home-it can be |
| preschool teacher passed on this little gem, "little kids | | | | in the child's room or a more public space such as the |
| are into process, not product. Kids live in the moment; | | | | kitchen, hallway, or family room. String a clothes line |
| they enjoy the moment of making the art but are quite | | | | along one big wall in the children's bedroom and use |
| casual about disposing of it. I have five daughters and | | | | clothespins to display the "collection". Rotate old and |
| as I have experienced this with them I know this is true. | | | | new artwork on and off the display. |
| ·By sorting and going over with our children | | | | ·Use inexpensive poster-sized box frames for |
| what to keep and what to let go of may help them | | | | pictures. One frame can hold a big piece, or several |
| when they are older and they have to start sorting | | | | smaller works. |
| their own mail. Now is the time for them to learn they | | | | ·Another method is to hang strips of felt from |
| don't have to keep everything and it is the right thing to | | | | a dowel rod and allow kids to pin their art work directly |
| do. As they are into process, not product is it us | | | | to the felt. |
| parents who hold them back from letting go? It's not | | | | ·Laminate art work and create placemats that |
| just about their art or schoolwork - it's about how they | | | | you can give relatives or use during meals or messy |
| (and you) approach organization. | | | | arts and craft projects at home. |
| ·It's about setting reasonable limits - not just for | | | | ·Send pictures to relatives, when the child can |
| your child but also for yourself. And you are the adult | | | | write use it as stationary. (Write on the back) |
| so you decide the limits. It is important for us to teach | | | | ·Use for wrapping paper. If you intend to use it |
| our children how to organize. | | | | this way, put it with the wrapping paper, not just in a |
| Our children will bring home art work, test papers, | | | | pile somewhere. |
| homework assignments and assorted mementos from | | | | For those works of art out of clay, paper-mache and |
| school. Of course we want to save their important | | | | science projects, let them linger for a while, until the thrill |
| childhood memories, but what do we keep and how | | | | has worn off, then decide whether something is for |
| do we keep it? When children bring home any of the | | | | display or whether it was "a learning experience." If |
| above, look at it and discuss it with them if it something | | | | you or your child really want to hold on to the piece, |
| that needs attention. Not everything they bring home | | | | make sure it is displayed in a way that not only honors |
| needs a sit down discussion with them. Start selecting | | | | its importance but also protects it from dust and |
| right then, not later, but right then what to keep and | | | | damage. If a piece is not honored and respected then |
| what to toss. When cleaning out their back packs tale | | | | it has no place in your home - whether it's a science |
| a look right then. If you are too busy that day; make it | | | | project or a family heirloom. |
| a priority to do it at the very least once a week. The | | | | My friend encourages her children to use their clay |
| child, if interested can be a part of this process. | | | | creations as they do tend to break or become less |
| As a mother and professional organizer I know the | | | | important to them and then there is no storage |
| value of saving some things and tossing other things. | | | | problem to deal with. |
| This is as important as home organization. Here are | | | | Remember: You can throw many things away. I have |
| my suggestions of what to save and what not to | | | | never met an adult yet who has been handed boxes |
| save. | | | | of childhood memorabilia who has not said they can't |
| ·Get a large envelope-10.5 X 15 is a good size. | | | | believe how much stuff their mother kept and it is just |
| Write the child's name, name of the school, year in | | | | not that important to them as an adult. As the artwork |
| school, school year (2008-2009) and the teacher's | | | | is seen and enjoyed and time goes by the children and |
| name on the outside. When they have school pictures | | | | parents become less attached to it. |
| taken if you have extra's tape one with clear packing | | | | I am asked will my children's school papers last. I know |
| tape to the front of the envelope. | | | | the answer many people give is that poor quality |
| ·Have one envelope for each year a child is in | | | | newsprint drawing paper is probably acidic and will |
| school. If you home school, the same principle applies. | | | | deteriorate over time. They go on to say you slow |
| At the end of the summer of that year (assuming they | | | | that process down by using acid and lignin free |
| do some projects you want to keep from summer | | | | storage materials. My thought is since they are on |
| programs). Place the envelope in a container with a lid | | | | acidic paper in the first place what does it matter if |
| on it. This can be an apple box, zerox box or a | | | | they are surrounded by acid free covers. I have a |
| purchased plastic bin. A good place to keep this box is | | | | baby book that is almost 40 years old and all the |
| on the top of their closet shelf. If you use some kind of | | | | paper has been preserved just fine. Even the |
| cardboard box decorate with contact paper on the | | | | photographs are clear for the most part. If you're |
| end that shows and write the child's name on it. Label | | | | concerned about the longevity of the pieces you've |
| the plastic box with the child's name. | | | | saved, you can photocopy them on acid and lignin free |
| ·Each child has their own envelope and own | | | | paper or photograph them for posterity. |