FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About The School Years Memory Kit
Let’s Be Honest... Keeping School Memories Organized is HARD.
That priceless school photo with both front teeth missing? Somewhere in a kitchen drawer.
The award for “Most Improved Reader”? Mixed in a pile of mail.
And that heartfelt note from your child’s first-grade teacher? You swear you saved it… but where?!
We get it. Life is busy, and keeping up with school papers, artwork, and mementos feels overwhelming. That’s why we created The School Years Memory Kit — to give you a simple, done-for-you system that makes organizing school keepsakes easy and stress-free.
Real School Years Questions (from Real Moms!)
Still have questions? We’ve got you! Here’s everything you need to know before grabbing your kit. Here you’ll find answers for:
How it Works
“I barely have time to pack lunches — how much time does this actually take to set up?”
Oh Mama, same. 💜 We get it! Extra time and brain power might be the two things you’re shortest on in this season.
Here’s the deal: setting up your School Years Memory Kit takes about 15 minutes, if that. Just open it up, pick your labels, slip in the folders, and you’re ready to start saving those memories.
After that, it’s a quick drop-in system. One folder per school year. Tuck in your favorite mementos as they arrive.
“I have piles of school papers and artwork everywhere. How do I even begin to organize it all?”
Deep breath. This kit was made for exactly that feeling.
Each folder is labeled from Preschool through 12th grade (plus 10 extra blank folders and 28 pre-printed labels to choose from)! Just grab that sweet drawing of your family members with five arms each, that first 100% spelling test, and that hysterical “I want to be a dinosaur when I grow up” worksheet — and slide it into the folder.
Boom! One memory saved. One less thing on your mind.
Now do that a few times a year... and before you know it, you’ve built a time capsule your future self will go teary-eyed flipping through. 😭 (Don’t say we didn’t warn you!)
No scrapbooking required. No guilt about what you didn’t keep. Just one gorgeous place to save the memories that matter most.
“When should I fill out the interview questions?”
Some parents do it at the start of the school year. Others wait until the end. You could also do it on another important milestone (like their birthday). We even have some who fill it in throughout the year as cute things come up. Whenever works best for you.
Because that’s what The School Years is all about: letting go of perfection and treasuring up memories with a manageable system that works for your family.
“How is this different from just using a filing cabinet or binder system?”
A binder? We hear from moms all the time who tried this. (Spoiler alert: you’ll outgrow it before they graduate Kindergarten!)
A filing cabinet? Sure, it stores paper.
But The School Years Kit is designed to tell a story. Each grade-level folder includes:
>> A spot to attach a school photo
>> Guided interview questions for each school year
>> Space to tuck in their best work, sweetest art, and proudest moments
>> A place for them to pen their precious signature as they grow
It’s not just organizing. It’s curating a childhood full of memories that will never get lost, fade away, or disappear altogether.
And it’s all inside one beautiful, durable box that’s actually fun to flip through with your child — unlike that overstuffed drawer you’ve been shoving everything into. 😉
Before-You-Order Questions
“When does The School Years go on sale?”
Here’s the deal! 🤭 We usually do just two sales a year — Mother’s Day and Black Friday — so you won’t want to miss it! If you sign up for the waitlist and purchase during one of the sales, we’ll even include a little gift in your order (plus you get early access to the sale)! ✨ Jump on the Waitlist Now + Claim Your Free Bonus here >>
“I have multiple kids. Can I use one kit for all of them or do I need one per child?”
Because each folder is labeled by grade, we recommend one kit per child.
That way, each kiddo gets their own personalized box with their name on the front — plus their own photo slots, interviews, and space for their one-of-a-kind memories.
It’s a memory box that tells their story, year by year, and smile by smile. (And a beautiful gift to hand off when your little one is all grown up!)
And maybe best of all? 😂
They stack! So you can keep all of your children’s memory boxes in one neat, compact space.
“What if my kid brings home big, bulky art projects that don’t fit in the folders?”
Totally get it. If you want to keep the actual item, you can always…
But we also love seeing parents take a photo of those larger items and tuck that into the folder instead. Way less space. Same sweet memory.
“We don’t have a lot of storage space. How big is the box?”
Totally get it. Especially if you're already feeling like you're living in a toy store.
The box is 18" L x 12" W x 11" H — so it’s roomy without being bulky.
It’s designed to slide onto your shelf, or tuck neatly into your closet, and stack easily if you have more than one kiddo.
(Way better than piles on the counter or exploding kitchen drawers!) It’s one compact treasure chest for all those precious school-year memories.
“Will this really hold everything through age 18? What if I run out of space?”
For most families, one box lasts from preschool (or even earlier) through high school — yep, that’s 15 years of school memories, plus 10 additional folders for your most treasured extras.
But every kid (and every parent!) is different. If you want to include more than average? No problem.
You can always grab an extra box for bonus storage, and additional blank folders, and tabs if you want to expand the system.
You can find everything you’ll need right here in The School Years shop >>
So you can keep the memories growing — without the mess.
“Do you offer legal-size folders?”
Our folders are (11-3/4" x 9-1/4" H), perfect for holding letter-sized memories. At this time, we don’t offer a legal-sized version.
“What size photo fits in the photo spot on the folders?”
The photo area is a 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch rectangle — perfect for wallet-size prints.
You can print them at home or you can order them. We use Mpix to order wallet-sized photos here >>
“What’s the cost of shipping?”
Shipping is just $3 for the Memory Kit and $9 for the Memory Kit + Box.
“Do you ship internationally?”
Sorry, we do not ship outside the United States at this time.
Shipping & Customer Service Questions
“How long will my order take to arrive?”
We’re so happy you’re as excited to receive your School Years Memory Kit as we are to send it to you! Once you place your order, we process it within 2-3 business days. After that, it usually takes another 3-5 business days to arrive at your doorstep (depending on where you live).
We’ll send your tracking info the moment it ships — because we know there’s nothing better than seeing that “out for delivery” update when you know what’s coming.
This isn’t just a package. It’s the first step toward ditching the chaos and finally feeling on top of it all.
Cue the confetti, Mama. 🎉
“I only received one of my kits. What’s going on?”
Don’t worry, they’re on their way! If you ordered more than one kit, they ship separately and may have been separated during the shipping process.
Even though your packing slip lists them all together, each kit is boxed solo. Give it a few more days — then email hello@theshortyearsbooks.com if something still feels off. We’ll figure out what’s going on and make sure you get everything you ordered!
“Can I return my kit?”
Of course! We’d love to hear about what’s going on and see if we can help. Often we can fix the issue or offer a better solution before you go. Just email hello@theshortyearsbooks.com for support.
After that, if you'd still like to return it, here's how it works: Return your complete order in its original packaging within 30 days of your purchase. It must be unused and in perfect condition. You are responsible for the cost of return shipping.
Mail it to:
The Short Years
c/o: Tyler Fouche
7184 W Boekel Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
United States
Then, email your tracking number to hello@theshortyearsbooks.com, and we’ll process your refund right away. Please allow 2-7 days for the funds to land back in your bank account.
“What if my kit arrives damaged?”
We’ve got you, Mama.
In the unlikely event that your kit arrives damaged, just email hello@theshortyearsbooks.com within 7 days of delivery. Attach photos of the damage (including the packaging if it was affected), and we’ll send you a shiny new replacement right away.
“Where can I get extra folders, another name sticker, or an extra box?”
You can find everything you might need for your memory-making — extra folders, tabs, labels, boxes, name stickers — right here in 📌 The School Years Shop »
“I used to throw all the papers my son brought home from school into one container. It was already overwhelming and unorganized, and he’s only in kindergarten! I’m so thankful I found The School Years. Now the precious keepsakes I want to save are organized with a beautiful folder for each school year — without the stress or mom guilt. I’m telling every mom I know about it!”
— Ann H
“What if 18 years of memories fit in one box?”
What if you never had to stress about what to keep or where to put it again? What if you could finally feel organized — without a glue stick or label maker in sight?
>> You want to remember the little things without losing your mind in the process.
>> You want a simple, beautiful way to do it.
That’s this kit.
So go ahead…
And say goodbye to the clutter (and the mom guilt).
Cheering you on, always!
xo,
The Short Years Team 💛