How to Organize Kids School Papers & Keepsakes

We have a simple solution for how to organize kids school papers and memorabilia… set up a k-12 kids’ keepsake bin! Also known as a ‘memory tote’, this organizing idea for sorting and storing kids’ school paperwork will tame the piles of school papers around your home. It also creates a way to store your kids’ memorabilia safely and easily.

Looking for more organizing ideas for kids? Check out 25 brilliant ways to organize toys and how to set up a kids’ learning space at home.

One of the ideas behind the KonMari method of organizing is to declutter and organize specific categories in a tried-and-true order. Heirlooms and memorabilia are last on the list because they can be the toughest and most emotional to organize.

Which gave me the perfect excuse for tossing my kids’ artwork and school photos and papers in various files and plastic bins to deal with later.

The problem with ‘later’ is that unless you tackle it head on it’s kind of ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ With more time on our hands lately, the kids started digging through the bins and we quickly realized we needed a better way to organize them. The time, it seems, is NOW.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE KONMARI DECLUTTERING CHECKLIST HERE

I’ve been meaning to make school keepsake bins for years but as a perfectionist kept struggling with the how. Turns out, it was as easy as getting plastic file folder bins, some file folders, a trusty labelmaker, and a few minutes putting them together!

You can make it fancy by ordering a set on Etsy, or do it yourself with the instructions below.

How to Organize School Papers in a Keepsake Bin

You’ll need the following:

• Plastic Hanging File Folder Bins
• Hanging File Folders with Tabs
• A Labelmaker
• Vinyl Name Decal (optional idea: have your child create name artwork for the front)

After you have all your supplies, use the labelmaker to create labels for each grade level (you can also add additional levels, such as pregnancy, pre-k, and nursery school.)

Then, add the labels to the tabs, and the tabs to the hanging file folders.

Add the name to the front of the bin, and you have a kids’ paper storage system the entire family can use and enjoy!

The best part is it DOESN’T have to be perfect. You can write on the bin with a paint marker. You can hand letter the tabs. You can use what you have on hand. Whatever you do, just do it– it’s SO worthwhile to get those memories organized!

What’s the in the school keepsake bins?

As the year goes on, we’re adding school papers such as the following to the current grade level’s hanging folder:

• school photos
• report cards
• artwork
• special papers and funny or interesting writing samples
• awards and certificates
• notes from the teacher
• anything we wish to remember

Then, at the end of the year we’ll go through the folder and weed out what we don’t need. For oversized for bulky artwork (hello, preschool macaroni noodle necklaces) take a photo and print into a book on Shutterfly or use an app like ArtKive.

How do you set up the kids’ school keepsake bins?

1. Buy one hanging file folder bin per child and label the front with their name. I prefer lidded bins so you can stack them.
2. Add hanging folders and label each folder with a grade level.
3. Keep in an easy-to-reach place and collect the current years’ papers in the current grade level bin and sort through it at the end of the year. Take photos of oversized or bulky artwork and either print as a photo or create a photobook.
4. Store the bin during the off season in a climate controlled area away from too much sunlight or dampness to protect for years to come.

These school paper bins are an easy and simple way to store your child’s school papers from kindergarten to 12th grade.

What a special gift to give your kids when they are grown (if you can part with the memories, that is!)

The result? We now have an easy and beautiful spot to organize and store our kids’ papers from babyhood to grade 12. When they have homes of their own, I can hand each of them their bins and cry my eyes out.

Love these organized kids school memory bins? Pin for later!