Summer Picassos - How to Remember Your Kids Artwork

We all know how we can spend hour up summer hour watching our kids engage in their development of junior masterpieces. From finger painting, to drawing, to basic everyday coloring, your child can quickly amass beautiful pieces of art. The question quickly becomes, however, what do we do with all of the artistic treasures our little junior Picasso have developed. I know I have personally been guilty of sneaking a piece or two of artwork in between the different sections of the morning newspaper which was headed for the recycle bin. Mind you…I did feel a panged of guilt when I confiscated these out of my home but I just didn’t have even one more square inch of ‘display’ area on my refrigerator (I had even begun posting artwork on our surplus frig in the garage!!). But then I found the answers (with the help of my husband…) and here are a few tips I believe moms everywhere will appreciate:

Convert Your Garage into an Art Gallery

At my husband’s suggestion, we started “displaying” our kids’ artwork in the garage. Not only is it a great way to add some “color and interest” into a typically otherwise drab environment, it is also a great way to keep your child’s talents—front and center. My kids’ creations are the last thing I see when I am headed off to the office in the morning and the first things I see when I get home in the evening. My kids benefit in that they feel proud that their work is displayed for the whole world see (or just our whole family!).

Frame Your Favorites

I recently started framing my children’s really “good” paintings and drawings. I have dedicated a hallway in my home which is lined with my children’s artwork. I have bypassed the really pricey frames; with the special non-glare glass, beveled mattes, and specialty frames and found that I could achieve the same look (almost!) by stocking up when stores like Michael’s, Joann Fabrics, and Target, are having a sale on frames and mats. I have even picked up frames at the dollar store for – you guessed it – just a buck! In this case as well, I love to see my kid’s artwork framed and displayed and they love having their work “showcased”.

Portfolios of Love

I have also recently started a “portfolio” of my kids’ artwork. I simply scan our favorites (either at home or at our local Kinko’s), name and date each “piece”, and then once we reach a good number of pages of art, we bind it all together! If it is for a special gift, for grandma, dad, or other loved ones, we incorporate raffia and/or ribbon as the binding to give the “portfolio” at more “festive” look. These portfolios are also a great way for us mom to organize and assemble our children’s treasures for our own personal enjoyment as mom’s once our children are grown and when long summer day’s with our children are distant memories.

Planned Acts of Niceness

As As a mom, it’s easy to get caught up in a world that consists only of your children and everything that concerns them. But as a person, it’s important to remember that random acts of niceness can go a long way, both for you and the receiver of these acts. A coffee in the morning for a colleague, a gift certificate to dinner for your child’s teacher, or even paying for the next person’s laundry when you pick up yours are small acts that may have big results. With just one small act, you can set off a series of good acts as people pay it forward. You’ll find that when you do, these acts pay big dividends and you’ll begin to do them over and over.  

Recently, I have set a personal goal in order to achieve ‘my random acts of niceness’ quota by establishing a once-a-week good deed. Not only has it provided me a great sense of personal satisfaction when “presenting” the niceness act, it has also kept this niceness “ideal” very top-of-mind for me. And as I’ve filled my quota weekly, I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone is connected, related somehow. It’s that connection that we thrive on, that connection to each other is the very reason why giving back feels so right. It’s our way of claiming a place in the world and with that claimed place comes a desire to serve others in the world community. And as both mothers and people, it’s our job to make sure we don’t forget that.   

Share a Good Book…Share Your Love

Often, moms crave some alone time. We crave just a little time alone to cuddle up with the latest Danielle Steele novel or the most current Oprah magazine. But instead of “reading solo”, consider taking that time to cuddle up with a book and your child. We all know that we serve as our children’s first and most “powerful” role model. And when we compound this knowledge with experts advising that when reading aloud to infants stimulates their brains to create new learning pathways and that reading to preschoolers is the most important thing families can do to prepare them for reading….we should really take heed. According to the the Zero To Three organization, children really do love to read, not just because they find books interesting, but because it is a joyful and bonding experience with a parent (zerotothree.org, 2002). The National Research Council confirms this same finding by concluding that reading with a parent provides a time for emotional closeness and provides a foundation for understanding the value of literacy (1999).

On a personal level, I have always been a reader. One of my greatest joys as a child–was adding to an ever-expanding book collection. This love of reading eventually led to my pursuit of an English degree in college and my continued fascination with the written word. It is not surprising that my children also love to read (my daughters took to reading like fish to water—my son required a bit more prodding). Our family typically does not watch TV every evening….and instead, we read. Consider dedicating a few nights (or maybe just start with one) a week to read together. Think of it as a 2 in 1 benefit for your kids—knowledge wrapped up in emotionally warmth.