Kids’ Art: Display & Storage ideas
Are you buried under piles of papers? Mounds of your child’s colorful creations? Drawings, paintings, poems, doodles, mixed media collages of stickers, pasta, leaves, buttons, foam flowers, feathers, baked clay and glitter? Do you wonder what to do with your child’s creativity overload? It happens to all of us and can quickly become overwhelming. And what to do with the ones they want to save or you want to save? Among those piles there are some gems you may want to pull out and save. A little hand-print painted by your baby… a genuine abstract art creation by your toddler… or an amazing illustration drawn by your talented tween or teen.
Kids’ artwork deserves attention. It’s an expression of their personalities, life stages and interests; it can be refreshingly spontaneous and carefree.
It’s fun to display and honor your child’s artwork for all to appreciate and see. The refrigerator door becomes an art gallery by default, but there are more sophisticated and attractive ways to display art too.
Framing artwork is a great way to organize, preserve and celebrate your child’s creative spirit. A collage of framed art has visual impact and creates an interesting display. Hang a bunch in the family room, play room, kitchen, bathroom or wherever you choose. Layer the art and layer the display using wire & clips or twine and mini clothespins. Mix it with family images for variety and surprise.
Beyond the display of art, another important aspect to consider is the concept of storing it. Yes, finding a good place for it beyond the fridge, kitchen counter or overstuffed drawer. When children are young, in preschool and early elementary years, it seems their artwork piles high.
Here are a few kids’ art storage ideas to consider…
5 Good Ways to Store Art:
1. Art in a Basket - Try putting new art into a basket for looking through and loving with Oohs and Aahs. Every few months (or more often, depending on how quickly the pile grows) go through the piles to sift and discard what is not worth keeping and save the rest in the basket. This is an especially wonderful way for young children to share with grandparents and other relatives.
2. Flat Storage - Purchase a large portfolio for each child from an arts or crafts store in the size or shape to suit their work. The portfolio keeps the art flat, safe and protected. You can build your own flat storage solutions too with cardboard and strong tape. This is a time and money-saver and you get to create the container size that works best for your child’s work.
3. Roll-it-Up Storage - Canister mailing tubes work well for larger flat pieces. Roll the art and store it away neatly in labeled tubes.
4. Bulky Storage - Large rectangular boxes like photo boxes or plastic bins with lids are obvious options too. A variety of sizes and materials are readily available at your local office supply or department store. Label each box with your child’s name and the year(s) of the art and tuck the most special pieces away. They will love seeing and remembering their work in the years to come.
5. Album Archives - Take digital photos of your child’s art and make an album of their art. Like other photo albums, art albums save storage space. Shutterfly, Snapfish and nearly every other online photo service can produce archival quality keepsakes, including albums, calendars, framed images, posters, mugs, and t-shirts.
Kids’ artwork is free and tells us how they see and experience the world. It’s unique and now; it gets created only once. So do your best to enjoy and share it. Select the display and storage solutions that work best for you and your child(ren). Celebrate their creativity and have fun! Admire, compliment, encourage… and be sure to save the best of their childhood artistic expression. They will thank you.
Source: youngamerica.com
