A mum lovingly cherishes 27 items from her child’s early years, it emerged today.
The study of 2,000 mums revealed they are most likely to hoard everything from pictures and paintings to their toddler’s first pair of shoes.
Among other most commonly treasured keepsakes are baby teeth, old toys and school awards and school reports from teachers.
First school jumpers, a sling from an early injury or an early lock of hair are also likely to be kept for old times’ sake.
The research was commissioned by Clarks to celebrate the back to school season.
Yesterday Emma Jefferies, Children’s Marketing Manager at Clarks, said: “Mums live and breathe every moment of their child’s life and the list of keepsakes gives an insight into the little things they’ll store away to look back on over the years.
“This research shows how hard it can be for mums to throw away the little things. Understandably it’s important to preserve the memories those items can conjure up.
“Children grow up so fast that most mums will have fond memories looking back to how small their child’s first jumper or pair of school shoes was and so it’s important those things are preserved.”
The study also found a first hand or foot print is looked back on by mums for years to come, while a favourite blanket or outfit is also lovingly stored to be brought out again in future.
While even the hospital band at the time of birth is kept by mums who hate to let go of the mementos they hold dear.
The most emotional keepsake for mums are drawings her child made when little, with their very first pair of school shoes among the most treasured items for mums in preserving their little one’s early years.
When asked to reflect on their children’s time at school, mums were likely to recall their happiness of their child’s first school report, followed by the excitement of the preparation of getting them ready, and the piles of washing, as the strongest memories.
The third most evocative memory of a mum through the school days proved to be the process of buying new school shoes.
Furthermore the study found mums will wash more than 1,400 loads of school uniform – from aprons to sports kit to muddy trousers and grass-stained shirts, results showed.
She’ll also help with 1,236 hours of homework, make 37 costumes and clean the school shoes 125 times as her child goes through primary to the end of secondary school.
The results also captured the average mum’s journey to see her child through school and found along the way she’ll nurse 67 grazed knees and sew up 49 holes in the uniform.
Parents also believed that their kids were generally excited about their first day of school, followed by happy and nervous.
Emma Jefferies added: ”Seeing a child through their school years is a long but rewarding journey for many a parent and the results show just how much support they give during that time.”
MUM’S MOST TREASURED KEEPSAKES
1. Drawings
2. Photographs
3. First pair of shoes
4. School work
5. A lock of hair
6. Hospital band
7. First hand or foot print
8. School reports
9. Toys
10. Teeth
11. School awards
12. First pair of school shoes
13. Books
14. Baptism outfit
15. Their favourite blanket
16. Their favourite item of clothing as a child
17. Self portrait
18. Their sketchbook
19. Christening present
20. School jumper
OVER THE SCHOOL YEARS (AGED 4-16) MUM DEALS WITH?
67 grazed knees patched up
49 holes in uniform
125 times cleaning school shoes
37 costumes made
117 homework projects
69 items of uniform to replace
1,404 loads of washing school uniform
1,236 hours helping with homework
