Organize School Papers & Artwork Clutter: Back-to-School Tips

At the end of summer, parents are busy checking off the school supplies list and getting ready to welcome back-to-school routines. New backpacks are full of folders and markers, and back-to-school events are on the calendar.

But amid all that excitement, have you thought about the avalanche of school papers and artwork that will come home? Within weeks, math worksheets, permission slips, and arts and crafts for kids projects can cover the kitchen counter. Without a plan, that pile of paper can turn into an overwhelming mess.

The good news is, a few smart habits will keep the clutter at bay while you cherish the memories. Let’s explore some practical tips to tame the piles and organize those precious keepsakes from your school kids all year long.

Back-to-School Prep: Set Up a Daily Paper Organizer Routine

Tackling paper clutter daily is the cornerstone of staying organized. Make it a habit every afternoon and involve your kids in the process:

• Empty and Sort the Backpack: Each day, have your child empty their backpack right after school. Immediately toss or recycle junk (old worksheets, scribble art, etc.) and set aside important papers (e.g. permission slips, forms, flyers from back-to-school events).

• Deal with important stuff on the spot: Sign all necessary forms and add activity dates to the calendar. So nothing gets lost, immediately return all items that need to go back to school to your child's backpack.
  

• Pick Items To Keep With Kids: Encourage your child to choose one or two special papers or art pieces to keep. This could include a great test or a favorite drawing. Talk about each one and celebrate it. This way, they feel proud of their work, learn that not every paper needs saving, and will be more willing to let the rest go.
  

• File or display the best: Designate a safe spot (a folder, bin, or drawer) for the “keeper” items you plan to save long-term. If something is extra special or display-worthy, put it up in your display area (more on that next) for a short time.

By sorting papers daily, you’ll stop clutter before it piles up. Plus, your kids get an early lesson in home organization and how to declutter home spaces, starting with their own stuff.

Display and Celebrate (Without the Clutter)

Give your child’s favorite artwork its moment to shine, but set limits. Pick one spot (like the fridge or a bulletin board) to display their latest creations. Rotate items out regularly – when a new masterpiece comes home, an older one comes down.

Be sure to praise each piece while it’s up and talk about the aspects you enjoy. Once kids feel proud and appreciated, they’re usually happy to let it go into storage or recycling later. And for those oversized 3D projects that won’t fit on the fridge, just take a photo of your child holding it. You’ll save the memory without keeping the clutter.

Home Organization Solutions: Storing School Papers and Keepsakes

Once you’ve sorted the daily influx, you’ll want a plan for long-term storage of the really special items. The key is to save the memories without drowning in paper. Here are a couple of smart solutions for keeping school papers and artwork under control:

• Save the best, toss the rest: Start a memory bin or binder for each child to hold their best work. Add “keeper” papers and artwork projects to it throughout the year. When it fills up, you can choose to digitize it your self by doing DIY scanning and photography. OR... if you're a:

  • sentimental parent

  • a busy parent

  • a parent who's not the most tech savvy

  • a parent who loves a quality keepsake

ARTKIVE might be the home organization solution for you!

Try ARTKIVE: Parents' #1 Decluttering Hack: Perhaps you're not exactly a DIY-type of parent. Or, maybe you're already overwhelmed by prior years of saved artwork? Consider a service like Artkive to do the heavy lifting. ARTKIVE has served over 500,000 families since its founding in 2012 and is the #1 choice by parents for archiving kids' art.

Artkive provides a white-glove, concierge approach to saving kids' art. It starts with them sending you a prepaid box to fill with your child’s artwork, which can include glitter, posters, and 3D art! Their team professionally photographs each piece and designs a keepsake book that's uniquely yours.

Many parents like to create a small photo book of the year’s art instead of keeping the originals. This way, you have a keepsake of their creativity without all the boxes of papers. Artkive preserves your child's creations inside a beautiful museum-quality book! This leaves you free to finally let go of those piles of originals.

It’s a guilt-free way to declutter!

Let Artkive transform your kids' artwork into a timeless keepsake!

A Clutter-Free Year of Memories

Build a simple routine and storage system to stop the paper avalanche from over-taking your home. No more feeling guilty about sneaking art projects into the trash or having teetering stacks of school papers on the table. Instead, you’ll have a system for how to sort, celebrate, and display the "keepers" built into your daily routine.

Most importantly, you’re preserving the moments that matter. Years from now, you and your child can look back at the special keepsakes you created together and be so glad you saved them. And, by involving your child in choosing what to keep, you’re teaching them a valuable life skill vs. a coping mechanism.

As a new school year begins, now is the best time to set your plan in motion. Whether it’s a daily backpack clean-out or using an Artkive box, your future self will thank you. With clutter under control, you can focus on making new memories with your kids.

When you're ready to tame the chaos, let Artkive help turn those piles of kids' artwork into a beautiful book of memories.

Click Here to Get Started With Artkive

And, say goodbye to clutter for good!