Transitioning Closets from Fall/Winter to Spring/Summer

Let’s pull out those bins that we put away last September and evaluate what is likely to fit the kiddos for the next six months. If you’ve got babies, toddlers, and little ones, it’s likely that you need a whole new wardrobe in the next size, including swimsuits and shoes. Older kids may have some shorts or shirts that will work, just make a mental note of basics, colors, and styles that they always pull out to wear, and you will know what to add in to their wardrobe for the next season.

Now, make a list for each child – new shirt size, new shorts/pant size, new shoe size, favorite colors, characters from the shows they watch, books types that they are into reading, and game/craft/sport interests. This will transition into the main part of your shopping list. Now, think about spring and summer activities – will you need a wagon for trips to the zoo and park, a double stroller because you have two little ones now, a bigger tricycle or bicycle to accommodate longer legs, shin guards and soccer shoes for a new sport, or new costumes and tap shoes for dance class? Add these to the list! Grandma’s house is another category for your list – do you need extra jammies for sleepovers, books for story time, a high chair, pack ‘n play or bouncy seat for her house?

Now, here’s the second part of transitioning those closets and drawers. As the warmer weather hits, now is the time to pack away those winter items and get so much prep done for the fall that your tagging will be like one of those crisp fall breezes scattering leaves around your yard. To start, you are going to want to have three bins or large boxes to sort into. Label these three bins as trash/recycle, Sunflower Sprouts Fall Sale, and Fall Try On. As you take all the fall/winter items out of drawers and closets, do a quick evaluation. Does the shirt have any stains, or a small tear from the playground? Then it goes into the trash/recycle bin. Were the jeans/leggings getting too short, or tight around the waist by your always growing toddler? Then you know they won’t fit in the fall and they can go into the Sunflower Sprouts bin to sell. Does the snowsuit still have lots of life left? It can go into the Fall Try On bin to be reevaluated later this year.

Repeat this process for each of your kid’s closets and drawers. One last thing in the clothing department is your shoe transition. You pretty much know that all kids’ feet grow like Jack’s beanstalk each year, so pack away the snow boots, oand ice skates. Evaluate your tennis shoes, church shoes, and rain boots. If they are in great condition, they go in the Sunflower Sprouts bin, if they are pretty worn, save them in a Soles For Jesus donation bag that can be dropped off at the sale. Trust me, this whole process takes like 45 minutes for each kid, and the sense of accomplishment you get from getting a BIG TASK done will have you smiling.

Now, to the maintenance part of this task. Do a couple of loads of laundry in the Sunflower Sprouts bin. Wash, and fold all of the clothes and repack into your bin so that you are ALL READY TO TAG on some quiet late summer afternoon while the kids take their naps. Slide some hangers down the side of your bin and you will have everything ready to go. If you have room in your laundry room, it can help to have a small Sunflower Sprouts bin to put things that are grown out of mid-season as you find them. Raincoats, jeans, sneakers, sweatshirts can all be washed and put into this bin as you come across them this summer.

Now, with all of this “done and dusted”, as my Peloton instructor loves to say to mark the end of a workout, give yourself a HUGE pat on the back. Hey, you may even want to take the rest of the day off, put your feet up, tell the spouse to order in take-out, pour a glass of wine, put the kiddos to bed and ………who am I kidding, just give yourself the pat on the back and go have fun with your family. You’ve got spring-time memories to plan!