When our children are young, the amount of art projects they bring home (or create at home) can be overwhelming! Most of it can just be recycled. But what should you do with the treasured pieces? It can still add up over the years, especially with multiple kids in the house, like we have. THis is what I do: I let my children decide on the “keepers” and we display them on their bedroom wall, using thumbtacks or frames until the space runs out. Then I pull down the old art to make room for new, incoming artwork. The older treasures can either be recycled or placed in a portfolio for safe-keeping and easy viewing (for them to look at or show their grandparents). My kids take pride in looking back at the pictures they created when they were younger. I always have my kids put their name and date on their papers because I know I am not going to remember five years from now (or even next year) who painted it or how old they were at the time, which makes it loose significance. So a printed name and date are helpful!
If you don’t have the time to put it all into notebooks, at least store the nicer, quality pieces in bins to protect them from being damaged until you can frame them. I know a friend who had two of her son’s large pieces of artwork framed and hung in matching frames in her dining room. They look sensational and what pride the child must feel to have their masterpieces on display!
May all the projects, papers and artwork your children produce be a blessing to enjoy and display – not clutter!
