How do you organize Kid's clothes?

Question

I have small children 5 and under, and they just have no concept of keeping their clothes neatly organized. I kind of gave up on a system, as I find their drawers popped open with dirty and clean clothes alike, just tossed in. So my question is how do you handle your kid's behavior in this and most importantly, how do you organize your children's clothes? I am looking for a system, as much for me as them, as I HATE laundry and putting clothes away because of this. It is just getting out of hand, and it takes forever to get them dressed and I dread it. Please tell me your system, what you fold and what you hang, etc. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

OH gosh, I feel you girlfriend! LOL. I hate laundry too. Everything about it. It could have something to do with the fact I have 6 in my family to do laundry for. Myself, my husband, my 5 year old daughter, my 4 year old son, AND my identical twin girls, ages 2. And the twins, let me tell you. They are identical, so ofcourse they have all the same outfits, and that was a pain to keep together. Especially when they would go in the closet and drawers and for "fun" toss everything out onto the floor. It finally got so bad for me, I just folded and hung everything as I did it, and everything was mixed up. I couldn't find any matching outfits for atleast a few minutes, and I hated it. I would wash clothes frequently, but then when they came out of the dryer I would pile them on the folding table in the laundry room, and soon it was OVERWHELMING! We all had so many clothes, that we always had clean ones, so I would just keep piling those out of the dryer until I would finally have to do it, sit on my living room floor watching a movie, and was up until 2 am sometimes with all of it, just exhausted. It also made me have to iron more, it was awful. Then I realized, "no wonder I hate this! I make it so freaking hard for myself!!!" At that point, I told myself, that's it. I am getting organized. So this is what I do, and it really really works:

Delegate a day for each person in your family for laundry. ( I also do this with the chores, e.i. My 5 year old has Monday for laundry as well as tidying up her room)

This will take your chaos way down, way down. You will have that day only to sort through, wash, fold and put away just that child's clothing. And as I said, also tidying their room.

The next day, it's someone else. And the answers above me are awesome as well. And they are right, young children shouldn't have a concept of organizing clothes, but you involving them was a great idea! I do the same. Make it fun, a game, something they can be proud of for being so responsible and "grown up". This will also help in them getting themselves dressed and picking out clothes, which will help you a lot as well.

Organization always starts with a plan, as everything else in life. Make a chart for yourself, decide what day for whom, and just chart out your daily routine for household chores and laundry. This will cut time, make things so much easier and also make you more efficient. Like with the laundry, when you are only concentrating on one person's load, you get the colors separated better, and you tend to work with things like stains and such more efficiently, because it's just one load and not an overwhelming amount of all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors of everyone's clothes. Keep up with this pattern too, and there is less to do. It just becomes a part of your daily routine, and won't get piled up and out of hand and it becomes barable and ok. You wouldn't leave dishes in the sink for a week or let the toilet go without cleaning for that long would you? Just think of laundry the same way. I know it's hard, I hate it too. And I used to put it off and have a million things to wash and put away, how frustrating! Not to mention kid's clothes are so tiny and there are tons. LOL. But as soon as I got organized with the laundry, their closets and dressers were better organized too, and it was great. I gave it the same attention as I did with the rest of my home, and I started taking pride in it just as I always did with keeping my house tidy and clean. Oh and (shhh, don't tell a soul) but I started liking doing the laundry and putting the clothes away, too! ;)

Lastly, you asked "how" to do the actually system of putting away and such. Well, how you organize the clothes, as in what fashion, really depends on your style, what works for you, how much drawer or closet space you have, etc. There is really no standard. So I can't really help you on that. But once you get it down, as long as you are getting them dressed quickly and not having to surf for clothes, then you are definitely pretty organized! LOL. That's how I judge it anyway :)

You'll be fine!!!

Answer 2

"I have small children 5 and under, and they just have no concept of keeping their clothes neatly organized. "
LOL - that's seriously normal.

All our clothes are divided into type of clothes, i.e. underwear in one, shirts in another, trousers in a third, etc. The divisions will depend on what clothes they have, and how many drawers you're dividing them into, and they HAVE to make sense to you.

With my 2-and-a-half year old, I then dredged the internet to find colouring-in pics of different types of clothes; singlets, T-shirts, jeans, etc. He coloured them in, then we cut them out and stuck them on drawers. We made it a game for a while to put the clean washing away in the right drawers; don't be surprised if this takes MUCH longer than doing it yourself at first. Maybe with the 5 year old you could make written labels; even though s/he can't read all of them yet, there's a sense of pride in looking as if you can! LOL.
I don't hang any of my boys' stuff, but if I had a girl I'd hang dresses, maybe skirts. My mum hangs all buttoned shirts and 'good' trousers too but I don't have that much hanging space.

With the dirty clothes, find a container for a laundry basket and paint it or cover it in a bright colour (for little kids, a wastebasket size is fine), or buy a colourful new one to suit their room if you're happy to spend a few dollars. Then just reinforce where to put things when they're getting undressed - pyjamas under the pillow, dirty clothes in the basket, clothes that they'll wear again in the morning in a specific place (ours is on a chest of drawers), other clean clothes back in their drawer.

They won't do this easily without consistent (unstressed) prompting, but at least if you're reinforcing that there IS a place for everything, they'll know where it SHOULD be, and you've got a better chance of it getting there.

Answer 3

I have little one's so I have to do everything... However, it is very helpful to have everyone's clothing organized.. If you have room in the closet I like to hang items.. Especially dresses,pants, skirts... It's really nice to have a sweater organizer that hangs from the bar and put 5 days worth of outfits in each opening.. That way you know what your child will be wearing all week and it's clean/folded and out of the way! I like to organize my children's shoes on the back of the door in a hanging organizer and out of season clothing gets packed away to save space... I have most of my children's clothing seperated into "outfits" so I can just grab/go it and get them dressed and I know that it goes to together.. However, if you have older children you can hang like pants together, shirts, etc... I also have a hamper in the bathroom for dirty clothing and I do a load of laundry every night to keep it under control... If they are showering at night it should be easier to have all the children put their dirty clothing into the hamper where you can sort if it's clean/dirty... Also, have the children help you with the laundry.. If they are older they can help fold/put away their clothing or pair up with an older sibling to help. Maybe have a laundry basket labeled with your child's name so they can fold and sort each person's laundry.. Also, put sock in a lingerie bags for each child so they don't get lost and if you can just buy everyone the same size/style socks so you'll always have a match !

Answer 4

This is how my mother taught me, and I am still keeping my organization the same way. I was around 5 when I was able to dress on my own and help keep it tidy in the closet.

1) first organize clothing by type: so you have the most used in the most accessible place. Make sure your children understand these categories. Benefits of this is, they will change accordingly and won't stain or roll in mud with wear that needs to be kept clean when visiting grandma for instance...
a: daily at home: older clothing, some stain ok, comfy to wear in the house, etc...
b: daily out : comfy daily clothing, not stained, presentable to wear outside.
d: weekend wear: a little more dressy than everyday for special weekend occasions.
e: occasion wear: super dressy for church, weddings, birthdays, costumes, etc...

2) then organize closet by reach: the most used clothing categories a and b will be placed at the front (of drawer, of rack etc...) and categories d and e at the back. Explain them this new order, put stickers around or on the storage that will help them remember this order.

3) fold all tshirts, sweats, sweaters, henleys and hang all pants, outerwear, buttonup shirts, skirts and group them to be placed according to 2

4) buy them a hamper and make them put dirty clothes in the hamper (if they have it as a habit to put things back in the closet even if dirty, this is going to take time, be patient, follow up what they miss each time before laundry)

5) do laundry together. teach them to fold and put away. If you do it every time together for at least a month, they will remember where things go better, according to your organization. they will copy the same system.

(Laundry tip: wash bedding, towels, adult items another day or other days. Wash children bedding, clothing the same day or days, so they learn helping you. They can learn in couple of months how to take the sheets off the bed to bring them for laundry etc... They are just kids but they can learn with more shared tasks, and it will make your life easier in couple of years, where you need to check less and redo their closets less in the course of a year).

Socks tip: let everyone find pairs of their socks. For each sock they find, give them a treat at the end. Encourage them not to loose socks. In couple of years, you may even find them already paired in the hamper.

Feel good tip: Get rid of stained, dirty, old, ripped, short, small items. Less clothes makes more sense. They wear only a handful anyway if you realize. Do the same for yourself. The more neat the space is, the better you will all feel. So don't overcrowd, or else it won't fit.

Answer 5

I also hate doing laundry. I have 3 children ages 13, 9, and 7 years old. Here's what I do laundry-wise.

All of my kids take showers at night. As soon as they get out of the shower and get dressed, they are required to put their clothes out to be washed. Where ever you pile your laundry, make sure your kids put their clothes in the dirty laundry pile. Your 5 year old should have no problem with this, but for children under 4, you may have to do it for them.

All of my kids are school age. If your 5yo is in Kindergarten already, then have her take off her school clothes when she gets home and put them out to be washed. By having your kids put their clothes out to be washed, it eliminates dirty clothes in the drawers.

Another thing that you can do, which is what I also used to do a few years ago, is allow your kids to pick a spot in their room to pile dirty clothes. It could be a spot on the floor by the door. If you have an extra basket or hamper, then you can put that in their rooms as well. Then at the end of each night, or when ever you choose, you can just pick up the clothes to be washed. That method worked well for my daughters when they were 3 & 5 years old.

Now, when you put clothes away, fold all play clothes and most school clothes. These are clothes they wear the most. NEVER separate outfits. If you buy a two-piece matching outfit like a blouse and skirt or shirt and shorts, put the shirt on top of the skirt when you put it away. When my youngest was a preschooler, she had many shirts that came with skirts. I always put them together so that she could find them easily. For dresses and clothes they don't wear often, hang them up. Always separate underware and socks. Even if you have to purchase a clear box for them, keep them separate from the clothes. This way it makes it easier for them to grab a pair of socks for school.

When it comes to getting dressed for school, use the old standby: pick out the clothes the night before.

Since you have a 5 year old, have her help you separate laundry when you go to wash. By showing her how to put the clothes into different piles will actually help her in school because she will learn classification and how to put things into different groups. If she balks at the thought of touching dirty clothes, tell her that if she finds any money in any of the pockets, she can keep it. Then secretly add a few coins (even if it's only a dime and a penny) to a pocket in a pair of pants or two. Unless, of course, you have a husband who doesn't check his pockets before putting his pants out to be washed. Then she may get really lucky.

These methods have helped me keep my sanity when it comes to laundry. Right now, your kids drawers will always be messy because they don't have the concept of folding clothes. Now that my kids are older, I still fold their clothes when their washed, but I don't put them away. I leave them in neat piles on the floor in front of their beds and make it their responsibility to put them in their drawers. I also don't mate their socks either. I separate everyone's socks into a separate pile and put each pile into their rooms. It is their job to mate their socks and put them away. As your kids get older, then you can give them more responsibilities with laundry, but do so little by little. First it's socks, then later pants and underwear, and finally tops and dresses.

Once you get them involved with laundry, the process becomes a bit easier and a little less aggravating.

Answer 6

I think organizing the kids clothes are very tough task as the one is liable to undergo the lots and lots of clothes as they are plenty in numbers. I think it will be beneficial if you could just maintain a closet for the same where you can arrange your kid's clothes.
http://www.babyworldboutique.co.uk/ you may also visit the related link to know more about it.

Answer 7

I hear you, mama! I only have two girls and organizing their clothes is a challenge! This article has some helpful tips on organizing your kids closet: http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-organizing-your-babys-clothes-and-accessories-4213797.html

As far as keeping them organized... if you find a good way, please let me know, lol! I just have to go through my girls' closets once every 2-3 weeks, take everything our and then organize it all from scratch.

Answer 8

I also hate laundry but have come up with a painless system. (and I am not really organized at all!!!) i figured all this out over time due to the fact that I really wanted my kids to help, and I really wanted to make it easy on me!!! I have made each of my kids put away their own clothes for years. I have a 8 year old and 4 year old. When they complain, I tell them I am happy for them to wear dirty clothes or wear the clothes left in their closet.
Each person in my family has a basket. For your large family, put a colored ribbon or color a section of the basket with different colored markers. Also, make sure the baskets are all the same shape and size. It is much easier to stack them! On laundry day(s) have everyone's empty baskets lined up, when the clothes are dry, pull the clothes & towels right out of the dryer and toss them in each person's basket. If towels go to a certain bathroom, I toss them in the basket who's room is closest to the bathroom or I put them away myself. I rarely fold their clothes, but if I want it hung, I put those clothes together in a pile on top of their baskets for them to hang later. I like their t-shirts & shirts hung. Or if i really care how it looks, I hang it myself. I rarely have to fold. For quick hanging, I do keep the kids sized hangers and regular sized ones in the laundry hanging from a shower curtain rod. The rod is installed above my washer and dryer, it keeps hanger neat, and I also use it to hang dry our clothes . It comes in VERY handy.
To make the system easier for the kids to learn I did the following; after the clothes were in their baskets, I quickly sorted them into 4 categories. pj's, undies and socks, pants/jeans/shorts, and hangable items (t'shirts and tops). After they understand how to use this system, you shouldn't have to do the sorting part. Then I either take the baskets to their room, or have them pick the baskets up in the laundry room. I do several loads until their baskets are full so they don't have to do this but 1-2 times per week. In their rooms, I have taught them to put the clothes away and hang item. (I also might toss shoes or toys into their baskets to save a trip or two).

Each kid has an easy system in their room. Each kid has a dresser, and we use the BOTTOM 3 draws of each dresser. The very bottom drawer has pj's, the next up has shorts and or pants/jeans. Then the next up has socks and undies. The very very top drawer is for rarely used items like bathing suits or tights. If they can't reach the top drawer, I get those items out for them when needed.
As for their closets; I have put a lower rod hanging from the main rod so they can reach their items. (even in the 8 year old's closet). They can actually see the items hanging and easily put clothes away or get them out for themselves. These hanging rods are really cheap and you can get them everywhere. (probably walmart, target....)
For socks, I have a shoe box sized clear container that holds my single socks. The mate is usually in the next laundry load, so it will show up, if it never shoes up, toss the single. I would also try to buy the same styles for girls and same for boys (this might be more helpful when they all get older. I only buy white socks too, and I buy the largest packs I can find. I once read, "if your socks are miss matched just buy new ones and start all over. Is it worth the drama of trying to find the mate? Socks are too inexpensive to have to mess with that!" I also try to match them as I am unloading. I put them on top of the dryer and match them quickly.
Each kid has lots of coat hangers. (All the same style and kid sized). These too are cheap and well worth the extra money. You can get these at walmart, target, dollar general... I have taught each kid to hang their clothes by showing them how to put the hanger threw the bottom of the shirt and then grab the handle of the hanger through the neck. Or if it has buttons to do it the regular way.
When it is time to put clothes away, I still sometimes look on or help along the way (but rarely need to). ALL of these steps have made laundry EASY at my house! Short of getting my very own WIFE this is the next best thing!!!!

Also, once the basket is empty, they can keep it in their and use that same basket for the next round of dirty clothes.
At breakfast time, I try to remind them daily (or as often as I can), to bring me their dirty clothes. My son pushes his own basket to the laundry room, and he often gets my dirty clothes basket!
Also, if you can buy extra baskets, I sometimes double up on the baskets in their room. That way if they bring me their basket, they still have one.
At the top of their closets each has 2 large clear tubs without lids on them. I keep " too large to wear now items" or extra items like socks and shoes in one, and seasonal in the other. Like right now, they each have summer stuff in rotation, and fall/winter in one of the large containers. I am in charge of changing the seasonal items out.
To make dressing easy in the mornings for my 8 year old daughter, on Sundays we put together 5 outfits for the school week. Then she picks the outfit out for which ever day she wants. She and I LOVE this system. My little boy picks his outfits out himself. (and has for a while!) The catch is, everything pretty much mix and matches. None of us have many clothes that can only be worn with one certain item. That is a pain!!! Also, I weed out often and keep items I like in rotation. Notice the word "I". They can't always make that call, so I weed out it when they are at school. Rarely have they asked where something is after I donated or tossed it. They each have way too many items, but this system really works! And If and when a favorite top gets stains or wears out (usually my son's) , I tell him they are now pj's and he still can wear them, but just for bed. Or if we aren't doing much that day, he can wear it around the house. For a while my son only wanted to wear batman capes and mask. He looked crazy, but I knew it was a very short phase. They are only young once. Now he has moved on from Batman, and I will keep that torn and worn cape forever. It is priceless!!!!

Sorry I got long winded, but didn't want to forget anything! my husband asked it I was writing a novel! Hope this helps!

P.S. for sheets, I keep an extra set in each person's closet. That way when your kid has an accident, you can just pull out the extra set from the top of the closet, and be washing the other ones. That way, if they happen to sit an extra day or two dirty, no problem. When I am sorting the clothes, if I come across a sheet set for that person, they get that sheet set added to their basket. I put those items away myself.
P.s.s I also keep a small container for extra kitchen hand towels. I use the ones in my kitchen, and have extras if and when I run out.

Barclay- birmingham, alabama