Suggestions for saving kids memorbelia

Holly - posted on 11/13/2008

I would start by making a note (even if it's tiny and in a corner) of the age or grade (and which child if you have multiple) on each thing you decide to save. One key is to remember you don't have to keep EVERYTHING. I would also recommend going through your stash after each school year and purging. Have your child go through it with you and decide what he/she feels is important to keep. If there are larger items, take a photo of your child with the item when he/she brings it home. I love this method because you can get rid of the item guilt free, plus you have a "snapshot in time" of what your child was like at the time it was created.

For the things that you do keep, I'd suggest getting some type of large container that will (hopefully) last them their entire school career. Use it as a guide of when you have *too much* and it's time to purge. As my stepson got older, I switched to storing things in 3 ring binders (which can also be placed in those big containers you buy) because much of his work became "worksheets" instead of large artwork, etc. When he does a big project for school (he recently did a 4' tall todem pole), I resort to the photo method.

If you have a scanner, this is another great option for relatively flat items. By scanning the item, you can discard the original and still have the memory. Save them all to a CD when your collection grows and it will greatly reduce what you have to store.

Also, for younger kids, find a way to display recent artwork or creations. By having them on display for a bit, they (and you) may be less reluctant to retire it to the circular file later on :)

Lee-Ann - posted on 11/12/2008

Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions.

Devon - posted on 11/12/2008

You could get a 3 ring binder and hole punch the items keep them in there. They are easy to label on the outside of the binders and the papers will stay nice and neat and very easy to stack and store.

Patti - posted on 11/12/2008

PIZZA BOXES ARE EASY SORT ,STACK AND LABEL .. jUST ASK A LOCAL PIZZA PLACE FOR A COUPLE OF LARGE EMPTY PIZZA BOXES..tip~the family owned palces or smaller businesses usually have plain white boxes that you can decorate with the kids.. hope this helps....

Laura - posted on 11/12/2008

I, too, have used the camera idea to "keep" the larger items (or crafts that are beginning to fall apart or don't last long because they have food items in them). I also read a suggestion somewhere to make a temporary display of your child's artwork for a particular year and take a picture of them with it--that way they can see what they did at a given age, but you don't have all the artwork to store.

Shana - posted on 11/12/2008

I only have one child but I have done lots of scrapbooks for her. For other things, she has a treasure box where she puts the more awkward items that she has made at camp or school. For other and bigger things, I have suggested to her, that we take a digital picture of her artwork or other big items, either to be stored on the computer or put in an album in her treasure box. That way, you can title the picture with when and where the item or artwork was made.

Cristina - posted on 11/12/2008

I actually learned this from another mom -- So I can't take the credit but, go to your local pizza place and get a pizza box (they might charge ya). They are the perfect size for those big and awkward items and they stack really well. I have one for each of my kids.