7 kids' artwork storage solutions

Kids create more artwork than you can keep. Find out how to store and prioritize the arts and crafts that they bring home with these easy storage solutions.

By Gina Bell

3 kids' artwork storage solutions
I remember the first time my oldest son wrapped his chubby little toddler fingers around a bright red crayon. I am a huge fan of crafting, so this was a big event for the both of us.

As a blogger and mom of three small boys, I feel that letting children create is an important first step in learning, building confidence and exploring creativity. And many moms agree.

"I like to see my son grow, and looking at his artwork is a great way to see that happening," says Valerie Melzer, a blogger and stay-at-home mom from Chateauguay, Quebec.

Artwork storage solutions

Most children create large amounts of artwork, and it is up to each parent to decide what should be stored, what should be displayed and what should be thrown out. Regardless of where the masterpieces end up, the most important thing is to continue encouraging your children to craft.

"Children need to be given an opportunity to express themselves in ways which allow them to create, thrive and imagine at full capacity," says Mallery Williams, an elementary school teacher from Sydney, N.S.

It isn't hard to see why parents are sentimental when it comes to their children's artwork, but when it starts piling up, it can become overwhelming. It's a classic parenting dilemma: "What do I do with all the masterpieces my little ones create?" Here are a few suggestions:

1. Throw it out
I know this sounds harsh, but you can't keep everything. Consider this: If a child averages just three pieces of artwork a week (starting at age three), by the time that child is nine, he or she will have amassed over 1,000 works of art. Multiply that by the number of children living in your house and you'll see why it's necessary to be tough.

Hang each new piece of artwork in a place of honour for a few days and then decide if it is a special piece that you want to keep or if it should it go in the recycling bin to make way for new creations.

2. Create a gallery
Little ones love to see their artwork on display, so design a "made by me" gallery of their artwork. Frame special pieces to hang on the walls of their rooms or create a gallery of multiple frames in their playroom. You can use frames, decorated clipboards or even yarn or twine lines with clothespins. This will allow you to switch out artwork as your kids craft new favourites.

3. Create a filing system
I have one accordion-style file box for each of my boys, and the sections are labelled by year. Each piece of artwork we want to save is dated and put in the proper folder. It is a neat and organized way to preserve and archive the special pieces.

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