Okay here's my dilema. I have saved every, well almost every, art project that Zachary has made in preschool and Sunday School. I save it in a rubbermaid container. I promise I am not a hoarder but here is where I need some advice.
1. Should I take pictures of each piece and then toss the originals?
2. Should I pick a couple favorites from each year/stage of his life and then toss the others?
3. Should I keep all of it?
What I have done is taken a picture of all of his projects from his 2 year old class...see below. 
Do I put this in his school scrapbook and toss the originals? As you can see I need some help. PLEASE leave any and all suggestions on what I should do. Especially any moms of older children. I know that he is going to get more and more stuff as time goes by. In fact the projects have almost doubled this year in preschool than last. I want to be realistic but I don't want to regret tossing anything later on.
Do I put this in his school scrapbook and toss the originals? As you can see I need some help. PLEASE leave any and all suggestions on what I should do. Especially any moms of older children. I know that he is going to get more and more stuff as time goes by. In fact the projects have almost doubled this year in preschool than last. I want to be realistic but I don't want to regret tossing anything later on. 
Welcome to our blog. We'll try to keep you updated on exciting news and events in our family - and of course - share lots of pictures of Zachary. Thanks for visiting! Appreciate the Past. Make the most of the present. Live for the future.
7 comments:
I have absolutely zero advice, but I am interested in hearing how you solve your dilemma! :) All those projects look so cute I don't know how you're going to decide what to keep. Hope you had a great weekend and are feeling much better!
Hey, Hilary! I think I would take pictures of all of it no matter what and then save some favorites. You could make an "art book" at Shutterfly for each school year, or theme, like Christmas, etc. There are companies that you can send the picures or actual art pieces to and they will make them into magnets, t-shirts, mouse pads, etc. My kindergarten center does that as a fundraiser every year. Then, you can either throw the originals away or put them in a scrapbook, like you said! I've thought about that, too, for when August goes to school, even though he is only one! :) Hope all is well!
like taking a picture of it idea, then you can do whatever with it. Why not let Z help you pick 12 to keep (one for each month) for that year. Then keep the originals in a sweater tub. I have an under the bed tub for each of the boys. They both have a pre-k one that is full. It includes pre-k, vbs, sports memorobila and any other creation along the way. Now that they are in school I throw out most of their daily work, unless it's something really unique or great story or something. I have to hide this, as it breaks their hearts to see all their work in the trash. So i take it out to the big trash at night. Keep some, toss some, photograph most. They do like to dig through it and remember when. In a few years you will know which ones you are glad you kept and will probably be able to weed some out. BTW watch stuff made with food type items. We did get a few moldy things from carson's pre-k years (think it was koolaide paint or something jello but it was gross. glad no bugs Ha! Good luck!
I keep everything I like throughout the year and then at the end of the year weed it out to just a few. Of course, pictures are a great way to keep some of them that you are not sure about. Growing up we had a fairly deep drawer full of our stuff. Everytime it got full, we had to weed it out to a more manageable size. This kept all of our projects from preschool to high school.
I like Julie's idea. I say save it all and at the end of the year spend a special hour or so with Z picking out a few of his and your favorites from the year. Maybe lay the rest out in a collage and take one or two photos of them to have for that year. I am a saver too so I know how hard it is.
I've enjoyed reading comments. There are so many more options today than there were when I had kids. Here's what I did: I kept everything practically through the year. Then about middle to end of next year, it is much easier to toss the things from the first year that don't mean as much to you. With each new year, it seems you want to throw more away from the previous year, but it's easier to part with by then and you are truly left with 2 or 3 very special ones per year.
I'm behind on my blog reading, but was so interested in what everyone had to say. Hil, you know I take pics of Carina's art, each month's gallery and then up close shots of the ones I really like. When I take the gallery down at the end of the month(s), I weed, and then the rest go into a tub. Another idea would be you could frame a few of the really great ones and give as holiday/birthday gifts to close friends and family from Z. That way you're not trashing them OR storing them, and if the recipients display them, Z will be so proud to see his art at various locations around town.
Post a Comment