Keep Memories, Not the Clutter

I hope everyone had a super July 4th!   We had a great time celebrating our country's 233rd Birthday.  Please take a look at the comment from last week's post from "anonymous" about what happened to the men that signed the Declaration of Independence!  If that does not make you feel in the least bit patriotic, I don't know what will. 

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So on to our question of the week from Ellen: "Between schools' end and the start of camp I have more paper and artwork in my home than I can handle!  How can I organize every piece of  'precious' (my daughter's word, not mine!) artwork and all the piles of paper?"

I have the same problem!  If you are like me and have no basement to shove all the artwork and every piece of paper until that fateful day when you move out or finally purge the stuff and you all sit down and have a great laugh while pouring over all the 25 year old fingerpaints, report cards, notebooks and Valentines, then you need to make a plan.

First, set some time aside with your child to go through the pile.  It's important that children learn to let go and organize important possessions.  Forming emotional attachments to inanimate objects may lead to a guest appearance on Oprah's "Life as a Hoarder" episode.  With your gentle guidance, have your child make the decision about what they want to get rid of.   A good place to start is to help your child break down the pile by subject, i.e. math, writing, reading, etc.  You can have a folder or binder for each subject.   Certain items like the giant pumpkin that was made in art class for Halloween can be given eternal life through your digital camera, and find it's way to a folder on your computer.  There is no better way to "keep" your child's artwork and not have it take up space than by scanning it or taking a picture and then throwing away or recycling the actual piece.  Another idea to add some closure before the artwork goes digital is to have a final art show.  Hang all the pieces of art around their room or some other designated space and invite friends and family members over for a one day art opening.  At the end of the celebration the artwork receives its final preservation.

Handwritten poetry, reports, etc. can be scanned or rewritten on the computer.  If you or your child want to, you can make a binder and create a label on the cover "Rachel's First Grade Writing".  I find that my children do like to look at end year books from their nursery and preschool years that were neatly put together by their teachers.  Grandparents who live far away might also get great joy from looking at what their little dears created at school.   You might even consider sending the binder as a gift.  Who cares if your parents end up on Oprah!  

While examining all this artwork, schoolwork, etc., point out the growth in your child's work.  For example; "Look at your handwriting in the beginning of the year and look at how you write now, what do you notice?"

In the end, you and your child will be spending time together,  cleaning up together,  making decisions together and finding solutions together.  What is better than that?