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6 Hacks for organising your child’s closet

Wardrobes, like most things kids get their hands on, can take a beating, so use sturdy boxes and baskets when organising your child's closet.

You are not alone if your child’s bedroom resembles the wreckage of a tornado. The default setting for most children’s bedrooms is “messy”. Kids frequently leave clothes and toys lying around.

A lack of organisation can make finding needed items close to impossible, especially on a busy school morning. Here are some tips on how to create order out of chaos.

1. Remove everything from the closet

The first step is to start with a clean slate. Take everything out of your child’s closet. Set aside anything that does not belong in your child’s room, such as excess clothing from your wardrobe or an additional sleeping bag that might be put elsewhere. After emptying the closet, evaluate the space and designate sections for certain objects such as shoes, clothes, and toys.

2. Sort the items into categories

It’s now time to sort the stuff you took out of the closet into distinct piles. To begin, gather at least five large buckets, bins, or even extra-large trash bags. The bins should be labelled with the following categories:

  • Wear now: Seasonal clothes that are in your child’s current size.
  • Too big: These are clothes your child has that are one or two sizes too large for your child. Store these garments in size-labelled bins so you can find them when your child is old enough.
  • Give away: Items that your child no longer uses or has outgrown but are still in good condition should go in this container. You can give the items to a friend or family member, donate them to a charity, or even sell them at a garage sale for cash.
  • Trash: This stack contains objects that are too broken or worn to donate, give away, or save for other family members.

3. Group items together

When returning clothes to the cupboard, keep similar clothing items together. For example, all shirts should be grouped together in one area, all skirts in another, and so on. To assist with the process, you can purchase or even download printable closet dividers. These dividers will also assist your child in keeping their closet organised by indicating where objects belong.

Adjustable hangers that grow with your child, as well as prefabricated closet organisers and shelf sets, are also useful resources. You could find it handy to keep a modest selection of pre-matched clothing in the centre of the wardrobe for smaller children so they can learn to dress themselves.

4. Sort items that can’t be hung

The next step is dealing with clothing and items that cannot be hung. You might want to consider adding shelving for items like toys or games. Canvas shelves or a small dresser in the closet are ideal for storing essentials like PJs and undergarments. Smaller goods such as belts and other accessories can be stored in door organisers and small plastic bins.

5. Make use of storage bins and containers

Storage bins should become your new best pals. Start with clear containers without lids so that you and your child can see what is inside. It is critical that each container is correctly labelled. Preprinted labels, erasable labels, or even photographs of the contents can be used. This will assist you and your youngster in returning items to their right location. Art supplies, beach gear, and board games, for example, should be sorted into bins. Of course, the least used or out-of-season items should be placed on the top shelves.

6. Organise your child’s shoes

Children’s shoes are usually a disorganised mess on the closet floor, and they rarely stay together. On a busy school morning, this can be a huge time waster. You can avoid this issue by designating a separate location for shoes. Alternatives to the standard shoe rack include open shelving, door hangers, and stackable plastic baskets. Storage bins can also be used to store out-of-season shoes and dancing or sports equipment.

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I'm an experienced writer, sub-editor, and media & public relations specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry – across digital, print, TV, and radio. I earned a diploma in Journalism and Print Media from leading institution, Damelin College, with distinctions (Journalism And Print Media, Media Studies, Technical English And Communications, South African Studies, African & International Studies, Technology in Journalism, Journalism II & Practical Journalism). I also hold a qualification in Investigative Journalism from Print Media SA, First Aid Training from St John’s Ambulance, as well as certificates in Learning to Write Marketing Copy, Planning a Career in User Experience, and Writing a Compelling Blog Post. More »
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