Skip to main content

Saving School Papers Without Getting Overwhelmed

From the moment a baby is born (and many time even before!), we start collecting momentos of their lives. Ultrasound pictures, that first lock of hair from a haircut, the blanket they were swaddled in when they first arrived; all of these evoke strong memories and are pleasant to view. A little cedar chest and a baby book is wonderful way to safely store these.

When school starts, suddenly, the amount of momentos increases. There are adorable pictures scrawled by tiny hands, those adorable hand print turkeys that everyone makes around Thanksgiving, and you cannot forget about those "letters to mom." But these are mostly paper and other crafting materials. Speaking from experience, the sheer volume of artwork from the first 3 years of school is phenomenal and overwhelming.

But that being said, the sentimentalist wants to keep some things, and it's good to do that, but not EVERYTHING. How can you do that while still showing your child that you care about the work they do? Here are some helpful hints to keep the school paper monster from swallowing you up!

First, and this is so important, deal with the papers at least once a week. Otherwise, it will pile up so fast and you won't get to enjoy anything. In dealing with the papers, get your kid to help! Have them pick out the paper that they are most proud of. Hang it on the refrigerator.

If it is something that you definitely want to keep for a long period, like a report card, story, or those cute letters to mom), get a storage tote. It doesn't have to be large. A 20 quart container will work perfectly. 


This part is where you need to prepare for the years ahead. Get some file dividers and attach thick pieces of cardboard to make them able to stand up. Label one for each grade through school. Then place the project or document you want to keep under that coordinating grade. If you want to really be organized, put them in document sleeves and label the sleeve with the date.

As you go through the years, keep the best of the best and take pictures of the rest!Then when your child graduates you have something ready for the graduation party.

When you are looking for totes of all sizes and colors, check out Edge Plastics. This woman-owned, made-in-America company offers private labeling on all products and a unique color palette for customers to choose from. Their products can be found at large retailers throughout the United States and Canada.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Emergency Kit for Your Vehicle

We know it is only the end of September, but winter weather likes to sneak up and surprise us in Ohio! That means the time to prepare for that bad winter weather is now, and you know what? You need an emergency kit any time of the year because your car can break down no matter what the weather is. You can get a pre-made kit, but if you buy supplies, you can make multiple kits and have leftovers to replenish as you need. The biggest benefit of creating your own vehicle emergency kit? You'll know exactly what's inside. You bought it and packed it, so you'll know what is and isn't included.So let's get prepared!First, get yourself a plastic tote. Preferably one that is smaller, a 5-gallon tote will work well and keep everything from scattering all over in your trunk. If you have a truck and you don't have a truck "tool box" to hold everything, get a heavier duty plastic tote that will keep out the rain, snow, and bugs.Now, it's time to gather materia…
Post a Comment
Read more

Composting with Plastic Totes? Yes!

A worm composting bin, known as a vermicomposter, can be fairly inexpensive and easy to maintain. There are several ways to vermicompost. Below are instructions on how to build one kind of worm composting bin designed to be used inside. It is also possible to purchase worm composting bins. You will want to put your bin in an indoor space as you do not want the worms to freeze in the winter or get too warm in the summer. Additionally, you may want to put the bin in a basement or other out-of-the-way space since you will be producing compost and worm “tea” in the composter.

Here are the supplies you need:
1. Two plastic bins – one must be taller and rest inside the other, shorter bin. The top tub should have a top to keep the worms from finding their way outside the box. It also needs to be somewhat flexible so you can drill holes into it. An 18 gallon tub that is roughly 15 inches deep, 20 inches wide and 15 inches tall works well.

2. A drill – To drill the holes so the worms can breathe.…
Post a Comment
Read more