...to want to throw some of the stuff DS brings back from nursery in the recycling...

[Pheebe]

I mean he brings tons of stuff, some are just crumpled pieces of paper with a single line on Now don't get me wrong I love that my DS is creative and is doing loads of painting and drawing but we're drowing under the stuff. I want to keep the more special pieces and the ones he's REALLY proud of

Is this unreasonable...should I be keeping everything??? (I have up til now...)

No you are not. Most of my DS#2's efforts end up in the recycling. When my eldest was tiny I treated every tiny thing as a family heirloom ...until they started to take over the house. Used to cause my great angst. Our school has an 'art gallery' every year where you can buy your child's latest effort mounted and framed. I buy these and hang them all over the dining room. That way I feel less traumatised by chucking the rest away.

I must admit I keep most pictures on the fridge for a week or so before chucking out. And I do have a few 'special' picture from when they were tiny.

I always remind myself that it is the process rather than the end product that is important for small children's creative development, as I stuff DS's artwork in the recycling!

I put a lot of it in a scrap paper box which DS then uses when he wants to do cutting and sticking, or ripping or folding or making snowflakes or whatever.

It has all been chucked by me

Except one picture of handprints when he was about 13months. The rest is pants.

... although, this morning, he drew a picture, and I can actually tell what it is!!! So, I think I might keep that one as the first of its kind!

Or if you have a scanner you can scan them and use them for making Thank You letters etc.

This top tip is purely anecdotal - someone I know knows someone who "apparently does this" - I have never been arsed organised enough to actually do it myself however.