4 Steps to Organize Your Kids’ Clothing…For Good!
One of the most challenging categories for many families to organize is their childrens’ clothing. It’s a moving target of sizes, seasons, and special occasions requiring proactive management at a time when parents are maxed out on their mental energy. The ease with which we can purchase clothing is a mixed blessing, because we are bombarded with an influx of items requiring regular cleaning, maintenance, and management. Some kids even have wardrobes in multiple homes due to split custody, time spent with grandparents, or vacation homes. A higher volume of clothing requires a more thoughtful approach to organizing. Here’s my 4 step process to get things under control moving forward:
Step 1: Establish Your Categories
Resist the urge to just start moving clothes around before you have a plan for where they’ll be kept. Set up categories for each kid in your household, these will usually include the following:
Active Use: Tops, bottoms, dresses/sets, socks, underwear, pajamas, shoes
Seasonal: swimwear, rain gear, snow gear, flip flops, rain boots, snow boots
Specialty Clothing: sports gear, costumes, special occasions, and any related footwear
Out of season
Upcoming sizes
Storage for hand me downs
Storage for sentimental/keepsake clothing items
Step 2 : Set Your Limits
Again, before you even begin to deal with clothing item by item, consider what your kids really need. What is a “right size” wardrobe for their current stage of life? Probably 10-14 days’ worth of outfits in the current season is more than enough, plus any specialty items needed for sports, activities, dress up play, or weather gear. And how much storage space can you realistically allocate for their clothing? Designate drawers, shelves, or hangers for each category in step 1. Which of their clothing will be stored in easy reach in their bedrooms, and which categories will live elsewhere? You might choose to have their next size up clothing on the top rail or shelf of their bedroom closet, sports gear in an entryway or mudroom closet, and clothes being stored for future children in labeled bins in the garage. Pro tip: always leave room for a few extras so drawers are not stuffed. You should have some extra hangers in the closet—and some headspace in the top of each storage bin—in case you need to add a few items in the future. Always start by setting limits before assessing your child’s current stock of clothing. This keeps things proactive and manageable for the next step.
Step 3: Declutter and Donate
When decluttering, it’s best to fully remove all items from the space. Sort item by item, and only put back what is actively being used, sticking to the limits you’ve already set. You can do this drawer by drawer to minimize mess, but if possible, try to pull out all clothing (belonging to one child) at once and throw it on the bed to sort. If you’re able to catch up on laundry before organizing, that’s great, but anything currently in the laundry/hamper is probably in active rotation. If it’s in good shape, but not useful to your kid, put in a donation bag. Sometimes kids’ clothes are too worn out to be useful to another family. Consider using a service such as Trashie to recycle worn out clothing. Store anything that is out of season, sentimental, or being saved for a younger sibling in labeled bins. If you can’t find it, there’s no point in keeping it.
Step 4: Maintain Your System
As long as your kids are living in your house, you’re going to have to find a way to live with their clothing! As time goes by, you can hand off more responsibility for purchasing and maintaining their wardrobes. In the meantime, be sure to do the following:
Establish a place to keep incoming clothes until they can be processed—kids need to try on new clothes and shoes before the return window closes, so you can make the most of your clothing budget
Set up a designated donation bin so that whenever you discover an item doesn’t fit you can immediately set it aside for someone else’s use. If you manage a lot of hand-me-downs, the top shelf of each kid’s closet is a great place to store “next size up” items from an older sibling or friend.
Get in the habit of resetting each kid’s clothing and shoes at summer and winter school breaks, with mini-updates at Thanksgiving and spring break. Look ahead in the calendar the next few months for things like summer camp, school dances, or other special events so you aren’t caught off guard. Emergency shopping is both stressful and expensive; an organized system for your kids’ clothing will take the pressure off during those busy seasons.
A good organizational plan takes into account your real life family and their needs. Rather than reacting to an increasing mound of clothing, take some time this new year to establish a new relationship with your kids’ clothes. Set up the systems and boundaries, and only allow things to stay in your home that serve and bless your family. By releasing the extras you don’t need, you’ll gain freedom and your kids will gain independence. It’s so much easier for them to put away their clothing when there’s just the right amount for their current needs. Reduce your daily stress with a little organizing investment up front; you’ll be glad you did!
Cheers to a happy new year,
Karina
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