<p>There is a big difference between displaying a lot of photos of your kids – which many people choose to do – and displaying a lot of photos/certificates/trophies connected with your kids’ accomplishments. I think that doing the latter could inadvertently convey the impression that you value your kids’ accomplishments more than you value them as people. It also kind of forces conversation onto the topic of your kids’ accomplishments when you have guests in the house, which could be awkward.</p>
<p>When my daughter was in middle school and early high school, she displayed several collages of personal photos and mementos in her room. Some she had made herself; others had been made for her by friends as birthday gifts. In all cases, the focus was on the people in the photos (my daughter and her friends) and memorable events in which they had participated – not on anyone’s accomplishments. You would never have known from looking at these photos that one kid was an all-county musician, that another was the general manager of the school play, that several had won academic awards at their middle school graduations, and that some would be attending selective magnet high schools. But you would have known that they had a great time at certain school events, that they liked to wear dressy clothes on occasion, and that they enjoyed each other’s company. I think the kids had the right idea.</p>