How to Help Children Use a Closet Organizing System
When it comes to teaching children how to be organized, one place to start is their bedroom. At a young age, they often become easily distracted while playing with toys or changing clothes and leave things where they are. Later, when it is time to clean up, they may struggle with putting things away in the proper place. There are varied ways to help children learn the habit of putting things away before they leave the room. One is to install a closet organization system at an early age. If they are introduced to the idea from the crib, they are more likely to develop good organizational habits.
Height
Children are typically challenged by tall bars in the closet to hang their clothes. The most logical solution is to move all of the important items to a lower reach. Using a custom closet organizer makes it possible for the parents to put racks closer to the floor. When garments are at a more comfortable height, children can take more interest in picking out the clothes they would like to wear. They can also help to hang them up and put them away after they have been laundered. For children that have many clothes that don't yet fit, storage space may be an issue. Putting them on an upper closet bar or top shelf will likely keep the clothes in view of the parents, but not in a place that takes up much-needed space or distracts the child from finding suitable clothes to pick out every day. Another option is to give the child a stepstool to use to reach higher storage areas. This is helpful for those who are independent and have good balance, but can't quite reach an upper shelf.
Space
For children who share a room, sharing a closet can be challenging.
Ask the children to help with closet organizing ideas, dividing the space in half or designating certain shelves or drawers for each child. When designing a modular closet system, be sure to use the lower levels of space first. Since children's clothes are smaller than those of grown-ups, they will be able to hang up their garments closer to the floor. When there is an older and younger child in the same room together, the taller child can use the upper rack. Where both kids are close in height, the space can be divided down the center from side to side, rather than from top to bottom.
Practice
When parents encourage their kids to keep their shoes in the closet, hang up their clothes and put specific garments in drawers, it is not always enough. It may take setting rules, color coding clothes and closet spaces or playing games for repetition to engrain organization into a child's routine.
Height
Children are typically challenged by tall bars in the closet to hang their clothes. The most logical solution is to move all of the important items to a lower reach. Using a custom closet organizer makes it possible for the parents to put racks closer to the floor. When garments are at a more comfortable height, children can take more interest in picking out the clothes they would like to wear. They can also help to hang them up and put them away after they have been laundered. For children that have many clothes that don't yet fit, storage space may be an issue. Putting them on an upper closet bar or top shelf will likely keep the clothes in view of the parents, but not in a place that takes up much-needed space or distracts the child from finding suitable clothes to pick out every day. Another option is to give the child a stepstool to use to reach higher storage areas. This is helpful for those who are independent and have good balance, but can't quite reach an upper shelf.
Space
For children who share a room, sharing a closet can be challenging.
Ask the children to help with closet organizing ideas, dividing the space in half or designating certain shelves or drawers for each child. When designing a modular closet system, be sure to use the lower levels of space first. Since children's clothes are smaller than those of grown-ups, they will be able to hang up their garments closer to the floor. When there is an older and younger child in the same room together, the taller child can use the upper rack. Where both kids are close in height, the space can be divided down the center from side to side, rather than from top to bottom.
Practice
When parents encourage their kids to keep their shoes in the closet, hang up their clothes and put specific garments in drawers, it is not always enough. It may take setting rules, color coding clothes and closet spaces or playing games for repetition to engrain organization into a child's routine.