How to Organize Halloween Costumes and Dress-Up Clothes
October 27, 2011
As Halloween approaches, I decided to help all of the “parents of little ones” learn how to organize their kids’ costumes and dress-up clothes. If they are anything like my kids, they love to dress up! Without a system in place to organize these costumes, you will likely find them in a heap on the floor. Here are some tips to keep their dress-up clothes neat and protected:
- Sort – The first step is to sort through all of their costumes. Identify any pieces that are no longer worn, don’t
fit, or are damaged beyond repair. If they are still in good shape, consider giving them to a friend or neighbor, or donating them to charity. - Identify a Location – Determine where you would prefer that they be stored. Do they have a playroom? If not, is there space in their bedroom?
- Choose an Organizing Solution – Now that you have selected the room where you are going to store them, you need to decide how you are going to organize the dress-up clothes. My personal favorite solution is to use hooks that are placed within your kids’ reach. You see this in many preschools, because it is easy for the children to manage. You don’t want to put them on hangers if your children are too young to be able to manipulate a hanger. If you implement a solution that is not age appropriate, you will be doing all of the clean-up. If you do not have space for hooks, a large bin can also work. It is very easy for children to clean up when all they have to do is pick up the costumes and drop them in the bin.
Just make sure that the height of the bin is not too high. Your children need to be able to reach things that are at the bottom. - Teach Your Children – Have your children be active participants in setting up their new dress-up area. They love to help, and research has shown that if they help create the space, they are more likely to maintain it.
Follow these steps to transform your kids’ dress-up space. I can’t promise that their costumes will always be put away (sorry), but they will know how to clean them up when asked to do so!
Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.