Children are prolific artists and make art constantly.
Art offers kids something to do and from the earliest age, adults press crayons into their hands. They produce treasures at home, school and pre-school every day for you to admire. And that’s where the problem starts. The sheer volume of colorful masterpieces kids bring home can start to pile up overtime though- seeing bookshelves, fridges and tables overflowing with creative output of all shapes and sizes.
If you’re looking for new ways to display the plethora of masterpieces crafted by your children and stay on top of the mound of artwork, read on.
Some ideas are craftier (for the parents who love craft) and others are simple, but there is something for everyone on the list to help manage your kid’s school art project.
Wrapping paper
Children attend so many birthday parties, like every six weeks. Large pieces of your kid’s artwork make wonderful wrapping paper and it means you’ll rarely need to buy wrapping paper again. A lovely way for your child to contribute to gift giving is by enlisting them to help choose which artwork suits the recipient and carefully fold and wrap it around the gift. Tie with baker’s twine or a cute ribbon and voila! This will look quirky and act as a talking point for the young ones plus your kid will beam with pride, as you pass along original art as part of the gift.
Pass to Grandparents and Family
Grandparents love handmade creation from grandkids. Set aside a collection to make into prints or cards and gift for special occasions. Even better, you can ask your kids to sketch pictures specifically for their grandparents every now and then. Grandparents love bragging about their grandkids- give them a tangible way to do so. For those of us living in a different town, city or country from family, this is a lovely way for family members to be included in your child’s life.
Frame it
Putting your child’s work into a frame is a fantastic way to make a whimsical wall arrangement. Have your kids pick out their favorite artwork and hang those in their bedroom. Select your favorite pieces as well and display where you’ll enjoy them.
Make an eclectic arrangement on the wall with the frames featuring the kid’s artwork. Rotate the collection every few months as the seasonal projects roll in. you can keep the older pieces at the back of the frame if you still want to save them. Your child will feel pleased to see their work displayed like artwork.
p.s if your child has inherited their artistic flare from you, you can paint those frames.
Hang it
If you have a blank wall available- whether it’s in your child’s bedroom, the corridor/hallway or an unused nook, you can hang up the art work your child brings home. Teachers have been using this art display trick for a while. Use colored pegs to add to the fun design. It’s easy to rotate work and replace older work with something new. This is a quick afternoon task that makes a revolving display of preschool multiple art projects easier to maintain.
Go Digital
For the aspiring minimalist- there’s no better way to organize and store your child’s creative work than by going completely paper- free especially if it breaks your heart at the thought of tossing the art and somehow losing its memory. Choose several of your favorite pieces of artwork and scan them or photograph and archive in a computer file. Phone apps such as Keepy also allow you to organize, save and share your kid’s artwork in digital form.
You can sort photos into folders by year, add the artwork to your screensaver slideshow or send to a company that specializes in personalized items. Look online for companies who provide services where you can send your selection to be made into coffee mugs, t-shirts or photo-book with your child’s artwork printed on them.
Hopefully these tips will help. Whatever way you choose to display your child’s artwork, the end result will bring a smile to your child’s face. Your little one’s masterpieces are more than just two- dimensional pieces of art- they are a wonderful way to bring color and texture to empty spaces in your home.
