How to teach kids to organize their clothes and toys

For small kids, handling their clothes storage and getting dressed all on their own is a big part of growing up. From finding what to wear and caring for clothes, to getting dirty clothes to the laundry and folding clean clothes again, here are some helpful tips.

A child getting dressed on a grey rug in front of a white bench with toy storage and a white wardrobe with a pull-out unit.

Putting in clean clothes

Learning to fold and put clean clothes away lets kids feel involved and gives them a sense of accomplishment. Lightweight storage boxes inside drawers and wardrobes – that are easy to take out for refills – make everything more manageable.

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A child folds clothes aided by a piece of cardboard and puts them in a turquoise UPPRYMD box on a harlequin/multicolour rug.

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Hanging out what to wear

Hooks on the outside of the wardrobe make preparing for the next day easy. It’s a good routine to learn early on, so that the coming morning always flows smoothly. Of course, a mirror for getting dressed is convenient to have close by.

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Various clothes on kids' coat hangers and a backpack hang on LÄTTHET hooks and clips on the outside of a white wardrobe.

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Organization that’s clear to see

See-through boxes help your children pick what to wear without making a mess. It’s a good idea to put the clothes they use most often at the most convenient height. Or with two siblings sharing, let the small one have the bottom part.

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A TROFAST storage combination with a pine frame and mesh boxes in different colours, with one box pulled out on a rug.

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Making things accessible

Easily reaching both hanging and folded clothes goes without saying – preferably without a step stool. Like with this wardrobe with a pull-out unit that makes viewing, choosing and loading clothes easy even for small children.

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A kid swinging a blue sweater over his shoulder, in front of a white SMÅSTAD wardrobe with an open pull-out unit.

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Off to the laundry

Getting dirty clothes to the laundry is easier with a laundry basket of their own. It’s smart to choose a small one – like this toy storage – so the batches don’t grow too big. The compartments can even get them started on sorting their laundry.

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