Children's Artwork: To Recycle or Not to Recycle That is the Question

One of the most common questions I am asked by clients is about children's artwork and more specifically: what should they do with it? It is often a question that appears to be asked out of guilt.  Should they save it all and let their children decide what they want later in life? Recycle most of it? Display it all over their house?

Like many organizing topics, this one is deeply personal and I always advise clients to do what feels best for them and their family.  That being said, here are a few of my suggestions:

My own personal rule of thumb is this: if the item displays a new skill or talent for which I do not already have a visual, I make sure the date is on the back, and I keep it. There are certainly plenty of portfolios or holders you can purchase, but a simple plastic bin would suffice for storage.  My end goal: one plastic bin per child.   For other items, I have a rotating section of our bulletin board. I display generally 2-3 pieces at a time, rotate them often, and dispose of them once they have been through the rotation.  

I have other friends who have started photographing their child's artwork. This can be quite handy especially for larger or 3-dimensional items.  The end goal: a book of the child's artwork over the course of his or her childhood.

Feel free to leave a comment below on your preferred method or strategy!