My confession...

[Traveller]

Photograph it. Get yourself a digital photo frame and turn it on when they want to admire their works.

This is a great idea, I might get one after Christmas. That should stop the artwork overtaking the house.

[Lenny]

Just last week i did my first photographs - of the cool stuff. But i also have a box in the study with a few great pieces in it. All, and i mean all box construction gets recycled into more box construction or the bin.

I have boys, phew, and only two, so i don't have the same sized problem as some of you.

As an adult, i couldn't care too hoots that mum used my art to start the fire. We were warm in winter. And i am really crap at all things arty crafty.

[Phteven]

I really enjoy seeing DS2's drawings because he's actually quite talented but anything crafty from school gets binned pretty fast because he's often not into it and it shows.
DS1's drawings are kept about in the interests of fairness but he lacks his bother's artistic flair and his drawings are kind of half-hearted. He draws because his brother does not because he loves to draw. His books/writing on the other hand..... they're awesome. I try to keep his stories.

[inlove]

We have a box in their rooms where art goes on a daily basis, one of those big plastic tubs then periodically we empty the box and take photos of everything and put it in a display folder for them to keep. We also have fishing wire strung from the ceiling in the play room where I hang their work as well, they bring home so much art and craft from day care it is hard to keep up with it all!!

[RainbowRiver]

I take it inside and shove it on a table... Then when they go back to their dads, accidentally drop it into the garbage bin. I do keep and big painting they do and use it as wrapping paper for relos or I put it in an envelope and send it to the grandparents!

[Mumma T]

Photograph it. Get yourself a digital photo frame and turn it on when they want to admire their works.

Love This!! I was scrolling down the page to type it but then saw Rouge already had

[~Kim~]

DD1 is very into her art. She's quite creative which I love, but if I kept everything (anything), I'd drown.
We have a rule in this house that both kids know.
I can bin it if I photograph it. I'm happy to photograph what ever they want. They both have an album on the PC that they can find and look at. At the end of the year I use a photo place to make them a little soft cover book of the best. They think that's neat.

[fionas]

It's driving me nuts. I reckon I get 15-20 pieces per week from DD1. And believe me, it's quantity, not quality.

I've told her that it's her responsibility to bring it inside from the car and if she wants to keep it, she needs to put it in her art portfolio. That sounds very posh, it's just a big cardboard briefcasey thing from the newsagent. I've told her that anything that gets left in the car or around the house gets put in recycling.

Can't bring myself to actually do it though!

[Three Graces]

I think we often put our adult expectations onto kids and emphasize the outcome and not the experience, even if that experience was brief. Who cares if it's not coloured in, they're doing something just for you. The intention is there, even if it's not brilliant art.

If it was me, I'd get them to choose 1 favourite to display and set a timeframe on how long to display it, before it hits the recycling bin. Like others have said, we'd be drowning in artwork if we kept it all, but if you're dismissive of all their work, what message are you giving them?