Tips for handling children's art
To reward my weekend readers, I'm throwing in an extra tip sheet. Yes, I know it's Saturday, but rules were made to be broken. (This reminds me of those day-of-the-week bibs my kids wore as babies. If we didn't time the laundry just right, they ended up wearing the wrong day and humiliating their parents at day care.)
Also, I promised you some ideas on what to do with kids' art. I've combined your suggestions with some that I used in a Sun story on the subject a couple of years ago.
Click below for the list. ...
(Art by Leah from several years ago. No, I'm not recycling this one.)
Sort it. Keep drawings and paintings for a while, then get your child involved in choosing favorites to keep -- and others to toss. As a professional organizer told me what's important to emphasize is the act of creating, not necessarily keeping every last creation.
Recycle it. Wrap gifts in pieces the kids are willing to part with. Or use several old works of art to create a new one.
Give it, to teachers, relatives and close friends. Far-away grandparents will especially appreciate receiving the surprise of art in the mail. And kids will enjoy seeing it displayed when they visit.
Display it. Make a gallery space -- not the refrigerator -- for the truly special pieces. Inexpensive frames can be found at places like Ikea, or you can pick them up used.
Photograph it. When the gallery is getting too crowded, take a picture of all the art -- then dispose of the bulky originals. As Kayris suggests, you can display the photographs on your screen saver.Laminate it. Another idea from Kayris that an organizer also mentioned to me. Artwork can live on as placemats, at least for a while.
Create a portfolio. Buy an archival-quality portfolio and make a coffee table book, as Annelies suggests. Go lower-tech, as Joyce from KidBaltimore does, and make "books" out of recycled paper, with art on a theme. Or create a book or a calendar online at a site like Photo Works or Cafe Press.
Other ideas? Please share.
Comments
Going along with the idea of photographing your child's artwork, I'll often take a picture of my little one actually holding their masterpiece! You get the picture of the art, as well as the pride on the face of the artist!
Posted by: Laura | May 7, 2008 3:07 PM