January Challenge: Organizing Papers (Children's Papers)

During the month of January, we're organizing papers. If you missed any of the areas that we've already organized this month, simply click the challenge tab at the top of my blog.

Today we're talking about organizing Children's Papers. You know those papers that come home straight from the hospital, birth certificates, social security cards, weekly school papers, adorable pieces of art that we think are worthy of keeping, report cards, awards, diplomas and more. Today I'll show you how I organize all of those for my children.

#1 ~ Organizing Baby Footprints, Hospital Bands, Birth Certificates (from the hospital) & Baptism Certificates:

I keep all of those items listed above in a very special Keepsake Memory Book that I'm creating for each of my boys. It's kind of "scrapbook style" and I'm still in the process of designing and creating the books.  My plan is to keep updating the albums throughout my boys' lives until they graduate from High School and the book will then be theirs to keep.

I've been working on this printable set for a while now and I've been wanting to add it into my Etsy Shop for the last year or so.  I've decided that now is as good a time as any to finish the printable set and add it to the shop. So... I will be busily finishing up the printables and listing them in my shop soon, when I'm done with it, I'll post on the album and share all the photos too.

For now, I'll just give you a little sneak peek...

That's it.. that's all I'm going to share with you for now. ;)  Keep checking my shop and my blog, I'll post more information on these albums and add the printable set to my shop when I'm done creating it.

#2 ~ Organizing Childrens Birth Certificates (from the state) & Social Security Cards:

I've always kept my children's birth certificates (the ones that come from the state) and their Social Security Cards in a safe file box in my home.  I just have one file labeled "Boys' Birth Certificates and SS Cards" and that's where I've kept them all (I keep my husbands and mine there as well, in our own files.)

My goal is to get a Fire Proof Box for all of that important stuff, which, in my opinion is where those items should be stored. Something like this:

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or better yet, I just found these:

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P.S... this is a GREAT way to organize all the adult social security cards, passports, birth certificates and important documents too.

#3 ~ Organizing Childrens Weekly School Papers,  Newsletters & Homework:
 

Back in 2011, I shared how I organize my boys' weekly school papers, homework, etc., by creating the Children's Homework Message Center. 

This system is still working in my home and I'm still selling those 16x20 prints in my shop.  I have lots of choices to choose from.  You can view all my message center prints that are available here and you can view all the digital message center prints that I sell here.

  
#4 ~ Organizing Children's School Papers, Report Cards & Art:

I've already showed you how I Organize my Children's School Papers Here.

I've already changed that system a little. I now have their school papers in 3 ring binders.  The reason I changed is because my boys love to look through their papers and I've found that if the papers aren't attached into something my boys have them all jumbled up and in the wrong sections.  That completely defeats the purpose of having them organized.

So.. now their school papers are in a 3 ring binder:
 
 and have the following pages inside:

 

 a cover page...

 and a page for each year...

 with a place for their school photo and an informational section to write on.

I've used the same printable pack and have created a separate book for all 4 of my children. I add awards, special papers, art they did in school that year behind each grade. My boys LOVE looking through their school days memory albums and I LOVE it because everything is all in one place and nothing is loose, so it all stays organized.

That entire School Days Memory Book is in printable format and available to purchase in my shop.  There's a total of 37 pages!

I do keep some of the art on my Children's Art Cork Board for a while, then as the board fills up, I add the art that I want to keep into their binders.

Ok, so now that I've shared how I organize my childrens papers... it's your turn to get your children's papers organized. You can totally do this... January's Paper Organizing is almost done.  

The January Link Party will be up on the 29th, so be sure to come back and link up your paper organizing posts.  I can't wait to see what you've been working on this month!

May you be a little inspired!

Until next time,  

DaNita 

Wanna join in on the Monthly Organization Challenge? During the month of January, we're Organizing Papers! There will be a link party at the end of the month for you to share your Paper Organizing Posts.  Join in, take photo's and blog about it.  Then come back here at the end of January to inspire us all and share your paper organizing success.