Are you getting a new drawing from your kids every day? Twice a day? It sure is cute, but it also creates clutter. You may find yourself at the point where
you're thinking, as one Facebook user put it, "I was wondering myself if I should build a small shed to store it all in?"
In a perfect world, a shed or a small art gallery would be great! But here is some real-world advice for what you can do with all of those drawings so that
your house can stay tidy and your children stay inspired.
Keeping it on display
Putting your children's artwork on the walls is the obvious go-to, but eventually space runs out and the little piles of drawings start building up. You
can avoid this by keeping a storage container to put "old" drawings in, but still have a chance to display your child's work and make them feel special.
"I use painter's tape because it doesn't ruin the walls, and I put the pictures up all over the dining room so that when we eat dinner, my kids can point them out and see that they're displayed," says Michelle, mother of two. "It has a huge impact on their mental state - it makes them so happy!"
Seeing their artwork on the wall gives children a sense of accomplishment and lets them know that you are proud of them. When your children are old enough, you can make this a "special job" for them: children get to choose what picture to hang next, and at the same time learn responsibility with the job of
taking the old one down and storing it away.
Technology to the rescue
It's all about technology these days, isn't it? So why not use it to store your children's drawings and artwork too? You could take a picture of the
drawing or scan it onto your computer, saving every single piece your child makes with no mess. You can make the drawings the home screen on your computer,
print them off for a photo album, or make a photo book. So many options!
A few other favourite techniques:
- Make a collage of you and your child's favourite drawings on a poster board and hang it on the wall. You can do this once every few months or
every year, keeping a record of your child's artwork as he or she grows up.
- You can take this collage one step further and create a system where you hang clear page protectors on the wall in a grid - this gives you the
opportunity to constantly change the pictures in your collage.
- Pick your favourite picture and put it in a picture frame, keeping it in your office at work, at home, or on the wall. To avoid clutter, store the
rest away.
Whether you decide to decorate the walls with your child's artwork or keep it stored eternally on your computer, there are plenty of great ways to treasure
their oh-so-many drawings while keeping a tidy house!
Sarah Dorman
Editorial Intern, AboutKidsHealth