If you have a child aged 3–8, you probably have a growing pile of drawings, paintings and coloring pages on the table, the fridge and the floor. Every piece feels special, but you can't keep everything. The good news is you don't have to choose between a messy house and hurt feelings. With a simple routine for displaying, sorting, storing and letting go of artwork, children feel proud of their work and you keep the pieces that really matter.
Here is the approach we suggest at Doodlebari, with ideas that work in small homes, classrooms and busy family life.
Why It Matters How We Handle Kids' Art
How we treat a child's artwork sends a quiet message. When a drawing goes on the wall, children learn that their ideas are valued. When they help decide what to keep, they practise making choices and talking about their work. And a regular sorting habit means art time never feels like it creates "a mess for later", so adults are happier to say yes to it.
A good system does three jobs:
- Celebrates new work right away.
- Keeps a small, meaningful collection over time.
- Lets go of the rest kindly, without guilt.
Step 1: Give New Art a "Gallery" Spot
Children want to see their work up straight away. Pick one place in your home as the official gallery so art doesn't spread across every surface.
Easy display ideas
- A string line with clothes pegs: hang a cord along a wall or under a shelf. Adding and swapping pictures takes seconds.
- A cork board or magnetic board in the kitchen or hallway.
- Clipboards on hooks: hang four to six clipboards in a row; each one holds the newest piece clipped on top of older ones.
- Front-opening frames: these let you slip a new drawing in front of the old one, so one frame can hold dozens of pieces.
- A low "eye level" gallery: hang art at the child's height so they can show visitors their work.
- A classroom wall with names: in school, a labelled spot for each child avoids comparison and gives everyone a turn.
Rotate regularly
Pick a rhythm, perhaps every Friday or the first day of each month. When new pieces go up, the oldest ones come down and go to the next step.
Step 2: Sort Together
Sorting with your child is where the real value is. Sit down with the pile from the gallery and ask simple questions:
- "Which one are you proudest of?"
- "Which one was the hardest to make?"
- "Which one tells a story?"
- "Is there one you'd like to give to someone?"
Use three piles or boxes:
- Keep: pieces your child loves, first-time milestones (the first face, the first name written, the first drawing of the family), and work with a story behind it.
- Share: pieces to post to grandparents, give to friends or use as cards and wrapping paper.
- Recycle: practice pages, half-finished scribbles and duplicates.
A useful guide for many families is to keep around one or two pieces a week. That still adds up to a lovely collection each year.
Ages 3–4
Little ones may want to keep everything, and that's normal. Offer simple choices: "Which two of these go in your treasure box?" Do the bulk of the sorting yourself, out of sight, and keep a few extras for a week in case a favourite is missed.
Ages 5–6
Children can now explain why they like a piece. Write their words on the back: "This is me and Nanu at the beach. I used all the blue crayons." Those notes become precious later.
Ages 7–8
Older kids can act as their own curator. Give them a set number of "keep" spaces for the term and let them choose. They might enjoy making a cover page and a contents list for their collection.
Step 3: Label Everything You Keep
Memory fades faster than we expect. On the back of every kept piece, add:
- Child's name and age
- The date (month and year is enough)
- A few words from the child about it
Use a pencil or a soft marker that won't bleed through.
Step 4: Store It Simply
Choose storage that fits your space and is easy enough that you'll actually use it.
Storage ideas
- One art portfolio per child per year: a large folder made from two sheets of card taped along three sides works perfectly. Children love decorating the cover.
- Flat storage boxes under a bed, one per child.
- Ring binders with sheet protectors for standard-size drawings and coloring pages.
- Scrapbooks: glue in the smaller pieces with the child's notes.
- 3D pieces like clay models and junk models: photograph them, then keep only one or two favourites each year on a shelf.
Keep it dry and flat. Paintings and pieces with glue should be fully dry before stacking, or they'll stick together.
Step 5: Photograph the Rest
A photo is a great way to keep a memory without keeping the paper.
- Lay the art flat in daylight near a window, with no shadows.
- Take a photo straight from above.
- Include your child holding the piece sometimes; these photos often become family favourites.
- Save photos into one folder per child per year.
At the end of the year, some families print a small photo book of the year's art. Children love flipping through it, and it takes up a tiny fraction of the space.
Step 6: Give Art a Second Life
Before recycling, some pieces can be reused:
- Greeting cards: cut out the best part of a painting and glue it onto folded card.
- Wrapping paper: large paintings and printed pages make cheerful gift wrap.
- Bookmarks and gift tags: cut strips from bright pieces and punch a hole for ribbon.
- Collage material: keep a "scraps" box for future collage projects.
- Placemats: laminate a favourite drawing or cover it with clear contact film.
- Gifts: grandparents, aunts, uncles and teachers often treasure a small drawing.
Making Peace with Letting Go
It can feel hard to recycle a child's art. A few gentle ideas help:
- Recycle out of sight and not straight after the child made it.
- Remember that the value was in the doing: the focus, the choices and the fun happened already.
- Keep the stories by writing a few words or taking a photo.
- Be honest if asked: "We keep our very favourites in your folder and the others help make new paper."
A Note for Teachers
In the classroom, a simple system saves time:
- One labelled folder per child for the term's art.
- A "take home" tray emptied every Friday.
- A rotating class gallery so every child has work displayed regularly.
- A class photo book or slideshow at the end of term to share with families.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my child's artwork should I keep?
There's no single right number. Many families keep one or two pieces a week plus important milestones, and photograph the rest. Choose an amount that fits one box or folder per child per year.
My child gets upset when I throw art away. What can I do?
Involve them in choosing what to keep, give them a special box that they control, and offer a "share" pile so pieces go to people they love. Avoid recycling art right in front of them.
What about digital art made on a tablet?
Save favourites as screenshots into the same yearly folder as your photos of paper art. That way all of your child's work, on paper and on screen, sits together.
When should we start keeping a portfolio?
Any time. Even a few pieces from age three show how much a child's drawing changes, from scribbles to circles to people with arms, legs and big smiles.
Make Something New for the Gallery
Once the wall has space again, it's time for fresh work. Try a free drawing session on Doodlebari Draw, and if your child likes to draw on a tablet too, the Doodlebari app for Android keeps drawing and coloring ready wherever you are.
