Childrens school stuff. What do you keep?

[MrsE87]

I want to go through my children's school stuff. Art work, little things they made, school books e.c.t. I have 3 draws for them each. I put their work in but it's getting out of hand and spilling out now. plus they have bigger things they have made. I am fine with getting rid of other stuff and they regularly go through their own toys to donate to children who have none and arnt as lucky as they are. But I find it really hard to throw away their little art work or drawings they have done. even though most of it is just scribble. What do you keep if you keep anything.?

[ppeatfruit]

Mine are adults now and I keep 3 boxes (quite big ones) each named for them, after going through their stuff and keeping some of their exercise books and artwork. (the books that they've obviously enjoyed doing and have filled up).

We've got loads of photos and I'll have to go through those too , they're tidied but not sorted. I'm wondering whether to start a new box each for those too aaaaargh!!! it goes on and on doesn't it?!!!

[ppeatfruit]

Oh I also tried to remember to put their ages on their artwork at the time, it's a bit late now!

[PeonyRose80]

Photograph all the art work you really like and then make it into photo books? separate into months or terms, maybe with any certificates etc they get - throw the work, keep certificates and the photo books would be a lovely reminder...... well that’s my plan anyway 😁

[MrsE87]

I like the taking photos idea. Yeah i have got their achievement certificates in separate little folders. And I have dated most of their work. It is never ending. I will have to be a bit more ruthless with it. Keeping what interests them the most sounds like a good plan. It's the thought of throwing away what their cute tiny little hands have made. Might get a couple of scrapbooks for each school term and try organising it that way. I have also kept a few little outfits so I should go through that aswell. Thank you for your ideas

[5000KallaxHoles]

I don't to be honest. I've got their learning journeys from Reception and Nursery year and the school sent their writing and maths books home from this year too - and I'll keep them for a while, but then I'll have a clear out at some point and throw them.

I think it depends what kind of a person you are though on this one. I'd be really like "oh fuck what do I do with this" if my mum presented me with my old school work and utterly not bothered about having it - so I've never thought I should be keeping the kids' stuff either. Plus they do like 10 pictures a day so it would get overwhelming fast. Stuff gets a few days glory on the fridge and then moved on whenever I need to clear the fridge doors again.

I'm not totally emotionless - I've kept their coming home from the hospital outfits, and their baby shoes and stuff - but we have a tiny house and I need to be selective in what I hang onto.

[onemouseplace]

I've kept their learning journeys from Preschool and Reception as well (mainly because they are nice bit flat books that are fairly easy to store) and have an A3 art folder for the better stuff. Achievement certificates are stored separately with reports.

Other than that, I'm not keeping anything - they came home with about 10 books each at the end of term and it is just too much to store for 3 DC.

[MrsE87]

I have not had a learning journey sent home with mine, that would of been alot easier for me tho if their school did one. It has become a little overwhelming.