For the keepers
For the one(s) that you want to keep, make sure you put it in a frame or find a place for it on the shelf straightaway otherwise it will end up in the pile of jobs waiting to do but you never get around to.
When it comes to Lego and junk modelling, sometimes if they’ve put a lot of effort into it, we’ll leave it on the side for a few days – in a prominent place so all can see. When there’s too much of a build up and we’ve no longer got any space left on that shelf then they’ll choose they favourite 2 or 3 and get rid of/dismantle/take photos of the others. That way there’s no build up, I can still dust around everything, but they can also see that their hard work has been valued.
I really like to show them how proud they should be of what they’ve created so I have a gallery wall for some of their favourite pieces and I switch it around from time to time.
It’s got pride of place in the hall and is a talking point for visitors when they come in. The girls love it when they’re asked about their drawings and paintings.
Another trick might be that if there’s something special you want to keep but just don’t have space for at the moment, then why not take a photo and use it as a background on your computer desktop or as the home screen on your phone? Rotate the pictures from time to time.
Your children’s artwork is special and it’s easy to want to keep everything. But with a bit of practice you’ll find it easier choosing the pieces that are the most important to you and your children will enjoy learning and choosing with you.