Get Your Kid's Closet Ready for Back to School

Back to school time is right around the corner. Parents are starting to get their kids back on schedule, buy school supplies and school clothes. One challenge that arises during this time is making space for the new clothes while keeping things organized enough for things to run smoothly on school mornings. One way to ensure smooth sailing is to get your child's closet organized.

Closet organization does not have to be a chore. It can be exciting for kids to help and put their new clothes away. Take this teachable moment to help your child gain an understanding of charity, cleanliness and preparedness.

When you have the new clothes ready, you and your child can start to clear out the old clothes that no longer fit. Use bags or boxes to put away clothes that you can donate to charity or a younger child. If your child is reluctant to give away their things, remind them that they are growing and getting bigger every day. Brag on them for doing a good deed as they put things into the bag. Boosting their confidence is a good way to get them excited about charity work. This is a lesson that can serve them well throughout their lives.

Some clothing can be saved for younger siblings or given to friends and family with younger children. Talk about how these children will be so proud to wear the same clothes that their friend, cousin or big sister did. Start conversations that revolve around what they remember about each article and what they think the other child will do while wearing the clothes. This will help to expand your child's imagination and sharpen their memory skills before school starts.

Now you can get on to the fun part. Ask your child where they think each thing should be hung or stored. A daily clothing organizer is a great way to get you child involved in dressing themselves before school. Labels and tags that display the days of the week will help with reading skills and let them be prepared for how many more days there are before each weekend and school week. Being aware of what is about to happen makes children transition more easily. Having a visual aid is very effective in preparing your child for another day of school.

Once the new clothes are in order, you can talk about what your child can expect in the next grade. Be sure that you take this time to discuss any fears or inhibitions that your child may have. Explain that their fears are normal and many children feel the same way. Put the fears at ease and focus on the positive things that come with getting older and moving up a grade.

Once school starts, encourage your child to keep their own closet organized as a part of your nightly routine. Use baby hangers or infant hangers for smaller clothing to make it more manageable for little hands to accomplish the task. You can move the bar down lower so that it is within reach, or if they are big enough, let them use their own step ladder to put away and take out clothing. Anything that makes it special for them will encourage them to succeed in keeping their closet organized.