13/07/2026
The end-of-term paper avalanche is upon us!! You child has brought home a small forest's worth of paper and your recycle bin doesn't know what's about to hit it!
Workbooks, certificates, artwork, projects, reading records and all those creations, masterpieces. You finally get an insight into what they've been doing all day because, of course, whenever you asked, the response was usually: "I can't remember."
If the thought of sorting through it all feels overwhelming, take a deep breath. There is no right or wrong way to manage school memories.
Before you decide what to keep, ask yourself:
⨠Who am I keeping this for?
⨠How often will we realistically look at it?
⨠Is keeping it all causing more stress than joy?
The reality is YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING. In fact, you don't even have to keep any of it if photos and memories feel like a better fit for your family
Maybe you keep the certificates and reports. Maybe you save photos of artwork and special projects. Maybe you create a memory box with a few favourite pieces. Or perhaps you choose not to keep any of the paperwork at all.
When many of us were growing up, paper memories were often all we had, alongside a shirt that everyone graffitied. Today, we have photos and digital albums that can capture those moments just as meaningfully without filling every cupboard, shelf and storage box.
These 5 tips are simply ideas to help you find a system that works for your family. There is no right or wrong way to do this:
âĄď¸Sort early
âĄď¸ Choose favourites
âĄď¸ Keep the stories
âĄď¸ Create a home for important pieces
âĄď¸ Go digital where it makes sense
Remember, you're not preserving the paper, you're preserving the memories đ
Which of these tips feels most achievable for you this year?