A toddler's closet should appeal to his need for independence.
Your toddler's closet is more than a place to store clothes: it can be a place where learning takes place and where skirmishes over independence are resolved. The organization of your toddler's closet is probably temporary since she will grow and mature beyond needing her clothes paired in matching colors. The toddler phase is rapidly increasing independence, learning and physical development. The toddler's closet should match her needs and her personality and also take advantage of her ability to learn through every activity. Does this Spark an idea?
Safety
Your toddler will probably climb any structure in his closet, so safety is the first consideration. Toddlers are curious, adventurous, physically active and unaware of most dangers. Use open cubes or shelving that is bolted to floors and walls and do not reach very high. Chests with lids or cabinets with doors can become places where a toddler could be trapped. Avoid placing items on high shelves in plain sight since your toddler will likely try to find a way to reach the item. Choose plastic hangers without parts that can come off. Create a walk-in closet without doors.
Independence and Choice
Many parents experience the period when a toddler wants to wear the same outfit every day or the wool parka on a hot summer day. Organize your toddler's closet so she can choose her outfits each day. This means rods installed low enough for her to reach and open shelves or stacking cubes for storing socks, underclothes and shoes. Encourage your toddler to place her clothing in the laundry hamper when she undresses. Her toddler-height closet rods and cubbies will encourage her to try new clothing combinations and, since you provide the clothing for her pint-sized closet, fulfill her desire to make her own choices while leaving you some control.
Organization
Pictures or appliqués can help your toddler organize his clothing on his own. For instance, sticker pictures of socks and shoes for the corresponding cubes or shelves. Add rounded knobs for hanging up coats and jackets or install a pegboard so he can choose hang different items, such as gloves, scarves and hats. Use fabric-lined baskets on the shelves to hold underclothes or socks. Your toddler will like pulling down the basket, retrieving the socks and putting the basket back in place. Add a weather board to the closet to help your toddler dress for the day and learn about weather.
Color and Decoration
Paint the walls of your toddler's walk-in closet to match the colors in his room or use a different color on each wall of the closet. Paint the walls one color about half-way down and use a different color for the bottom half of the walls. Keep the white walls and add color with the accessories, such as pastel-colored hangers, colorful fabrics in the shelving baskets and large colorful appliques for the walls. Frame your toddler's artwork and hang the art on the walls of his closet. Use your toddler's favorite cartoon or book to create a theme in the closet. A colorful, well-organized closet will welcome your child each morning.
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