If you haven’t done it yet, you may have started thinking about a re-org in your child’s closet. Every spring, like many do, we spend some time deep cleaning our home. We put the heavier coats and boots away and bring out lighter clothing and sandals. But in the autumn, I like to do a massive re-organization of our wardrobes. It’s time to bring back our cozy clothes!
Even though in southern Germany we are lucky to still enjoy very nice temperatures (the weather is quite pleasant and we can wear some of our summer pieces with just a cardigan), a couple of weeks ago I started pulling out my daughter’s clothes that had been put away in the spring. It was time to see what still fit and what needed to go. I also checked to see if any mending was required. Then I made a list of the things to replace. I also took the time wash what I had unpacked and any new items previously purchased. Most of Nayou’s clothes have been worn in the prior seasons. That’s because I like to purchase items that are transitional and large enough to give her room to play and grow comfortably.
After that, I started packing away what we no longer needed. I also took the opportunity to do a thorough cleaning of our closet, shelves and drawers. We return whatever we have borrowed, things that no longer fit her such as outwear. There are some very durable items that can last forever, passed down from child to child. We are lucky that we could do so on a few occasions.
Tips for organizing your child’s wardrobe from autumn to spring:
- Unpack and wash whatever you stored away in prior seasons.
- Make a list of what needs to be replaced, including outwear (purchased or borrowed), decide what to keep and what to donate.
- See if you can keep any transitional pieces for layering such as T-shirts and leggings.
- Categorise by putting likes with likes, this will help in checking how many outfits are available.
- Choose a storing style: what to hang, what to fold, what to roll, what to stack. Select a way that closely fits your natural organisation style (type, colour, use). Make it to your liking so you can keep doing it throughout the year, without thinking about it too much. Tip: Teach your partner and children how to do this too, so they can help throughout the year.
- Now it is time to choose an organisation style: Do you want to create each outfit ahead of time, or do you prefer to put like-items together and let your child pick a top and a bottom along with what to layer each day? (This will depend on your and/or your child’s preference). Keep it simple so that it’s easy to put back and find your clothes. In case you prefer to create the outfits ahead of time, maybe doing so on laundry day could help. This will also help your child select a look without having to find each piece separately.
- Don’t be afraid to use boxes to keep smaller items such as underwear or socks together. For example, I used an empty shoe boxes to keep the socks and tights neatly organised as well as undergarments and additional nightwear.
- Have your winter items available in a nearby spot so you can pull them out and add them to the rotation quickly. We also keep additional hats, gloves and scarves handy.
I do enjoy organising clothes at the beginning of the season. It reminds me of the new beginning that each school year brings. An opportunity to reflect of what is important and how to best achieve new goals. It also helps children with the transition to the darker, colder months, knowing that most of what they will need is already there, ready for use. But I keep it simple, so my daughter knows what goes where after folding on laundry day. That way, she can easily access her clothes without my help, and get dressed quickly.
At her age, she doesn’t mind me putting the outfits together. But I always give her two options to choose from — choice without making her feel overwhelmed is a good strategy in my book! She can also make an edit to the outfit if she wants to make a change. And, she is in charge of selecting her hair ties and style, her outerwear (we check the weather predictions together for the day every morning) and her shoes.
And what about you: how do you organise your children’s closets and drawers? Do you let them choose their outfits for the day? I am curious to hear about your preferences when organising your kids’ closets. I love putting new tips in practice and seeing if it’s something that can make our lives easier. So, please comment and share your own tips, trials and errors! I look forward to reading them.
x Mariam
PS: Did you see Esther’s post on fridge organisation? Check out her wonderful tips here!
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