Note: Today I have a special guest post from Kaitlin Krull to help you organize your child’s closet to foster self-sufficiency.
While watching children grow in independence and self-sufficiency is one of the most rewarding parts of parenthood, it can be hard to find ways to help your little ones safely practice independent living. At Modernize, we think that giving your children regular opportunities at home for the development of self-care skills is essential to this kind of growth. If you’re looking for ways to help your little ones help themselves in your home, the bedroom is a great place to start. Here are a few tips to help you create a bedroom closet that will foster learning and self-sufficiency in your growing child.
Use plenty of storage
When setting up your child’s closet area, make sure you have plenty of storage space for different types of clothing and accessories. Organize these items on clothes rails, shelves, and in clear or wire storage bins so your child can easily recognize which pieces go where and how to properly access pieces and then store them when not in use. If you have to get creative with small closet spaces, consider vertical storage baskets for shoes, sweaters, and accessories that can be hung from the door or on clothes rails to free up floor space underneath.
Label clothing areas
After you’ve designated specific places for your child’s clothing, take your organization one step further by labeling storage boxes and bins with the correct items. If you’re particularly keen on labeling, consider adding day of the week tags to hangers or hanging shelves so your child can choose her own outfits for the week ahead of time, saving everyone time and stress. Younger children can also benefit from this labeling system if you use picture labels in addition to the words. With any luck, after a few days or weeks your child will be able to accurately store her own clothes without much help from you.
Keep it accessible
All of your organization and labeling will only work if your child’s closet is easily accessible and child friendly. Keep clothes rails and storage boxes within your child’s reach and make sure the closet itself has doors and bins that are easily and safely opened and closed. If you have to utilize space higher up in the closet, consider adding a stool so older children can get to these items themselves.
Declutter your closet space
One of the most important parts of keeping a tidy closet space is decluttering. Regularly remove unused and too-small items from your child’s closet to add more space. Consider keeping out-of-season and bulky items like winter coats, hats, scarves, and boots stored in the attic or tucked away in storage bins until they are needed to keep the closet area accessible and roomy enough to use properly.
