What is a school memory box?
A school memory box is a safe place to keep your child’s artwork, accomplishments and memories throughout each school year. There are many ways to make a memory box — from an easy organized space to a more involved DIY project, which is perfect for older kids and parents to make together.
This easy family tradition can be done yearly and becomes an organizational tool for you and your child to keep prized possessions from his childhood. Possessions you can both reflect back on as the year passes and as your child gets older.
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What should you keep in a memory box?
No matter what age or grade your child is currently in, he or she will bring home a massive amount of papers and memories throughout the school year. Here are some ideas of things to keep in your child’s memory box for safe-keeping and future use.
- Artwork
- Certificates and awards
- Spelling tests
- Report cards
- Copies of school and class pictures
- Pictures from field trips, plays and school events
- Class journals
- Letters from school pen pals
- Book reports
- Projects
Tip: If a school project is too large for the memory box, take a picture of the project, write the name of the project and the date on the back of the photo and place the picture inside your child’s memory box. This can also be done with photographs from school events, recitals and plays.
How to make a school memory box
A memory box can be as simple as buying stackable boxes from the store and writing your child’s name and grade on the side in permanent ink, but you can make it into a craft project and encourage your child to express his or her personality with the decorations placed on the memory box.
Materials:
- Stackable box or shoe box
- Camera
- Double-sided photo tape
- Paper
- Craft markers
- Craft glue
- Age-appropriate magazines
- Scissors
- Stickers and other misc. craft items
Directions:
- On a piece of paper, write your child’s age and grade with a marker.
- Have your child hold the paper while you take a picture.
- Print or develop the picture.
- With double-sided photo tape, tape your child’s picture on the front or top of the box.
- Decorate the box with pictures cut from magazines, photographs and other craft items.
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Watch and learn
Watch this How To video and learn how to make a memory book for you children's school year highlights.
In this episode of How To learn how to create a school memory book for your kids.
More back-to-school tips and ideas
Get your kids excited for back-to-school
Closet organizing tips for back-to-school
Prepare your child for preschool during the summer