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Storing and displaying your child’s creations His first stick-figure drawing of the family. The “A” she received on an important vocabulary test. A prized soccer trophy….favorite book….well-worn stuffed animal. When a child is small, his “treasures” are few. However, as he begins school you can expect to see many important drawings and other favorites quickly pile up. Just imagine…if a child brings home two items per week starting in preschool, by the time middle school is complete, you’ve amassed more than 600 keepsakes! How can you make room for all of your child’s favorite “stuff?” And how can you decide what’s worth keeping, and what can you (gasp!) trash? Material things matter First of all, it’s important to recognize the psychological importance of your child’s material possessions. The most widely held opinion suggests that, very often, young children use inanimate objects to help them in their transition toward greater autonomy and independence (think of a blanket or favorite stuffed toy). Once a child has “mastered” these transitions, she will still remember fondly the comfort provided by such objects. Do you still remember your favorite comfort object? Most of us do. After the age of about 6, the type of objects – and what they represent – changes. According to one study on the importance of special possessions, the adults surveyed described their “special possessions” from their elementary school years as being representative of the ability to do things, or the mastery of something (i.e. a grade on a report, a special note of praise from a teacher, a belt earned in karate). Moving on to the adolescent years, the participants recalled their prized possessions as representing self-reliance and autonomy, balanced with maintaining a sense of affiliation with others (i.e. the home run baseball, debate team trophy). Though the meaning and function of personal possessions may change throughout various life stages, material possession attachment appears to be universal among children, and is necessary for healthy psychological development of the autonomous self. What’s interesting is the slight change of emphasis on what these items represent as our children age – but the underlying message is, indeed, special possessions truly are special, and needed. So don’t feel like you’re being a pack rat if you and your child can’t part with a treasure. Weed gently, display proudly OK, so it’s important to save. But how much? What things? And what do we do with it all? The best test of love is the test of time, and a method that’s worked well in many homes. The weekly spelling test, or favorite drawing of the week, does have its place on the refrigerator – but after the week is over, it needs to be taken down and relocated to a file box to be stored for review at a later date. Choose an oversized, colorful box to keep in your child’s closet for this purpose. Then, wait six months. Revisit the box, and weed out what you can. Revisit again after one year, and the “winners” will clearly rise to the forefront. The others can be trashed. If you feel comfortable, this “weeding” can be done with your child. Most kids will enjoy going through everything again, and watch closely to pick up on their cues and favorites as you sort through everything. Once you’ve decided on what’s worth saving and showing off, the fun begins! There are so many ways to create “display spaces” for artwork and memories. Let your imagination soar. Look through catalogs or online for decorating ideas, and try several from this list: 13 clever display ideas [1] Buy coordinating frames with easy-to-remove backs, and you can swap team photos, artwork, certificates, in and out with ease. [2] Install a narrow ledge around your child’s room, a few feet from the ceiling. Display favorite books, trophies and stuffed animals proudly. [3] Visit your local craft, photo, or scrapbooking store to find shadowboxes to highlight memorabilia that can be grouped together (a class photo with a report card or spelling bee award; a nursery school or baby photo with favorite stuffed toy, or first shoes). [4] Designate the hallway as an “Art Gallery” and use frames, long, thin pieces of corkboard, or magnetic strips to create a running and ever-changing art display. [5] A fun idea for little ones – run cables across the room and clip artwork up with clothespins. Create your own version using two-cup holder hooks and some string. Just be sure to have it hung high for safety reasons. Hanging a clothesline-type display is also useful for hanging finger paintings or other art for drying. [6] Big kids can find high-end cable systems at online retailers like Pottery Barn. Visit pbteen.com, then search for “cable systems” to get more ideas on things to display, from baseball caps to honor society awards. [7] Laminate artwork and make personalized placemats. Simply sandwich the art between two pieces of clear contact paper; trim the edges. [8] Paint part of the wall in your child’s bedroom with magnetic paint (Liquid Magic Wall magnetic paint by Kling Magnetic, Inc. is one such brand; check online for retailers). Keep it low on the wall so little fingers can easily swap out artwork with colorful, fun magnets. [9] Jazz up a classic. Cover a plain bulletin board with a bright, fun fabric. Wrap the fabric around the board, staple along the back, and provide cool pushpins for tacking up treasures. [10] Buy a sheet of plexiglass measured and cut to cover the top of your child’s desk, and then movie tickets, photos, etc. can be tucked under and swapped out easily. [11] Older children may want to create their own scrapbook – a great, creative outlet for organizing their important memories. For younger kids, use a three-hole punch and insert artwork into a simple three-ring binder. [12] Another idea? Attach a funky flowerbox to the inside wall of your child’s room and put books, yearbooks, and other treasures inside for ready reference. [13] Decoupage photos, certificates or artwork onto the glass of an old windowpane, and hang in your child’s bedroom for a unique, shabby chic display. Going through special items with your son or daughter gives families the wonderful opportunity to share stories, dreams, and special memories together. Displaying these items is both a creative and validating experience for everyone. Enjoy it! Joanne Torlucci is a freelance writer. This is her first report in OC Family Magazine. |
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