Keep children’s drawings: photograph, caption and select the originals

Begin with a small selection

Gather a few recent drawings instead of an entire box. Ask which ones the child wants to keep or show. A crumpled sheet may matter more to them than a carefully finished picture.

Create three groups: keep on paper, photograph and review later. The last group leaves room to postpone a decision. Digitising does not require discarding the original, and keeping a selection does not require saving everything.

Photograph without damaging the sheet

Place the drawing on a clean surface in fairly even light. Hold the camera facing the page to reduce distortion. Check corners, focus and reflections before putting the paper away.

Avoid forcing open a fragile notebook, attaching tape to a drawing or flattening raised material aggressively. For a fragile or important piece, consult the Library of Congress paper preservation advice before intervening.

Crop a copy if that improves readability. Keep a view of the whole sheet when edges, inscriptions or texture matter. Aim for a readable record rather than claiming a perfectly colour-accurate reproduction.

Add what a future reader cannot guess

Record a known or approximate date, a name where appropriate for the private audience and the context. If the child comments, distinguish exact words from your interpretation.

Here is a fictional caption: “September 2026. ‘It is a flying boat,’ the child explained. Made after a walk beside the water.” Avoid drawing conclusions about emotions or character from colours. A family journal is not a diagnostic tool.

Connect the copy to its original

A simple name such as “2026-09-flying-boat” can link the picture, caption and paper folder. Keep selected originals in a clean, dry place protected from light, using materials suitable for their preservation.

In Parent Journey, attach the photograph to a memory and describe its context. The version prepared for the site may be compressed, so keep the original file elsewhere and include it in your backups. The application does not automatically scan paper or preserve the physical object. Finish by checking that you can retrieve the image from the saved location.