Sound familiar? You get handed another piece of paperwork or an art craft; you quickly congratulate your kid on a job well done. At the same time, thinking about what I am supposed to do with it now. Stop the madness, finally figure out what school papers to keep. This easy-to-use file & keep system will help alleviate mom’s guilt and the piles that accumulate.
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Let’s start from the beginning.
That paper gets added to a pile of stuff you can’t seem to bring your heart to toss out because of mom guilt. Resulting in a pile that grows and grows.
You are not alone, and it happens to even the best of moms.
After years of trial and error, I finally developed a system that works. As I enter the next phase of motherhood with my senior in high school, I am now seeing its benefits.
How to create the school paper keepsake system
School paper filing system
- Create a file folder or keepsake box
To keep school paperwork organized, you need a designated space for it. Create a hanging file folder and use a tab to label it. (Title ideas: school memories, school keepsakes, etc.)
If you want to do a keepsake box, here are two ways. You can find one that either blends well with your home decor or a colorfully decorated one that stands out.
It does not have to be anything fancy either. As a budget-conscious mama, I have 18 years’ worth of my daughter’s belongings, and they’ve survived just fine in a hanging file folder.
The point is to create a permanent home where you will put the paperwork once designated as a keeper. - Declare order – With decluttering questions
To stop the chaos of paper piles and mom guilt, you must declare order. You do this by asking yourself questions to determine what needs to be kept.
Question #1 –
Did my child have a whole story behind their paper/project?
So let me explain. If my kid hands me a paper and explains, This is my home, family, vacation, a story about my life, etc. Then, to me, the paper/project is a keeper. This project is a creation from your child’s heart of their life.
Now, if your kid hands you a paper and says, ‘Look, we have to color this page and put some dots.’ It’s not something I think is high on the priority list. Listen to how your child speaks about the project. This will tell you if they created it with love.
Question # 2
Does this paper/project have a handprint, photo, or something unique to my child?
When it comes to their handprints and childhood photos, those are obvious keepers. Those little hands are so little for so long.
Question # 3
Is this paper an award or recognition for a job well done?
Then those are keepers for sure. You can share those proud moments with them and let them see their own accomplishments over time.
Question # 4
Is this artwork an exceptional piece? Was this artwork an interpretation of something?
The artwork is one of the most challenging things for moms to deal with when experiencing mom guilt. I get it; your precious baby created this artwork. You love it because you love looking at it.
This is a little grey area. But still, with some basic guidelines, you can pair down your art gallery collection as a mom.
Coloring pages are one of the areas I consider to fall under artwork. For example, if this coloring page were the first coloring page ever, then keep it.
If the coloring page is just scribbled and you have gotten multiple of those, let’s say within the same month. That’s something I wouldn’t keep in multiples of.
Note: I am not saying my kids’ scribbles aren’t special, so please don’t think that’s what I am implying. It’s more about reflecting on the pages your child created and how the artwork reflects them.
I love keeping one-of-a-kind artwork pieces that my children create. In other words, a blank canvas and their creation. - File right away
In efforts to reduce piles of paper from the start. I file the school paperwork/project right away. It may not be the same day, but I do my weekly purge of mail. I file the children’s school paperwork then.
In the meantime, it will be stored in an inbox/pending area to be completed.
Benefits of deciding what papers to keep & using the paper file system
So, fast forward, my teen will graduate in 2020 from high school. Recently, I grabbed her school papers file and went through it.
I had chosen not to look at this file and its contents until now. This was done on purpose. I wanted to celebrate and relive her childhood as she now enters adulthood after 18.
Almost like a time capsule. You don’t necessarily have to do this. Some people enjoy revisiting their memories year after year. I do that with pictures of our life, but not their school paperwork.
Benefit #1
Paperwork is organized and ready to be turned into a permanent book instantly.
Benefit #2
No sorting through papers or piles. You have an organized file folder instead of spending hours trying to sort through tons of school work/artwork when you can’t stand the messy piles anymore. I can spend hours just reliving it and sharing it.
Benefit # 3
This space-saving filing system reduces paper clutter
Benefit #4
Easy to transport if you have to move or reorganize your space.
I am not a huge fan of the art portfolios. Not because they are not functional, but mainly because they are awkward/hard to store. They are traditionally larger and often have an unusual shape. Making it a bit more challenging to find a permanent home for them.
Cool Kids School Memorabilia Organizer
This organizer from SmileLoveDesigns Etsy shop is right up my alley and keeps with my file folder theme that I started years ago. I love that it is all prelabeled and comes in a plastic tote.
That is so easy to store. Also, the easy done for your organization is amazing. It includes 15 legal-size folders to fit construction paper projects. Each file folder has a cover sheet to help spotlight some of your child’s favorites and attach their school picture. Lastly, each file folder has a tab with the grade included.
Create your permanent keepsake for life
While there are many options to create a memorable book. I am choosing to go with a company called Forever Bound. I love how you get to keep the original artwork and it’s all bounded in a book. There is something about being able to still touch and feel the originals.
Tips & what I wish I had done differently
With two more little ones growing in our family. I am in the process of creating their keepsake folders. There are, however, some things that I didn’t do with my oldest that I wish I had.
- Record the story – remember I told you that keeping the papers that your child gets excited about and telling you their story. I wish that I had written those little stories on the back of the paper or an index card. And also dated it.
- Filed the paper by school year – While my paperwork is filed as I received them. I wish that I had filed them by year and recorded the dates.
- I would have taken a picture of my child once a year and placed it in a memory folder.
I would say that in the end, keep what you truly love. When the day comes to relive those precious memories, you will be so happy you did.
Do you have a special thing you keep from your child’s life? In what ways do you enjoy keeping your child’s precious memories? Let me know in the comments below.
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