Our children create beautiful artwork and lots of it. Their backpacks carry paper every day. So, I’ll stay with the theme of paper clutter. It was a popular comment when I asked readers about their most difficult clutter challenges.
Day 10 gave you strategies to prevent paper clutter with a simple filing system. Day 11 offered a large project with small steps to tame your home office. Day 12 will address – Kid’s Artwork and School Papers.
Kid’s artwork is simply a volume problem, especially for preschool/elementary aged children. If you have several kids, you know that multiplies the issue. Like all papers, I suggest you deal with it daily.
Recycle 95%
I’m not heartless, just practical. I look at worksheets as “evidence of learning” from the teachers. Acknowledge and recycle them. If my son is struggling with a math concept, I keep it to review with him. But if I keep every single piece of paper, they get in the way of helping him. I’d much rather spend time teaching him, than sorting papers. I explain “evidence of learning” to my son as well, so he’s not surprised when I stand over the trash can with his papers. Acknowledge and recycle.
Through the early school years, parents are inundated with artwork. By middle school, kids create much less. Enjoy it while you can! During these years, I kept 1-2 pieces of artwork per week. In 9 months/36 weeks, that’s still 72 pieces of artwork per child, per school year.
Collect the 72 pieces in a bag and go through it again at the end of the year. Find your Top 10 or 5. 🙂 The passage of time helps as does seeing the entire portfolio. Keep what you love and consider how you’re going to store it. Label them with child’s name, age and year. Remember that this is largely for you, as the parent.
Grown children rarely keep these items when they are passed on. A small collection will be a fun trip down memory lane someday. Just don’t make yourself crazy managing it. Enjoy the time with your kids while they are still young….before you know it, you’ll be attending middle school info sessions like me.
Take Pictures
We had an adorable Thanksgiving Turkey made out of a paper grocery bag, construction paper and bamboo skewers. I helped my son’s first grade class make them. I loved spending time in his classroom and taking pictures of the kids with their turkeys. In fourth grade, we made beautiful paper snowflakes. The snowflake is one of my favorite Christmas decorations.
After Thanksgiving, the turkey left the nest. 🙂 3D pieces obviously take up a lot of space. Take pictures of these items. Know that your memories are not inside the turkey. They are inside you.
Display With Limits
The Thanksgiving turkey was a great decoration for the holiday. The snowflake still makes me smile when I hang it up. I have ample storage space to ensure it isn’t crushed. But I can’t keep everything and neither can you.
For displaying artwork, considering hanging a clothesline string. Use a set number of clips to hang current favorites and have your kids choose which picture to take down when a new one arrives. It’s helped my son to understand that we don’t have unlimited space and to set boundaries himself. Today’s challenge will help you set the example.
Decluttering Challenge Day 12
- Gather all the artwork sitting around your house. Stand over the recycle bin and reduce it by 50%.
- Mail the other 50% to grandparents, aunts and uncles. Have the kids write their name and a note on it too.
- Now, you can create a display space for 6-8 pieces of artwork. Choose the back of a door or hang a string with clothespins.
- You’re free to display and enjoy the new pictures that will come home tomorrow!
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