Keep drawings flat, dry, and out of the light, and they will look the same in ten years as they do today.
Keep them flat
Store drawings in a box or folder rather than rolled or folded. Creases and curls are hard to undo. A shallow box a little larger than the biggest sheet works well, and an acid-free one from an art supply store is worth it for the drawings you want to keep for decades.
Away from light
Sunlight fades marker and crayon quickly, and construction paper fades fastest of all. The fridge door is a good place for a week or two. After that, move the drawing into the box.
Dry and cool
Avoid basements, attics, and bathrooms, where damp and heat warp paper and leave spots. A closet shelf in a room you live in is ideal. Keep the box off the floor.
Separate the sheets
Slip a sheet of plain paper between drawings so paint, crayon, and glitter don’t rub off on each other. Let paint and glue dry fully before stacking. Leave out paper clips, staples, rubber bands, and tape, which mark the paper over time.
Write on the back
In pencil, note your child’s name, their age, the date, and what they told you the drawing shows. Pencil won’t bleed through the way pen and marker can. These details are easy to forget within a few years.
Set the best ones aside
Keep a separate folder for the few you love most, so they are easy to find when you want to frame one. The end of each school year is a good time to sort: keep a handful and photograph the rest. When you are ready, we frame originals exactly as they are.
