Children's closets can quickly become overcrowded with outgrown clothes, toys, sports equipment and even trash. Keeping a closet organized can be challenging for a child, but if you step in and offer some easy tips for keeping it clean and organized, she should be able to do it unassisted or with minimal guidance.
Clear it Out
By taking everything out of the closet, you and your child can determine what items to throw away, what items to keep and what to donate. Doing this with your child helps him see how it is done so he can keep it up in the future. It also helps him feel involved in the process, and may ease parting with old clothes or toys.
Use Two Rods
Children's clothing is generally shorter than an adult's, so you can place two clothing rods in the closet, one above the other. Use the lower one for in-season clothes that your child is able to get to on her own and the higher one for out-of-season items. Switch the clothing as the weather changes. Smaller-size hangers are available as well.
Buy Organization Products
Place plastic bins on the floor of the closet to contain shoes and toys. Clear ones make it easier to see what each contains so that your child doesn't have to hunt through each container. Install shelves for books, larger toys or folded clothing, such as sweaters. Purchase and install complete closet storage units that have rods, shelves and drawers already built in. You can often customize these to fit your child's specific needs.
Practice Maintenance
Having a plan to keep the closet organized will help a child be able to do so. Create a checklist that your child can go through each day or week to be sure that things are being put away routinely and that clutter isn't getting out of hand. Each season, rotate and store clothes and review the contents of the closet to determine whether you can toss or donate anything.
