DISQUS

IamSusie · 11 months ago

When my kids were younger we got Grandpa a portfolio with clear pockets and he could put the kids artwork in it. Oprah's clutter therapist guy recommends photographing it and making a photo book of kid's work. My kids are older so we gush over things for a bit, keep the stuff that is especially charming, and toss the rest. I often say to my daughter who is the creative one. Wasn't that fun to make? You did a great job, but you know we can't keep everything. She agrees so it is not a problem. I have a craft blog, so sometimes I put stuff on that and that satisfies the desire to save everything.

Also, we absolutely open up the school bags every day right over the garbage can. "This work was all about the learning process and I can see that you learned a lot!" and into the bin it goes.

Keris · 11 months ago

""This work was all about the learning process and I can see that you learned a lot!" and into the bin it goes."

I love this!

pearl_mattenson · 11 months ago

Keris- Through 6th grade - I instituted a plan where we would have a bin in which we held all the art work and "projects" and every 6 months we would clear it out and keep only 1 (or sometimes 2) things that we put away for safekeeping. Not only did this relieve me of some of this stuff but it taught my kids the art of letting go and choosing. (something my husband still struggles with!)

MoJo · 11 months ago

Great suggestions Keris, thanks! I've been battling the 'toss-it-in-the-bin' guilt as of late - now I'll start taking pics - phew...

Keris · 11 months ago

Thanks, Pearl and MoJo.

JoJo · 11 months ago

Thanks for posting this. Andy and I have been having this 'discussion' over the last couple of days as part of our January clear out. I'm all for chucking pretty much everything out (Johnny is not an artistic soul), Andy wants to keep every scrap of rubbish Johnny has ever scribbled on. It's interesting to note that Pearl's husband struggles with it too.....

Carole · 11 months ago

My loft is insulated with every peice of paper my kids ever touched with a crayon - and now they are 20 and 17, that is a whole lot! I have no doubt that they will ever ask for any of it, but every year, when I take down the Christmas decorations, and when they go back at New Year, I get to rifle through the pile and reminisce. Sad? - probably!

Suzi · 11 months ago

A Diva is the little lamp lit by Hindus at Diwali. We made some and they were fab!

Michelle · 11 months ago

My son went through a painting phase before Christmas. I kept the best looking paintings and used the rest to wrap little presents to give to other people for Christmas or folded them up and gave them to the grandparents with a note inside and used it as a large Christmas card.

Kellye · 11 months ago

I think teaching even talented artists not to be too attached to their work is a very valuable lesson to learn at a young age. It prevents perfectionism and keeps them from getting into a creative rut. Sure, it's good to keep the stuff that really turned out (or that the artist is especially attached to) but about 90% of creative endeavors are practice or "flops"....

Kisa · 11 months ago

Great article! Funny and informative.

We do just what you suggest: take a digital photo. But we only do that for the ones we most like. An added bonus is that these can then be added to our photo album, so when we look back in ten years, we'll see it again. And the kids will have a good copy, too. In ten years, the original will be faded and cracking; the photo, bright as the day it was taken.

maz · 11 months ago

Oh, I laughed 'til I cried. But I still don't really know what a 'diva' in this context may be?
If you move house a lot (we seemed to) quite a lot of stuff seems to get lost in the move. I don't know how...

maz · 11 months ago

Oh, I should have read comments first - Suzi cleared that up for me.
And I'm worried about your loft, Carole, if ever a match gets near it! ; )

Keris · 11 months ago

Thanks for all the great comments. I love the idea of using even the crappiest paintings for something, Michelle! Nice and green too. (As in environmentally, I mean.)