Back-to-School Tips: Organize School Papers & Kids' Art Clutter
- Sep 2, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
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 various arts and crafts for kids bury 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 sort out the precious keepsakes.
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. 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, put it in your display area for a short time (more on that next).
By sorting papers daily, you’ll stop the clutter before it starts. Plus, your kids get an early lesson in home organization that starts with their own stuff.
Display & Celebrate Kids' Art Without the Clutter
Give your child’s favorite artwork its moment to shine, but set limits. Pick one spot 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. As for any oversized or 3D projects, take a photo of your child holding it. You’ll save the memory without keeping the clutter.
Looking for Creative Ways to Display Your Kids' Art?
Home Organization for School Papers & Crafts
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. When it fills up, you can choose DIY scanning to digitize it yourself, 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
Then, ARTKIVE is the home organization solution for you!
ARTKIVE is frequently voted Parents' #1 Decluttering Hack: Perhaps you're not exactly a DIY-type of parent. Or, maybe you're already overwhelmed by prior years of stored artwork? Artkive is designed to do the heavy lifting. This concierge box service has helped 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 approach to saving kids' art. It starts with 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, annual photo book of their kids' arts and crafts rather than keeping the originals. This way, you have a keepsake of their creativity without all the boxes of papers. It’s a guilt-free way to declutter!
Here's To A Clutter-Free School Year!
By building a simple routine and storage system, you can 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. Now, you'll have a system to sort, celebrate, and display your child's achievements built into your daily routine.
Years from now, you and your child can look back at the special keepsakes you preserved together and be excited, rather than overwhelmed. And, by involving your child in choosing what to keep, you’re also teaching them a valuable life skill.
As a new school year begins, now is the best time to set your plan in motion. Get school clutter under control so you can focus on making memories with your kids.
And, say goodbye to kids' art clutter!
