Day 27: Organizing Kids’ Clothing

Daily labels from Living Locurto

If you have kids, you probably have a lot of kids’ clothing. Not just the clothing they’re wearing on a day-to-day basis, but other stuff too, like outgrown clothes, clothing that’s waiting to be grown into, costumes, special occasion clothes. Here are some tips and tricks for organizing kids’ clothing.

• Clean it out. Start with the kids’ dresser and closet, and take some time to purge the outgrown clothes and shoes, items they don’t wear, and things that are stained, ripped or otherwise not fit for wearing in public. Don’t keep anything that isn’t loved. 
• Set aside clothes that you're unsure of fit, and have your kids stage a fashion show where they can try on the clothes and strut their stuff, giving you a chance to gauge fit and style.
• Keep the dresser and front of the closet reserved for clothes and shoes that currently fit and that are in season. Life is a lot easier when children can reach their own clothes and learn to get dressed without help. Ensure children can reach hanging clothes (use drop-rods as needed) and that they can reach into dresser drawers. Use child latches to secure dressers to the wall so they don’t fall on climbing children. Use baskets or a shoe rack to organize kids’ shoes at their level.
• Use bins to box up outgrown items that you’re saving for younger children, and label each bin by size, gender and season. Likewise, box up clothes and shoes that your children haven’t grown into yet, and label them by size, gender and season. Store the bins either in the back or top of the closet, away from current clothing, and make sure the labels are clearly visible. I like to keep the bin of size-up clothing in my older son’s small closet, and the bins of outgrown-waiting-for-little-brother-to-wear clothing in my younger’s son larger closet.
• Make simple graphic labels for young children, and attach them to their dresser drawers. Pictures of socks, pajamas, shirts and pants (with the words written underneath in large, clear letters) can remind children where those items belong and can help them get dressed faster and without as much help from you.
• If you’re keeping items to sell in a garage sale or consignment shop, as well as items you’re keeping for sentimental reason, box them up and remove them from the child’s room. 
• Choose clothing for your children that mixes and matches easily. This will help the child learn to dress himself and save you from battles over matching up outfits.
• Go through your kids’ clothes every few months, such as at the change of the season, and get rid of stuff that no longer fit, is ratty, or is no longer seasonally appropriate. 
• Teach your kids to do things for themselves – this will simplify your life greatly if you don’t have to micromanage everything your child does. Teach your kids how to choose outfits and dress themselves, how to put their dirty clothes in a hamper, and how to put their clean clothes away appropriately and neatly. Involve them in choosing their clothing – if they like it, they’re more likely to wear it – and encourage them to let you know when something no longer fit or needs repairs.

This post is part of the Fresh Start Series, 31 days of tips and tricks to simplify in the new year.