How to involve kids in creating a gallery wall layout of family memories

Designing a gallery wall with your kids is a fun activity that can easily turn into a core memory for everyone. Giving your kid permission to be involved in the process will make them excited about seeing your gallery wall once it’s on display. You may feel hesitant to give them creative freedom for something that takes up a lot of real estate on your walls, but we’re here to give tips on how to make the process fun for everyone!

Beyond the joy of making memories together, research has shown that displaying family photos in your home has lasting benefits for children. Seeing pictures of themselves with loved ones can increase a child’s sense of belonging, self-esteem, and emotional connection. When your home reflects the stories and people your children love, it creates an environment that supports their development in powerful and positive ways! Here are our tips for designing a gallery wall with your kids.

1. Collect a Handful of Photos That Your Kids Can Choose From

Before you let your kids get involved, there are a couple of steps you need to take. First, you should already have a collection of photos approved by you that your kids can choose from. While some prefer a gallery wall with family photos, others might opt for wall art with a mix of photos and art projects by your little ones. The key is to create a collection of things to frame that you’re happy with before your kids take the lead.

If your dream gallery wall has 5 photos, try to find 15 photos your kids can pick from. Or if your final gallery consists of 7 photos, maybe offer your kids 20 photos to choose from. This helps maintain an approved aesthetic that matches your space! By narrowing the options ahead of time, you give your kids the freedom to be creative within a curated selection that already works with your home’s design.

2. Ask Your Kids to Help You Measure the Wall

When it comes to any fun activity, most kids just want to feel included. One easy way to get them excited about the gallery wall is to ask them to help you measure it. Whether they’re holding one end of the tape measure or shouting out the numbers, this small task can make them feel like a big part of the planning process. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to practice some real-world math skills!

3. Pick Out Your Gallery Wall

Once you have the correct measurements for your wall, it’s time to choose your gallery wall layout. We have plenty of ready-to-hang options, but the most kid-friendly layouts are the ones from our Bobby Berk x Frameology collection. Why, you ask? Because they come with an easy-to-use gallery wall template that makes hanging a breeze! These gallery wall templates are a great way to get your kids involved once your frames arrive. If you’re not sure about what layout you’d like, we also offer a gallery wall design service that allows you to customize your own layout with help from a design expert on our team.

4. Ask Your Kids Which Photos Go Where

After you’ve chosen the perfect gallery wall design, you can get your kids involved by asking them which photos should go into what frame. Our gallery wall builder allows you to upload the exact photo to the frame of your choice within your selected gallery wall layout. This can be a fun experience for kids as they watch the gallery wall come together. Seeing their decisions reflected in the final product gives them a real sense of ownership and pride.

5. Let Your Kids Help You Hang the Frames

Now for the exciting part: hanging the photo frames on a wall. Once your frames arrive, be sure to open the package with your kids for added excitement. If you ordered a gallery wall that comes with a template, you can ask your kids to help you tape the template on the wall. For safety purposes, we’d suggest having an adult use the hammer and nails, but your kids can also help you hang the frames up and take the template off the wall once everything is in place! Watching the gallery wall come to life will be such a rewarding moment — not just for the design itself, but for the memories you created together along the way.

Whether you decide to create a family photo gallery wall or sprinkle in some art by your little ones, we hope you can enjoy the process with your kids!