As a parent, and as your kids get older, one thing you will notice is how much STUFF your kids brings home from school, camp, etc. And a large portion of the STUFF, is their precious, hand made art. But over time, it piles up and just becomes clutter and that is sad.
Let's face it, some of it is just better than others. And reality is, you just can't keep it all. Even thought it was made by your precious angel, and they certainly treasure each one as if it were their greatest masterpiece (especially after they spot their beloved creations stuffed in the trashcan), there is no way to keep every. single. piece.
So how do you deal with it all?
Step 1. Be selective. Pick out the stuff they worked hard on and that you want to preserve for antiquities. If its something cute that you feel the need to keep, but it might not be frame worthy, stick it in a file, an expanding file folder works great to keep for each child. Be sure to note the year on the back of each one.
Step 2. Trash it. Wait until they aren't home to toss the rest. Make sure you either take out the trash before they get home, or it's stuffed way down at the bottom. I know this sounds cruel, but it comes from a place of love :)
Step 3. HANG IT! Take the best of the best, buy cheap frames and frame that stuff! A great way to display it all, is to consolidate it on one gallery wall. The best part, is that you can keep adding to it. Other great places to hang kid creations is in their bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways near their bedrooms. My son did an awesome drawing of a dinosaur in a bathtub, its perfect right outside their shared bathroom. I couldn't have purchased a better piece if I tried.
I get tons of compliments for my kids art gallery wall. It makes my home even more eclectic than it already is, plus my kids get to feel a sense of pride every time they walk by.
Let's face it, some of it is just better than others. And reality is, you just can't keep it all. Even thought it was made by your precious angel, and they certainly treasure each one as if it were their greatest masterpiece (especially after they spot their beloved creations stuffed in the trashcan), there is no way to keep every. single. piece.
So how do you deal with it all?
Step 1. Be selective. Pick out the stuff they worked hard on and that you want to preserve for antiquities. If its something cute that you feel the need to keep, but it might not be frame worthy, stick it in a file, an expanding file folder works great to keep for each child. Be sure to note the year on the back of each one.
Step 2. Trash it. Wait until they aren't home to toss the rest. Make sure you either take out the trash before they get home, or it's stuffed way down at the bottom. I know this sounds cruel, but it comes from a place of love :)
Step 3. HANG IT! Take the best of the best, buy cheap frames and frame that stuff! A great way to display it all, is to consolidate it on one gallery wall. The best part, is that you can keep adding to it. Other great places to hang kid creations is in their bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways near their bedrooms. My son did an awesome drawing of a dinosaur in a bathtub, its perfect right outside their shared bathroom. I couldn't have purchased a better piece if I tried.
I get tons of compliments for my kids art gallery wall. It makes my home even more eclectic than it already is, plus my kids get to feel a sense of pride every time they walk by.
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