Berkeley Parents Network: Kids' Artwork

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Kids' Artwork

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Attachment to artwork - kindergartener
Organizing Kids' Artwork

Attachment to artwork - kindergartener

Jan 2005

My Kindergartener is a prolific artist and could spend her whole day coloring and cutting and craft-making, if allowed. The problem is she gets attached to what she makes, or says its for certain people that I don't even know (so I can't facilitate the delivery process). When asked to clean up or make choices about what to keep, she cleverly says that certain pieces are for me or my husband. I can tell she's doing this in order not to have to deal with the clean up herself. It's pretty hard to say ''no thank you'' and I could always chuck it later (and believe me, I've been caught doing so and was excoriated for it), but I want her to start making good decisions about what's worth keeping. Right now, she just doesn't discriminate and has scraps of paper and drawings crammed into any box, basket, drawer she can get to. I've tried to help her reduce, but there's always some excuse to hold on (''That's for Sarah'' -Sarah who? - ''Sara that I played with at the park that day'')and when I suggest that we get rid of it because we've never seen Sarah again she cries or says ''Actually it's for you, Mom.'' I hate to raid her drawers and just throw stuff out -- my mom did that to me and I really resented the heck out of it. How can I involve her in the process without the major upset or having the problem passed on to me? Thanks! elisabeth

Hello, As a picture book artist and writer I suggest that you hold on to those drawings for awhile, even if they do not seem important to you. I still get the feelings of attachment when I send my work off to New York publisher's, I always retain the rights to my artwork and it is always returned to me at the end of the printing. So in reality by beiing able to keep her artwork she learns to have control of how it is dispersed. They have great plastic storage boxes at target theat are really cheap. Then at a later time in life you could go through it and pick the best together. Good luck, arden

We have had the same problem. Instead of trying to force the issue when the artwork is still fresh in her mind, we've created a bag where I put the artwork that I would throw away (and yes, I've been caught before too -- not pretty). When the bag gets full-ish, I'll ask her to go through it then (or throw it away myself). She probably won't remember where the artwork was intended to go by then and won't be so attached. We also let her paper her room however she wants, so her artwork can liberally adorn her walls. Note, however, that none of the artwork that we think is particularly spectactular is going either of these routes. Either we're framing things to put up or I'm saving things in a box, with her name and the approx. date (to distinguish our siblings' things later when we won't remember). For big things, I'm going to get an inexpensive portfolio. I have also gone through the things that I've saved periodically and culled from there -- I have a habit of keeping too much too. Good luck! Laurel

In our case, I'm the one who can't throw away any of the kids' artwork! Are you mostly concerned about running out of space to store things, or worried that you might have a pack-rat? If at all posible, I suggest you let her keep the things that are important to her, for whatever reason. Can you get a few large under-bed boxes to store stuff in (if you have any under-bed space)? Or have some very special boxes in the basement/garage/attic where thing move every few months? She could decorate the boxes to make them special. Then, if space is a real issue,and you feel you must, perhaps you could weed through them a little bit after a LONG time goes by (like a year or more). By then, she's unlikely to remember specific pieces. Just be sure you do it while she's not home, and bur them deep in the recycling can!

I know some people photograph art works, and keep the photos - but that might not be good enough for your daughter! R.K.

I was an elementry art teacher for many years and was constantly asked this question. ''Too much art...what can I do to save the best and chuck the rest?'' There are a few things that seem to work the best. You can create ''books'' at kinkos taking as many similar size papers as you want and have them spiral bound. They look sooo neat all bound together, it makes the child feel the work is important, she can easily show it to people...and you can easily store it! Make a new book every so often when too much occumulates...having HER be the editor. Make her really LOOK at each piece of artwork and evaluate '' how much work (or coloring) was put into it...scraps, and things crumpled I would discard first. Another thing that really works is buying a! large Art folder with handles. You can get them at any art store. Store all the best pieces in this and label it by year ( or half year!) They store flat.

Another great idea is creating an ART WALL. Allowing her an enire wall as a GALLERY is a wonderful way to honor a little artist. You can buy metal sheets ( or cool squares, pottery barn .com) and just using magnets constantly change the EXHIBIT!! I hope some of this advice helps. It's always important to encourage self expression!! (but believe me..I know you end up with a lot of....stuff!!) allison

I read in a magazine to have your child select her favorite art projects to be displayed in a designated place; then pack up the rest to send to grandma. As she generates more art, she'll have to choose which ones to be displayed in a limited space, not ''any box, basket or drawer she can get to.'' Then ! your daughter won't feel like her art is being thrown away; her art won't be all over the place, and grandma (or whomever) will be happy to receive it. Sue

It is wonderful that your child is so interested in creating. Why not help her make an a ''art box'' or a album where she can store her work? It will cut down on the clutter, and give her a special place to put it. Another idea is a bulletin board in her room so she can display it. The important thing is that you continue to encourage her to do what she loves. Amy

Please let her keep it! My mother kept lots of my artwork, but as a kid I didn't realize how much (I wasn't as attached as your daughter is). When she died and I was going through her stuff, I found several scrapbooks of my kid artwork, and it was wonderful- both to know that she had kept i! t, and because it was so interesting to me to see it. She always admired my work and let me take extra arts and craft classes beyond what my schools provided. Eventually, I wouned up majoring in art in college.

Can you make a special place for her to keep her artwork, a box or small extra bureau that will let her know that it is special to you too? Better yet, can you make a special little 'art place' for her where she can work and keep her supplies, and teach her about the importance of putting the lids back on paint jars so that they don't dry out, and keeping her supplies in a degree (as much as is reasonable to ask from a kindergartner) of order so she knows where they are, etc. If you are clever about doing a bit of reorganization in her room or somewhere else in your house/ apatment, finding a free or cheap table or desk or such in Marketplace, that wouldn't be so hard to do.

To me, it sounds very positive that she is so enthusiastic about something. Encourage her, help her out with this, let her do her own thing her way. Who knows, maybe she is on her way to being a very talented artist. Cecelia

Would it help to designate a certain drawer or tote bin or some other container as her art drawer, telling her that is her special place for her artwork--once it is full, she will have to decide which items to toss to make room for new work. You don't want to raid her drawers and repeat your upsetting childhood experience. Tracy

I can so relate to this! I have a prolific kindergarten artist, too, and he's been prolific for at least 3 years. I'm just as attached to his artwork (and his older sister's) as he is, so it's a struggle not to get drowned. Here's my process, although some parts may come ! too uncomfortably close to what your mom did! He has an art desk in his room. At the end of each day, I ask him to tidy it. He has to choose whether he is 1) still working on something (in which case he can keep it on the desk); 2) happy to recycle it (he calls these ''mess-ups''); or 3) wanting to save it.

If he chooses to save it, he has a drawer in his room where he puts it (the drawer is about three inches deep, so that the backlog doesn't get too overwhelming). When the drawer is full, he has to go through and sort as above. If the thing is super special or oversize, and it's a saver, he gives it to me. I have a big box where I put those.

Periodically, I go through my ''save'' box, late at night. I make excruciating choices about what to keep and what to throw out. I do the throwing out right that night, out of the house. If it's too hard for me, I get my husband to do it for me. Then I file the ultimate keepers in a box in the closet. At this point, I have saved more than this child will ever want to look at again, but hey, I've thrown out even more.

Now, this has evolved over time, and it sounds like your child might not be ready to make these kinds of choices yet. In that case, maybe you could just say ''okay'' and ''thanks'' to everything and put it all in your box and do the late at night culling periodically. That's the way I handled it until this year, when my kid wanted to be more in charge of his own choices. I fervently hope this helps! Good luck! mother of future important artist

I have similar issues with my 6 year old and not really under control but here are some ideas-

1. if you have digital camera, let her be part of a process to take pictures of as many creations as she wants and burn a CD to save;

2. then say she can make a book every month (week?) with 10 (?) pages (hole punch the artwork/ stuff and tie together with string/ ribbons- she may start to enjoy this as it's another crafty thing to do)

3. I think she could be too young to be a part of throwing out/ recycling and you might still have to do it in secret for a while. I think it is normal to have this strong feelings/ attachment- as she made it and it may be hard for her to separate, i.e. it feels like part of her. However I would just gently emphasize that we can't keep everything, and need to ma! ke room for all the wonderful new things she is creating.

4. Send drawings, etc. to relatives and friends out of town. Anytime you mail someone a card include one. If any of the unknown friends you mentioned is imaginary or not someone you'll likely run into, she could fill an envelope or bag for them, write ''to'' and ''from,'' and you could pretend to mail it to them, if you don't mind being so tricky it might give her some satisfaction.

5. If she can tolerate it, cut heart shapes out of old drawings, paintings to make valentines for her friends. good luck! (we have many drawers I can't open crammed with these sorts of things but your post has inspired me to start clearing out!) Chris

I suggest finding a box to keep her artwork and make it clear whatever is outside the box will get disposed of. She can then make choices about what goes out so something can go in. A! non

Our daughter loves to paint and draw. A couple of years ago we started using all of the artwork as our wrapping paper and making cards (thank you cards, b-d, valentines, christmas cards, etc) for all occasions. We've made cards out of the artwork by pasting different shapes onto construction paper. Our daughter loves picking out which piece of artwork goes with what present or card. Makes the present even more special for her or us to give and also the receipient. In addition, its been a big help in our budget. The ones she wants to keep for herself we tape up in her room. Ali

Here's a way to store art neatly: Get some 3-ring binders and a three-hole punch. Punch holes in the drawings and keep them in ! binders. You can fit a whole lot of pictures in a big old binder.

Put the child's name and date on the back, and let her write (or dictate for you to write) whatever she wants about the picture on the back too. Also she can paint on the cover of the binder, or glue a picture to the cover, to make it like a book. She can also use dividers and looseleaf paper to write stories or organize her drawings into ''chapters''. A great place to get binders, paper, and all kinds of binder accessories **really cheap** is the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse in Oakland. Binders seem to be going out of style, and the Depot has tons of old, sturdy, cloth-covered ones in all sizes, from small to huge. I think binders, dividers, etc., are great tools for kids to play with to prefigure skills they'll need later in life, such as designing, planning, writing, organizing their thoughts and work, taking their work seriously, and even filing. -Art Teacher/Editor

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