Children’s artwork is a bittersweet thing. It’s beautiful and can represent a glimpse into the world as seen through a child’s eyes. It can also be a great indicator of your child’s development. However, artwork can add up. Before you know it, artwork can over whelm your counters, refrigerator, and walls. By implementing the following steps you will make sure your memories are kept in tact, and decrease the clutter.
- Before you do anything with a piece of artwork, decide what it means to you. Is it the best piece your child has ever done or is it just another piece they drew while waiting for dinner at a restaurant? Be honest with yourself.
- Do you have family members that live far away? Have your child sign pieces of artwork, then write a quick note and send the artwork to friends and family who live far away. It may sound silly to you because you have dozens of pieces, but to them it may be the only piece they have!
- For three-dimensional pieces of art, the easiest thing to do is take a photo of your child with the piece; keep it for a little while, and then dispose of it. I usually suggest moving it to another area of the house, such as the garage, after a period of time. If its not missed, you can easily get rid of it.
- Use frames that are easily changeable to house artwork. Job tickets are small plastic sheaths that are designed to house contractor’s paperwork on dirty and wet job sites. They are inexpensive and easy to hang on your wall. Papers slip in and out quickly and easily. Changing artwork is a snap.
- Pizza boxes make great artwork storage. Ask at your local pizza place to give you some unused boxes. Most restaurants will give them away for free. You can group artwork by date, child or academic year.
- For artwork that is flat, consider scanning it in and storing it digitally.
- Take photos of your child with their artwork. Then you can print them and put them into an album or you can print a digital photo book. This gives you a printed record of your child’s progress. Print multiple books and give them to family members.
- Set limits with your child on just how many pieces of artwork you will keep. Stay within these boundaries and it will help them learn to determine which pieces have meaning and which pieces do not.
- Combine storage with display. Use a string and clothespins to display a large number of items in a small amount of space.
- Make sure you hold yourself accountable to sit down and sort through artwork. It will build up as the school year progresses. Putting a date into your calendar to make those difficult decisions will make sure it gets done and make sure the artwork doesn’t pile up too high. For the pieces you have determined should be kept and are important, take the time to have them laminated and to protect them in clearly labeled plastic containers.
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ABOUT THE BLOGGERBonnie Joy Dewkett, CPO® (Certified Professional Organizer® Board of Certification for Professional Organizers~Director of Communications) is a nationally recognized organizing expert, author, motivational speaker, and internet radio personality in the United States of America. She began organizing as a child, and she has been organizing ever since. Her company, The Joyful Organizer®, creates and implements organizational systems for the home and office. These changes allow her Customers to create calm from chaos at work and at home. Bonnie is passionate about helping her clients meet their organizational goals, and loves to see the positive impact that getting organized has on their lives.
Her diverse background gives her the ability to assist her clients with everything from the unique needs of organizing children’s rooms; to the organizational challenges ofmoving an entire family across the country. Working in special education in Maine, Bonnie helped her students exceed their educational goals by creating individualized programs that used their strengths to overcome their unique set of challenges. As a relocation consultant at Cartus, she managed the logistics of the moving process for hundreds of families that were being transferred through their employer.
Recognizing a gap in the information about moving and relocation, she authored The Joyful Organizer’s Guide to a Joyful Move—a comprehensive resource for families that are preparing to move. It helps them reduce stress by keeping them organized throughout their move. It is available on her website http://move.thejoyfulorganizer.com, and Amazon.com. Her most recent book, 50 Tips to Get You Organized- In Ten Minutes or Less!, is available in print or Kindle formats on Amazon.com.
She has gained a worldwide audience through her radio show, The Joy of Organizing. With over a quarter of a million downloads, her show is the most listened to show on the BlogTalkRadio Woman’s Business Network, formerly the Diva Toolbox Radio Network. Airing weekly, the show provides practical organizing tips and tricks for busy families. She has interviewed many of the country’s top organizing experts, including Oprah’s PeterWalsh, JulieMorgenstern, DIY’s Karl Champley, Barbara Hemphill, and Barry Izsak.
Bonnie’s organizing advice has been featured in many local newspapers, and nationally in Better Homes and Gardens, Better Homes and Gardens’ Secrets of Getting Organized, Parents, and Woman’s Day magazines. Bonnie has achieved the prestigious designation of Certified Professional Organizer, CPO®, from The Board of Certification for Professional Organizers. Making her one of only six in the State of Connecticut, and less than twenty-five in all of New England.
Bonnie received a B.S. in Resource and Agribusiness Management from The University of Maine in 2001. She completed work on her M.B.A. in May 2011, graduating summa cum laude from Nichols College.
You can keep in touch with Bonnie through:
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