Kid Boxes: The Simple Memory-Keeping System You’ll Love
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At the heart of our family is this big desire to cherish memories and actually hold onto the moments that shape our lives. That’s why we started “kid boxes” even before our girls were born. Basically, these “kid boxes” are a special spot to stash all those treasured memories and milestones of their childhood, organized by year.
Throughout the year, we add pictures, crafts, notes, and all those little pieces that capture who they are at each stage. It serves two purposes: first, it keeps things organized, but more importantly, it lets us preserve the most cherished treasures, building a meaningful record of their experiences. Each box turns into this little time capsule of memories, with every item telling a story of laughter, growth, and creativity.
Hopefully, one day our girls will get a kick out of looking back on their accomplishments, seeing their artistic progress, and reliving the small moments that made their childhood unique. But let’s be real—we can’t keep everything! Raise your hand if you’ve ever had your parents call you up as an adult to come get your “stuff”! You know, every single drawing, report card, teacher’s note, certificate, the works—it adds up fast!
So, we try to keep these boxes manageable by choosing only the items that really matter. This way, when the girls receive their boxes one day, it won’t be overwhelming. Instead, they’ll find a thoughtfully curated glimpse into their childhood.
What We Did With The Items We Didn’t Keep:
If the idea of throwing anything away gives you goosebumps, don’t worry— read this blog on what we did with the items we didn’t keep!
And we recognize that one day the box is going to be full when trying to put in last year’s memories. We’ve already decided that at that point we will comb through what’s already in there to ensure we keep the most treasured items for our daughters.
In the end, these kid boxes are more than just a place to store stuff; they’re little reminders of our family’s journey. They help us capture the laughter, love, and those simple moments we never want to forget.
How We Put The Boxes Together:
Purchased Plastic File Folders
Each girl received a plastic file folder! (fyi: I’ve linked to Amazon for easy purchase/delivery, but we bought this one in person at Walmart.)
Personalized with Vinyl Decals
I’d recommend going no bigger than 9” wide by 2” tall for the size of the name decal, but measure for yourself. For quick and easy vinyl decal delivery we love monogramitdarling! Hannah, the owner of MonogramItDarling said the following listings would be best for this purpose! Use this link for cursive/calligraphy names and this link for print names. She also said to reach out when you place the order and she can make sure the vinyl isn’t more than 9” wide x 2” tall! AND she gave us a coupon code you can use on your order (TCF15 for 15% off) and it works on the whole shop, not solely the links above 🤗
Organized with Old File Folders
We repurposed old file folders from where we downsized and cleaned out our filing cabinet. We labeled the folders by year to keep everything neat and organized. If you don't have old file folders to use these have great reviews on Amazon.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. I was using these sticky notes as tabs until I took pictures for this post!