Helping your child sort through their wardrobe

03 February, 2025

Is your child growing up and his wardrobe overflowing? He struggles to choose his clothes in the morning? This is probably a sign that a sorting is necessary. Organizing the wardrobe represents an excellent learning opportunity to develop your child's autonomy and instill good organizational habits.

Why is this an essential learning?

As parents, we have the opportunity to transform wardrobe management into a special learning moment. It is a concrete opportunity to support our children towards greater autonomy, while transmitting essential values ​​to them. Through this practical exercise, they will be able to:

  • Develop their sense of responsibility

  • Learning to make thoughtful choices

  • Understanding the value of objects

  • Getting started with sharing and giving

  • Gain independence in their daily routine

Establish a seasonal routine

Sorting out your wardrobe should become a regular activity, ideally done at the change of seasons. It is an opportunity to:

  • Evaluate which clothes still fit

  • Identify what has become too small

  • Preparing the wardrobe for the coming season

  • Involve the child in decisions that concern him/her

Practical support guide

Daily actions to encourage from the age of 7-8 (see our autonomy guide)

  • Put away clothes worn during the day in the right place

  • Place dirty clothes in the laundry basket

  • Hang or put away what can be postponed

  • Fold freshly washed clothes and put them in the correct drawers

Organization of the big seasonal sorting

  1. Prepare the sorting space

  2. Take out all the clothes together

  3. Create clear categories

  4. Assist in trying on uncertain pieces

  5. Guide decisions with our sorting tool

  6. Organize donations and recycling

Seasonal rotation: a strategic moment for the whole family

The change of seasons is the perfect time to orchestrate the great waltz of clothes in a family. Here's how to make it an effective and enjoyable routine:

Prepare the rotation

  • Take out last season's boxes before buying new ones.

  • Assess what can be passed from one child to another

  • Take stock of the missing basics and prepare your shopping list using our little tip or directly in Octave

  • Identify real needs for the coming season

Tools to facilitate learning

The poster "A quick guide to decluttering your dresser"

A downloadable visual aid that helps your child make informed decisions through simple, age-appropriate questions.

The Octave app

  • Schedule a seasonal recurring task in your Octave lists so the whole family gets into the habit of doing it at the same time and Octave can remind you to do it.

Supporting advice

For an enriching experience:

  • Choose a time when you are all available and rested

  • Create a pleasant atmosphere (music, snack)

  • Praise efforts and good decisions

  • Particularly value gestures of sharing

  • Respect your child's learning pace

Sustainable learning

By guiding your child in this activity, you are teaching them essential skills:

  • Decision making

  • Managing your possessions

  • Sense of responsibility

  • Ecological awareness

  • The pleasure of sharing

With patience and kindness, your child will gradually discover the benefits of a well-organized wardrobe, where each item of clothing has its place and its use. These lessons will form a solid foundation for his or her future development.

🚀 Find this article and much more in the Octave app: your number 1 ally for an organized family life! 📱✨