Drowning in Kid’s Artwork? Three Tips For Managing Artwork Without Throwing It In The Trash.

Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of artwork your child gives you or brings home from school? Your fridge doors are overflowing with those masterpieces, and you don’t have the heart to throw it in the trash… I am with you! I hate throwing my kid’s artwork away, but sometimes there is JUST SO MUCH OF IT! So what are you supposed to do? You don’t want to break their little hearts, but you don’t want to lose your sanity either.

Here’s where I share my secrets to managing all that glorious kid’s artwork…

1. Head to the post office and buy a large roll of forever stamps.

Stay with me now… When your child presents another piece of artwork to you, suggest you mail it to a family member or friend. My kids absolutely love sending and receiving mail, and this has proven to be a popular method with them. Not to mention, it’s a win in so many ways!

Pros of mailing artwork:

• You don’t have to throw your kid’s artwork away! (Leave that up to grandma! Ha!)
• Your kids will love to put their artwork in an envelope and put it in the mailbox. And they know someone else they love will get to see and enjoy something they’ve worked hard on.
• Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends will all love receiving your child’s artwork. And it’s a way for them to feel connected. (My kids and their cousins love sending each other mail back and forth).
• You’re supporting the mailing industry! My parents own, and operate a company that makes parts for mailing equipment, so that may be more me. But I also love mail and hope the mailing industry stays alive.
• A book of stamps is relatively inexpensive.

2. Create a book of your kid’s artwork for them to look through and enjoy.

I don’t necessarily mind keeping my kid’s artwork, the problem I run into is that it is EVERYWHERE. And the last thing you want to do is banana peel on a piece of paper when you’re trying to cook dinner. (Been there, done that, more times then I care to admit…). Turning your child’s artwork into a book can be as simple or as elegant as you desire.

My oldest started kindergarten this year, and she comes home with papers GALOR. Of course, she insists on keeping them all. So, my solution was to staple the papers for that week between 2 pieces of construction paper and let her decorate the cover. She absolutely loves this!

Pros of making artwork books:

• It makes them feel special to have a whole “book” of things they have created!
• All my kids like looking through the books. Even the school paper books, I find them sitting and looking through them often.
• It’s a simple solution that keeps the artwork contained.
• You can get as creative with this as you want! A couple pieces of construction paper or a three ring binder work like a charm, but there are so many other ways to do it too. You can even make this a fun activity to do with your kids. (I love the idea of taking photos of artwork and turning it into a book that way. But we like to keep it simple here, and being able to do things with stuff you already have in your home.)

3. Display Your Child’s Artwork in your home.

This is probably one of the easiest ways to manage artwork (Maybe not all of it, but the good ones!), and there are so many way to do it! A quick internet or Pinterest search will bring up hundreds of different artwork frames you can use in your house. Not only can you find frames to purchase, the DIY ideas are endless!

Pros of displaying your kid’s artwork:

• Your child sees that you care about and love their creations because you want to be able to see them all the time.
• This doesn’t have to be permanent. You can change out artwork and hang newer things as much as you want.
• You can see how your child’s creativity and skills have grown and changed as they do.
• Other people who visit your home can also enjoy your child’s creations, which in turn makes your child feel extra special.

I know you love your kiddos and all their artwork. But in reality, keeping every single piece of artwork is just not practical. Don’t let mom guilt take over when you do have to trash something. I promise it won’t cause childhood trauma, or damage your relationship with your child. You’re doing a great job!

What do you like to do with all the artwork? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

And don’t forget to pin these ideas for later!