Every morning we get 4 kids, aged 4 through 15, out the door by 7 am.
It’s not easy. Particularly for the littler ones, aged 4 & 7.
They’d be happy to dress themselves daily. But I’m not so sure the school wants to see them in Mario PJ bottoms that are two sizes too small and a rashguard. None of us are particularly fashion inspired in the am. We’re too groggy to figure it out. We’re lucky if we check the weather and don’t wear shorts on a frigid rainy day.
Pre-planning outfits is my secret weapon and time saver for my boys. I always have outfits matched and ready to go in their closets.
Once a month (or so) I lay all their clothes out on the bed.
I stack short sleeve tees.
I stack long sleeve tees
I stack shorts.
I stack pants.
And then I start putting the looks together. I hang my 4 year old’s outfits on plastic “clippy” hangers. I use the same hangers for my 7 year olds shorts outfits. I use a tubular hanger for the 7 year old’s pants outfits so that they can fold over ( his pants are too long for the closet spacing if I clip at the waistband).
I sort of enjoy the zen of making suits. I like knowing that they will use all their clothes, that they can dress themselves without my worrying about what that looks like on school days. The closet full of outfits makes me happy. Them too. They know they can choose something that is weather appropriate, and not have to dig through the drawers, asking if this is ok, looking for that… This monthly exercise also helps me weed out what’s outgrown and what needs repair.
Making outfits has been a morning lifesaver for us. It’s a little thing, but I thought I’d share! Next up… Shoes! There’s a lot of too small and beat up pairs that have got to go.
I really need to try this!
First off, I’m exhausted reading this, but boy if I did it would it save me time!
And wow, those shoes are organized!
I would like to move in to your closet. This is such a great idea!
I would feel like an abject failure if it weren’t for the fact that I have girls who have picked out there own clothes since their pre-walking days. But you are amazing. Can you come help me out with my closet? Please.
I feel like I’m constantly going through my kid’s clothes. Sigh! I never have me to pre-plan so sometimes my kids don’t match LOL! You’re so organized!!!
Ok…your kids closet makes me so jealous. My kids just toss everything about. I guess its time to re-organize our closets!
Honestly it’s only like this right after I organize it 😉
It’s really not a lot of time. I try to do this when I put away the clothes fresh from the laundry – I don’t even fold them. I just stack the tees, stack the pants and shorts and then put them right onto the hangers as suits. Saves even more time if you skip folding and putting away in drawers etc.
fun tips! I also go through closets about once a month for my boys and pull stuff out that doesn’t fit and arrange a few selections. I am working on them learning how to put clothes away themselves which definitely requires a looking into every few weeks….
the shoes are a predicament for us too
thanks so much for the great tips. I could really use these when I clean out our closets.
Love love love this tip, Maybe may even work for the bigger kids like me. Thank you for this wonderful tip.