Kids Artwork & Papers:  How to Choose What Stays and What Goes

Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending stream of your children’s artwork and papers from school ?  Is it taking over your house, your walls and every available surface?  Are you tired of buying bins to store the mess until you get to it…some day?  The more kids you have…the larger the piles!    It’s time to take control of the chaos and decide what artwork is going to stay, and what is going to go.  In this post, I’ll share some ideas to help you navigate the process of editing your kids artwork collection, while maintaining your sanity and freeing up precious space in your house.  

Space Savvy 

Whether you’re in a cozy apartment or a spacious home, the space you have to store your kids artwork is limited.  Assessing how much space you have in your home is the first step to conquering the clutter.  Take a minute to evaluate the space you have for short-term (until you can review) and long-term (permanent) storage.  You need to set clear boundaries for the amount of space you’re willing to allocate for storing your children’s masterpieces.  Remember, the more compact the storage system, the easier you will be able to manage it. 

Sentimental Value

No two ways about it, navigating all of the emotions (from you and your kids) around your children’s artwork is perhaps the hardest factor in deciding what to keep and what to toss.  Artwork that depicts special people-family and friends, memorable places-your home, the vacation spot you go to every year, their favorite park and special occasions or milestones-a new pet, new bike or starting at a new school, carry emotional significance that surpasses the random doodle-filled page.    If your children are old enough, involve them in the decision making process.  Their insights can guide what is meaningful to preserve for them and what can be let go.  Every child is different of course, letting them be a part of the process can give them a sense of control over the process, and serve as a teaching moment.  Giving them the tools to de-clutter their own belongings and feel good about the results will benefit the whole family in the long run.

Artistic Variety

Diversity is key when selecting which pieces of artwork to keep.  Aim to keep a range of mediums of your children’s work from drawing, painting, collage, and three-dimensional objects.  The different mediums offer a unique perspective into your child’s creative work, which will make the process of curating that much more enjoyable.  As an admitted art-geek I find it fun and fascinating to see the differences between the pieces and watch the progression as the kids get older.  

Bonus Tip:   Join Our In-Person Workshop!

If you’re looking for hands-on guidance and more tips on managing, organizing and enjoying your kids artwork, join us for an In-Person Workshop on September 17, 2023 at 2pm.  I’m thrilled to be hosting at Paper and Clay, located at 122 West Emerson St. in Melrose, MA.    This workshop will provide you with more strategies to tackle the challenge of kids artwork.  You’ll bring some of your own children’s artwork to work on at the event!  Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other parents and friends of kids and learn tips on how to conquer the artwork overwhelm for good! 

Reserve your spot now as seating is limited!

Navigating the world of children’s artwork doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  When you consider factors like your available space, sentimental value and the sheer variety of the types of artwork you have, you can make decisions about which pieces to keep, share and let go.  It’s not just about organizing, it’s about telling your child’s story through their artwork and papers.  I hope you join us at the workshop to delve deeper into this topic and embark on a journey of creative organization!