Kids love to create art. As soon as your child can hold a paintbrush, crayon, or pencil, they transform into a mini Picasso, producing what they believe are masterpieces worthy of adorning every wall in your home. Once they start school, they’ll likely bring home daily contributions of artwork to add to your collection. By the time your child is six, you could easily have accumulated 500 pieces of priceless artwork.
So, what do you do with all this artwork? Most parents display it on the refrigerator or a pinboard for a while before replacing it with the next masterpiece. The question then arises: do you remove it from the fridge and toss it in the trash, or save every sketch and drawing for posterity?
Saving children’s artwork can be a challenging task. Some pieces are so adorable that your parental heart can’t bear to part with them. Others, to put it kindly, might be better suited as kindling for your next fire (though your child would likely disagree). Unless you have unlimited space, you’ll need to filter through the artwork and decide which pieces to keep and which to discard.
Practical Ideas for Preserving Artwork
One of the best ways to save artwork is to digitize it. Take a picture of the piece or scan it into your computer, where it can serve as a desktop background or be shared with family. If the artwork is good but not something you want to keep physically, store the digital image in a dedicated folder on your computer. This ensures the artwork is preserved without taking up physical space. You could even create a printed scrapbook later, showcasing their artistic journey from their first smiley face to their initial watercolor.
Another great idea is to create a scrapbook for your children. After a masterpiece has spent its time on the fridge or corkboard, carefully place it in a scrapbook. Start an art book for each child, which is a far better way to preserve their work than tossing it into a box in the attic. If you lack the time to compile a scrapbook, use plastic sealed bins to store artwork, ensuring it won’t get damaged during storage.
For children who can’t bear to part with their creations, consider using clotheslines and string to display their artwork in their own rooms. This is a tidier solution than having artwork scattered throughout the house, which can create clutter.
If your child struggles to let go of even random scribbles, a more discreet approach is to display the artwork for a day or two, then store it in a bin and quietly discard it later when they’re not around. Chances are, after a few weeks, they won’t notice it’s gone.
Don’t forget about sharing the artwork with others. Let your child select a few pieces to gift to family and friends. They’ll take pride in mailing their creations, and even the grandparents or aunts living far away will have a piece of your child to display in their homes.
For the truly special pieces—those that strike an emotional chord or hold deep meaning—consider framing them for display on your walls. Tastefully framed children’s artwork can add a personal and emotional touch to your home. Framed pieces also appear more organized than those randomly magnetized to the fridge.
Speaking of frames, create a dedicated wall in your home for your children’s artwork using frames designed for this purpose. These frames often have backs that lift off easily, allowing you to swap out pictures and keep the freshest pieces on display. Some even include extra storage for artwork, keeping your home tidy.
While you may initially save every piece your child creates, you’ll eventually feel overwhelmed by the volume of art. Saving every piece can be tedious and messy. Some artworks are worth keeping long-term, while others, frankly, are not. You can purge and re-purge as time goes on. Ultimately, aim to curate a collage, notebook, scrapbook, binder, or tote box of artwork that reflects your child’s development and personality. Over time, you’ll realize that not every piece brought home from school qualifies as art.
