School Work File Folders!!

I have been storing awards, important papers and art work in all of the wrong places; the top of the fridge, junk drawers, cupboards, and even in the garage.  

Today, after months of this project sitting half done, I finally finished all of the tubs for each of my kids. I wrote signs with their names on the outside of the box and each kid and color coordinated as best as I could! :) 

Two Pink, Purple, Blue and Green.
 I am always a little bummed when I can't find 5 different colors! :) 

I bought several boxes of assorted colors and pulled all the yellows together, blues together, etc...

I have been storing awards, important papers and art work in all of the wrong places; the top of the fridge, junk drawers, cupboards, and even in the garage.

Today, after months of this project sitting half done, I finally finished all of the tubs for each of my kids. I wrote signs with their names on the outside of the box and each kid and color coordinated as best as I could! :)


Now, each of my children have their own box to keep all of those precious pieces of paper, photos and drawings. I made tabs for each school year, including pre-school and added a file for church and misc. items.

I am now free of guilt about how I was storing all of those items, with no risk of damaging, or (deep breath) losing those wonderful pieces I love so much.

Tips: 

Wait for a holiday sale. 
With a handful of kids this project can be costly.  I bought these around Christmas time, with free shipping and they appeared on my doorstep. My favorite kind of shopping!

Think Outside The Box *pun intended :)
Use this box for more than school work. I ran out of folders but I intend to get a few more for each box. In addition for the school work, church projects and even a Misc. folder, I want to add one for sports (photos, awards, DVD's even fit great if you put them in a zip lock bag.

Start Now!
You will only get more behind. I have a daughter entering second grade in the fall, along with a kindergartener and the three other kids have been bringing home art work from preschool. No matter how long you have waited it is better to start now and organize from here on out. You can always go back and catch up when you have a quiet weekend at home.

Large Pieces:
I have a sweet friend who suggested getting a large portfolio to keep their large pieces of art work, science fair projects and anything else they worked so hard on. :)

Say No to Hoarding!
You do not have to keep every little piece of work. Yes, it is hard to physically place those papers in the garbage but I would suggest keeping samples of each subject from different times of the year. I am amazed at how Laura's hand writing improved or how her pictures changed as the year went on. I kept a few of those math homework packets she spent those late nights working on, and a few sheets of drills but mostly, I held onto the stories she wrote and pictures she drew. Papers with her imagination and memories she shared from the "weekend news" projects. :)

I hope this encourages you to keep those little treasures for your child.

I would love to hear ideas you have!