What do I do with all this art?

Managing Kids' Art: A Parent's Guide to Guilt-Free Organization

As parents, we all know the drill: our kids bring home artwork from school or make something at home, and our hearts swell with pride. Every doodle, finger painting, and lopsided sculpture feels like a masterpiece, a moment captured in time. But then comes the guilt. What do you do with all this art? Do you save it all? Do you throw some away? And how do you keep it from overtaking your entire home?

You're not alone in feeling conflicted. Many parents face the same dilemma: you want to celebrate your child's creativity, but you also don’t want to drown in piles of macaroni art and crayon masterpieces. The good news? There’s a solution that allows you to preserve the memories without the clutter. Let’s dive into some guilt-free strategies for managing your child's artistic creations.

Why We Feel the Guilt

First, let's talk about the root of the problem: guilt. Every time you look at that painting or sketch, you feel like it’s a tangible representation of your child’s effort, imagination, and growth. Throwing it away feels like you're tossing away a part of them. But here’s the reality—keeping everything isn't sustainable, and it doesn’t actually honor the process of creation in the way it deserves.

The Process, Not the Product

One of the most important things to remember when managing your child’s art is that the value lies in the process, not the final product. The true magic of art is in the joy of creating, not necessarily in the result. Your child isn’t just drawing a picture—they’re exploring their creativity, learning new skills, and expressing themselves. So while it’s easy to get caught up in holding onto every scrap, the memories of making the art will last much longer than the pieces themselves.

That said, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate their creativity without the guilt of hoarding every single drawing.

Digital Photos: The Ultimate Guilt-Free Solution

Here’s where technology comes to the rescue: take digital photos. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it solves the clutter problem without sacrificing the memory. By photographing each piece of artwork, you can keep a digital archive of your child’s artistic journey, without worrying about physical storage space.

Create an Online Book of Memories

But why stop at just photos? Turn those digital images into something even more meaningful. There are several online book-making platforms, like Shutterfly, Chatbooks, and Mixbook, that allow you to easily upload your photos and create beautiful keepsake books. These services make it simple to compile your child’s artwork into a stunning, professionally bound book that you can flip through for years to come.

Each year (or every few months, depending on how prolific your child is!), you can create a new volume that captures all their masterpieces from that period. Imagine flipping through a book of their art as they grow older—a tangible representation of their evolution as an artist, filled with colorful memories.

Displaying and Treasuring the Best

While it’s impractical to keep everything, it’s still important to showcase a few treasured pieces. Display your child’s best or most meaningful creations in frames or on a designated “art wall” at home. This allows you to celebrate their creativity without feeling overwhelmed.

Also, don’t forget that you can repurpose some of their artwork into other meaningful items. Turn drawings into custom t-shirts, mugs, or even blankets. These creative gifts are great ways to keep the art alive in a practical form, and they make fantastic presents for grandparents or other family members.

A Final Word

The key takeaway is this: it’s okay to not keep everything. The process of creation, the joy of watching your child explore their artistic side—that’s what matters most. While you'll always have a few treasures to hold onto, it’s the memories of making those pieces, and the joy shared during the process, that will last forever.

By digitizing their art and turning it into a beautiful keepsake book, you can store their creativity in a way that won’t overwhelm your home, and you can cherish those memories for years to come. So, go ahead—take that photo, hit “upload,” and give yourself permission to let go of the clutter, knowing that you’ve preserved the most important part: the experience itself.

Let the guilt go, and enjoy the creative journey with your child.