5 Ways to Reuse Your Child's Artwork
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WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT ART WORK?
Did your child bring home a big shopping bag of art from preschool?
It’s been jostled through the playground, dragged through a puddle, and left in the backseat of the car for a few days. As you clean out the car, you gingerly shove the forgotten bag in the trash can. “They’ll never know, “ you think to yourself.
Oh man, the efforts I’ve gone to over the years just to sneakily toss the crazy amount of art works my children have created is insane.
Have I even been caught? Yup. It wasn’t fun.
As the school year wraps up, there are so many projects coming home.
The piles and piles of artwork. These piles are going to add to the piles we already have. My kids are creating every single second! So, let's talk about what you can do with all that art…
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First, let me start by telling you that I value of the process of creating. The time spent engaging the senses, collaborating, and the joy in making are the most important part.
We create at home almost every day. I often set out after-school invitations to create, and our art shelves and outdoor tinkerspace are always in use.
My kids are making something all the time. We end up with a lot of large painted logs, sea glass sculptures and massive collaged murals. Many of you watch the children in action on my Instagram Stories and then I am flooded with messages asking how I keep all of this art. The truth is, we don’t. For the most part, we photograph the pieces that the children value, and recycle or reuse the rest.
5 Ways to Reuse Your Child’s Artwork
Grab one of those old preschool paintings and tape it down flat to the the table. Odds are, your child created that painting standing up at the easel, so placing it down flat offers a new perspective. Take out some markers, stickers, or fresh paint. Allow your child to revisit their work and add to it.
Use large drawings or paintings as wrapping paper. Kids love to gift their art work and this is a great way to do it. Let them have at it with a roll of tape (we love this rainbow tape) and do the wrapping for you. It might not come out professional looking, but its a great fine motor activity and it will give your child a sense of pride.
Recycle old art work by cutting it into small shapes for collage. Put out the pieces on a tray with glue and a piece of sturdy paper or cardboard and let your child make something new! It is amazing how these things turn out the second and third time around. Plus, you win, because your child is engaged in a non-screen activity and you didn’t even buy anything!
Post it! Mail that painting to a friend or grandparent. Brainstorm a list of people who might like to receive mail. Help your child fold their work and place it in an envelope. Show them how you address it, and let your child decorate the envelope. Head to the post office together and mail out the package, allowing your child to take the lead as much a possible. Boom. I just killed an entire morning for you! Your child and their grandparent will probably be very happy.
Have your child choose a painting they remember making. You know, that really special one that you can tell they spent ages on. Sit down with them and have them dictate a story about what is happening in the painting. It is okay if they make up something entirely new on the spot. It is the writing and sharing that matters here. Write down their words carefully (this is a great pre-reading exercise, btw). Later that evening, allow your child to present her painting to the family while you read her story out loud!
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