How to help kids choose their clothes every morning and get ready for school on time? We explain the method we first tried a few years ago, which has proved to be very effective.
The daily problem: How to choose clothes every morning before school
Every parent knows the familiar struggle: “Mum, what should I wear?”, “Is it cold outside?”, “I don’t like this t-shirt. Where’s my favourite one?” These are just a few of the questions children ask each morning.
Choosing clothes for the day can quickly become a time-consuming and stressful process, often disrupting the peaceful start to your morning. It’s a challenge many parents would prefer to avoid, especially when trying to get everyone out the door on time. One effective solution is to plan the next day’s outfit the night before. After a brief discussion and agreement with your child, you can lay out their clothes, saving valuable time and minimizing morning debates.
However, this isn’t always possible. It depends on how much time you have and whether you still have the energy and patience after a long day. Below, we share a habit we’ve adopted that has made a significant difference for us (#tried_and_true) and continues to work well up to the time of writing this post.
Our method not only helps kids get ready on time but also fosters their independence during the morning routine.
The first step is discussing the weather conditions with them. For example, if it’s winter, we inform them about the temperature forecast so they can decide whether they need sweaters, sweatshirts, or lighter clothing.
Next, we prepare outfits in advance, usually on Sundays, setting aside enough clothes for the entire week. When they were younger, we used to prepare 6 to 7 sets of tops and bottoms since it was almost guaranteed they’d need a fresh set each day. These days, we prepare 4 to 5 sets, as they may wear something more than once if it stays clean.
The key elements of this routine are our conversation about the weather and making clothing choices together. This allows them to practice critical thinking while also participating in the selection process, which gives us some quality time together. With three kids, it’s a valuable way for us to spend individual time with each child as we prepare their clothes.
As they grow older, they’ve started choosing their own outfits, with us offering advice when needed. This way, they’re comfortable in what they wear and feel confident that their clothing choices are their own. As a result, there’s no reason for morning complaints about outfits!
Storage solution and morning routine
While choosing outfits in advance is important, having a dedicated space to store them is equally critical. That’s why we use three small hangers on the wall outside their room to organize the scheduled outfits. Each child has their own hanger—it’s like a mini fashion display!
In the morning, each kid simply selects one of the prepared outfits. They often choose their favorite or most comfortable ones for the start of the week, leaving the rest for later. The best part is, they don’t complain or rummage through previously worn clothes, knowing anything used has already been placed in the laundry basket.
Of course, you don’t need an empty wall to adopt a habit like this. You can use whatever space works for you — closets, drawers, a sofa, or even a shelf can do the trick.
Take a look below to see our “fashion display” in the hallway! This simple setup has been incredibly functional for our family over the past three years.
Update (25/9/2024)
As our kids grow, their clothes get larger—especially their jackets, which are often long enough to touch the floor and too heavy for the small hangers in the corridor. To solve this, we’ve added a separate hanger in the hallway specifically for their jackets and other heavier garments.
If you like our idea, feel free to share it with your friends on social media to help others who face the same time and energy-consuming challenge!
And if you give our method a try, we’d love to hear how it worked for you! Leave a comment or send us an email at parentsofthre3@gmail.com, or reach out on Instagram or Facebook.
Click here, if you are interested in more #tried_and_true tips and tricks.
