Are you drowning in a sea of your children’s artwork and school papers? The endless piles can be overwhelming, and it’s time to take control of the chaos. In this blog post, I’ll share some creative and practical solutions to help you organize and store your little one’s masterpieces and preserve those precious memories.
Artwork Portfolio
Consider using a large art portfolio, available at your local art supply store or online. These portfolios come in a variety of configurations and sizes, making them a versatile choice. Some styles are bound with individual sleeves to slip artwork into, allowing you to flip through and enjoy the pieces easily. Alternatively, traditional artist portfolios, available in many shapes, sizes and materials act like a giant envelope, keeping the work flat and protected from damage.
Filing Box
Create a filing system in a plastic file box. Varying sizes are available online or through office supply stores. Make a separate folder for each child/grade and organize the art and papers accordingly. Placing folders inside hanging folders adds another layer of organization and helps keep things tidy. A particularly large or bulky item can be place directly inside the hanging file folder. Alternatively, each child can have their own box and their work organized by type ( drawings, paintings, schoolwork). File boxes also come in smaller, more portable plastic and cardboard versions with pockets in which to place artwork and papers. These smaller file boxes also are expandable and come with handles, making them very portable.
File boxes are a great interim solution while you are still collecting the artwork but you haven’t decided on a permanent home for the items. File boxes keep the items secure, dust free and the boxes are easy to store in a closet. Have an empty drawer in a file cabinet in your office? The same system will work in a file cabinet drawer.
Memory Box
Opt for a more decorative approach with a memory box. Decorative boxes are available at many price points and a multitude of sizes. Each child can be assigned a box for a specific time period (eg. Kindergarten – 3rd grade). Label the box with the child’s name and grade for easy identification. Some memory boxes are actually drawers that are easier to access stacked on a shelf. Multiple kids? Purchase a set of boxes in different colors and assign a color to each child. You’ll want to decide ahead of time how many boxes you’ll need and purchase them all at one time to make sure they all match (if that is important to you). The benefit of this approach is you only have the space in that box so you will need to keep on top of selecting the best pieces to live in the box! Plus, an attractive memory box can be discreetly stored on a bookshelf or under a coffee table and no one needs to know it’s full of random marks and macaroni masterpieces!
Getting your children’s artwork and paper sunder control doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The quick tips in this post offer multiple possibilities to suit your family and home. Any form of organization will help to preserve your child’s work for the future and make it available for viewing or sharing.
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!
For some ideas on how to choose what gets included in your new storage system, here is the first blog post of this series: Kids Artwork & Papers: How to Choose What Stays and What Goes
Follow Modern Memorykeeper’s blog or follow us on social media (we are modernmemorykeeper on Facebook and Instagram) for tips and tricks to help you preserve your memories and share your stories. If you’d like to sign up for our newsletter starting this fall, please send your name and email address to: sue (at) modernmemorykeeper (dot) com.
Modern Memorykeeper 
Leave a comment