How to Store Your Child's Artwork
Your child happily fills their backpack full of their little treasures from school and totes them home. Paper cuttings, scribbles, coloring pages and three dimensional artwork spill out on to the floor as they eagerly show you their work. When our daughter was younger, I delighted in all of her creations and the explanation that followed. A few of the pieces were proudly hung on the fridge, a few others gently placed in a keepsake box and then others {true confession} were strategically placed at the bottom of the trash. Let's be honest. You cannot keep every little thing from every grade. And sometimes...you may receive a project from your young child that you wonder if they or their teacher spent more time on it. My husband and I delight in the "perfectly imperfect" handiwork projects that our daughter made and the same goes for items made by our granddaughter.
Here are a few ideas to help you sort, store and display your child's artwork in two easy steps.
Step 1: What to Keep?
Handwriting Samples
It is so much fun to see your child's handwriting progress over the years, even when their marks on paper look just like that-marks or scribbles. Scribbling, especially circles and crosses are important steps to the actual handwriting that comes later on. A side note: My favorite handwriting curriculum can be found at www.lwtears.com and www.mothergoosetime.com has a wonderful program as well. Perhaps keep a few writing samples from the beginning of the year and then one or two from the end of the year so you can see the growth that occurred.
Here are a few ideas to help you sort, store and display your child's artwork in two easy steps.
Step 1: What to Keep?
Handwriting Samples
It is so much fun to see your child's handwriting progress over the years, even when their marks on paper look just like that-marks or scribbles. Scribbling, especially circles and crosses are important steps to the actual handwriting that comes later on. A side note: My favorite handwriting curriculum can be found at www.lwtears.com and www.mothergoosetime.com has a wonderful program as well. Perhaps keep a few writing samples from the beginning of the year and then one or two from the end of the year so you can see the growth that occurred.
Step 2: How to Store or Display Art Work
Picture Frames
It is fun to create a special art gallery of your child's art work. You can display them in a hallway and in your child's bedroom as well. You don't need to have them custom framed, either. Dollar stores and discount stores such as Walmart carry sizes that will fit most art work and won't break your budget. Thrift stores and garage sales are excellent places to find inexpensive frames also.
(Photo credit for Gallery Wall: www.artbarblog.com/gallery-wall-childrens-art/)
It is fun to create a special art gallery of your child's art work. You can display them in a hallway and in your child's bedroom as well. You don't need to have them custom framed, either. Dollar stores and discount stores such as Walmart carry sizes that will fit most art work and won't break your budget. Thrift stores and garage sales are excellent places to find inexpensive frames also.
(Photo credit for Gallery Wall: www.artbarblog.com/gallery-wall-childrens-art/)
Designate a plastic portable file box for each child. You can then use hanging folders and create a tab for each age or grade, such as toddler, preschool, kindergarten and so on. Make a habit of filing art work as it comes in to the house. If you decide to display something later on, you will know just where to find it. Clear plastic shoe boxes work well for three dimensional art as mentioned above.
Digital Apps
There are several really great apps out there and ARTKIVE is my favorite. They that turn all of your child's artwork in to beautiful books! You can check it out here: www.artkiveapp.com/#home. If you are a minimalist or have limited storage available, this would be a great option.
I hope you found this information helpful! Please share your ideas on our Facebook page or IG account.