photo courtesy the_toe_stubber

My friend Renae had a post the other day about saving art work and of course a quandary like that just gets my mind going. I have to write a post when I started a mental list of some potential ideas for you to consider. Keep in mind these are the keepers, the best stuff. You don’t have to keep it all, just keep the stuff worth saving and happily toss the rest when the kids aren’t looking.

• Laminate them. Punch holes in the corners and connect them with jump rings to make a curtain of art for a wall or a room divider or to cover a window.
• Laminate them to use as placemats.
• scan for use as a screensaver.
• Use them as wallpaper. Arrange them corner to corner like bricks and attach to the wall with sticky tack. When you want to change it up, just pull them down.
• Mount a piece on heavy cardboard with glue and cut into puzzle pieces. before you cut, make sure to scan it to make putting the puzzle back together a lot easier. Mail it to a relative or friend.
• Make a scrapbook. Google that if you need to know.
• Affix a weighted string to the ceiling and hang art on the string with clips or two magnets stuck together.
• Mail them to your relatives.
• Cut them up for collage or other projects.
• Recycle them. Use a different medium to add to it, trade pictures with siblings and add to the picture.
• Enter them in a contest.
• Use them as story book illustrations.
• Scan them and make T-shirts.
• Use them as story prompts.
• Trade art with another family. Take turns guessing the subject of the piece.
• Hold an art show. Display your art all over the house and invite friends and family. Serve simple snacks and have a short discussion on art appreciation or how to study a painting.
• Scan and print on fabric for use as pillows, quilt squares, tote bags or clothing.
• For 3-D things, take pictures of them. And for smaller things a high shelf or curio cabinet can be a nice place to showcase the best of the best.

A collection is important, at least for the moment. Kids have a strong connection to certain collections of things. They can evoke emotion even years later. Encourage your child to collect something that speaks to them. And if you really want to connect with your child, get excited about their collection too. Ask questions, help with research, offer to help. It’s an informal way to connect with your child, especially boys, who can shy away from “sit and talk” conversations. They are also easy choices when Gramma calls to ask what your kid wants for a birthday gift.

What do you do when your child’s collection has outgrown the shoebox? Give up a shelf in your home for more public display. This can validate your child’s passions and let them know you value what’s important to them. You can also clear space in their room for display. If their collection is going to be more long term (or valuable), like baseball cards or stamps, it pays to learn how to best store and display a collection like that.

Collections for younger kids can be a no-brainer for school activities. Counting, sorting, categorizing, maintaining and pricing can all be sneaky ways your kids can learn without it seeming like another school lesson. You can have them write about their collections, learn where their collections are produced or used, do art projects about them and older kids can do research papers on themes and objects. Teach them to save their money to add to their collection or to buy a container for it. Use collections as object lessons. And who knows but that their interest will turn into a lifelong passion or even a career.

When the excitement has passed and they have moved on to the next collection, don’t just toss it. Make a memory of it. Take photos and/or video of them with their possessions. Have them write how they feel about it. If you can, store away their favorite few items from the collection and start a new collection of all their collections. They will thank you when  they are grown and can look back on a box full of wonderful memories.

Making Books with Children

MakingBooks blog

Let’s Make Books

Make Your Own Books

Bookbinding Tutorials (many of these are for older kids and adults)

Creating books is also a great way to apply skills like math and art techniques. They encourage fine motor skills with binding and writing.

Do you make books? Care to share photos? How have handmade books added to your homeschool education?