Organizing Your Child's Artwork and School Papers

With the new school year upon us one is left to wonder what  to do with the plethora of papers and artwork that comes home from school.  Seriously, how much can a refrigerator hold!?  Last school year I used some of these methods of displaying artwork:

• Using clipboards which makes changing the artwork super simple!

• Artkive, an app that stores your children's artwork.

• Framing art that's extra special.

These are great options but I still needed help to organize my children's school work whether artwork, report cards, etc.  One day while wandering Michael's Arts and Crafts I came across an art portfolio that looked like it might just work.  Before purchasing, I decided to research and read some reviews about it.  I was pleased with what I read and quickly went back and purchased 2, one for my son who at the time was in 2nd grade and one for my daughter who was in her first year of preschool.  It has 24 pages front and back so can hold up to 48 pieces of paper.  Now, depending on how much stuff you hold on to you might be able to get 2 school years out of one book.  I am a bit sentimental when it comes to my kids artwork so for my son I will be purchasing another portfolio for this upcoming school year.  As for my preschooler I still have a few pages left in hers.

Most of what I have added to these portfolio's is artwork and for my son I've also included his report cards and other schoolwork that was not necessarily 'art.'

This is about how thick my son's portfolio became by end of the school year

Their are so many great ideas out there, just google "organize school art/paper work" and tons of fantastic ideas will pop up.  Every family is different so a system that works for one may not work for another.  The key is to do your research and then pick the one that's best for you and your family! I hope this post will give yet another idea/alternative on how to organize your children's school papers.

For me, I am pleased enough organizing my children's school work this way that I will continue purchasing these portfolio's, putting them into a large bin and storing the bin in our basement or attic.  This way whenever I want to take a walk down memory lane or pass them onto my children once they are grown I should be able to simply grab the bin and reminisce!

More info about the Itoya Profolia is online at Amazon.  The opinions were 100% my own and I was not compensated by Amazon or anyone associated with Itoya Art Profolio.

I would love to know how you are storing your kids school work papers so share away in the comments below!