As anyone with a child knows, there are a lot of crafts, doodles, scribbles, paintings, and torn out pages of coloring books that pass through our lives. We see everything from a circle of cheerios glued on to a page to a sheet of white paper with just one big red crayon line on it. The myriad of art that our kid’s produce in their young lives is staggering, to save it all for one child, let along multiple kids may require the renting of a U-Store It facility!
Storing these childhood treasures is only the first hurdle, the big questions are: what to do with all these pages and crafts, how to best preserve, display and enjoy them?
Consider a monthly or quarterly in-home Art Show.
As the art is created and/or brought home from school, store everything in a shoebox, Tupperware container, etc.
Then, sit down with your child and pick their best pieces for the previous month or so. For smaller pieces, “mat” them onto a colored piece of construction paper. For larger pieces, frame them using some old frames laying about (borrow them for the show and then return the usual picture) or purchase a few for a couple bucks at an Everything’s a Dollar store or a large arts and crafts store like Michael’s or A.C. Moore.
Select the space for the show. I would think that a long hallway would work nicely but a bedroom or playroom space may be more practical and more able to endure some thumbtack holes and scotch tape marks!
Finally, invite local family and friends to pop on over for your child’s showing. You can simply call them or craft invitations by taking the “best” piece of art and reducing it down on a copy machine to postcard size and printing the particulars (date, time, dress) on the back. This kind of invite adds a touch of elegance and class to the proceedings.
Plan to serve your guests some of your child’s favorite Hors d’Oeurves: goldfish, pigs in a blanket, apple slices and some white grape or apple juice in lieu of wine or champagne.
Your child should be glowing with pride as their work is shown to loved ones and neighbors. After all, what kid, big or small, doesn’t like to be fussed over!
Family Project – Your Child’s Year