If you're a student, this is the most glorious time of the year. School's out and it's time to play, sleep in, and go on vacation. Parents know that while fun may be on its way, the paper trail doesn't end when the last school bell of the year rings. Tests, artwork, creative writings and other evidence of another year gone by arrive stuffed in a backpack ready to be dumped inside the front door. What will you do with it all?

Visit our website                         Find us on Pinterest     Like us on Facebook
    A Star in the Making

A typical elementary school can easily go through tens of thousands of pieces of paper each year. And it may just feel as though each one of those pieces has found its way into your home. Everyday there are permission slips, newletters, event flyers, and more. It feels like a never-ending parade of paper and makes you wonder just how many trees have made the ultimate sacrifice. Some of these can be easily recycled once the pertinent information is taken, or a page is returned to the school as needed. But what about the pictures, stories, tests emblazened with gold stars and smiley faces? How about the drawings of the family, turkeys made from the outline of a small hand, or colorful tissue paper turned into a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day flower? All are precious reminders of the innocence of childhood at its best, and after all, there's budding talent from the hands of the next  Pablo Picasso or  J.K. Rowling. How can you possibly even think of letting go of any of it? Well, there are solutions.
Creating Memory Lane
Luckily it's very easy to save treasured handprints, the alphabet printed for the first time and classroom photos. Still, you'll want to be selective in choosing what stays and what goes.Choosing the best or favorite pieces together with your child can become a memory in itself. You may want to choose pieces done at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to show the progress made in any particular grade. And of course, anything with extra special sentiment attached may be a must have. 

Creating a scrapbook gives you the opportunity to add a few descriptions of the masterpiece, note the year created, and maybe that year's school photo. Likewise using a binder with each piece inserted into a plastic sheet protector offers long-lasting enjoyment. A portfolio is a good option to hold the largest pieces, as well as a memorabilia box.In any case, the size of the storage will be your guide as to how much to keep. When full, it will be time to do some weeding.

There are also many digital solutions that were created with kids artwork in mind. Some to check out include  Artkive,  SouvenarteBooks and  Plum Print. Any of these custome-made keepsakes make special gifts for your child or family members. The paper clutter will disappear while the memories live on.
Kids' artwork and their first school papers are treasures that remind us how fleeting the childhood years can be, especially when we look at them years later. Yet, the volume can become unruly, and worse, pieces can be damaged if not stored properly. Being selective and choosing the right storage medium gives more meaning to what is kept and ensures they are protected, not only in your memory.

Happy ORGANiZiNG,

Nancy Patsios
everyday  ORGANiZiNG