The Art of Organizing Kids Artwork

How to Organize and Store Kids School Work – Part 1 of 2

 

When I receive a phone call from a new client wanting organizing help, invariably the discussion leads to a confession of “I am overwhelmed by my kid’s school papers. They start on my kitchen counters or table and spread all over my home.” Other clients admit that they throw everything away.

Somewhere in between these two thought processes is where I would like our clients to exist. The chosen organizing solution must be simple and low maintenance; otherwise, it won’t be used.

As I mention in my video below, there are different types of systems that go with different types of paper. Today’s focus is organizing kids artwork. Remember that the system I discuss will not help you manage other papers that kids bring home from school. Next month, I will discuss how to organize everyday school work and other accomplishments.

Collect School Papers

The first step in organizing kids artwork is designating a holding place to accumulate all of your kids’ school papers, including the artwork. You will also need a container large enough to hold construction paper art. Over the years I have used a common brown cardboard box, but you can use a wicker basket or even a plastic bin as well.

The location of this place is VERY important. If it is too far away from the place in which you view and go over papers, the papers will collect on the table or stairs and get moved around or scattered on the floor. Our family school paper boxes have always been in our garage. Everyone in the family knows to place school papers and artwork in their individual boxes. Do not mix your kids’ papers.

Take time as they come in each day to look at the papers, admire them with your children, correct them, and then you or your child take them to their holding place. You will do this for the nine months of the school year. You don’t have to make a decision on anything, or place them in scrapbooks, albums, or in memorabilia boxes.

Decide What to Keep and What to Toss

During the summer months when your kids are out of school, sit down and sort each child’s papers into three categories: everyday school work, artwork, and portfolio. It is easier to make decisions on what to save and what to discard when you can view the entire year at once. Some of the artwork will be tossed, while others will be keepers.

Decide on a Storage Solution

Once you have decided what you are keeping, it is time to decide how it will be stored. Watch my video for storage solutions and select the one that is right for you. Another idea for long term storage of kids artwork is a large accordion style portfolio that can be found at The Container Store® or most art supply or teacher supply stores.

Purchase a large portfolio that expands out with accordion style dividers for each of your kids. The individual pockets will separate each school year, making it easy to identify the progress of your child. It’s that simple!

Setting up a system for collecting your kids’ school work is the first step, followed by scheduling a day during the summer months to go through those papers. My June article will address the other two systems for school papers: the Everyday School Papers and the Portfolio.  Armed with this additional information, you’ll be able to efficiently organize all of your kids’ school papers!

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxrSHwDK4UI

 

This post is Part 1 of a series on organizing and storing your kids’ school papers. Read Part 2: How to Organize and Store your Kids’ School Work. 

 

Lorraine Brock is a professional organizer, family coach, speaker, and founder and owner of Get Organized! Get Organized! is a professional organizing company in the Dallas, Texas area. Get Organized! specializes in organizing and de-cluttering homes as well as implementing systems in the home for better family management.

A popular media guest, Lorraine has appeared on Dallas’ two top morning television shows: Good Morning Texas and Good Day Fox, and has been featured on various radio outlets. She has been
hallmarked in many local, regional, and national print and online magazines, such as the
Dallas Morning News, The North Texas Kids Magazine, SheKnows.com, and Daily Candy Kids. To get more information about Lorraine, visit www.GetOrganized.ws.

 

 

 

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