How to Make Your Hall Closet Kid-Friendly

When your kids walk in the door, do they hang their jackets and place their shoes neatly in the hall closet? If you are laughing right now, you are not alone: Many parents complain that their children toss their jackets over a chair and kick off their shoes on their way to their bedrooms, tracking in rain, snow or dirt along the way. The good news is that there is something that you can do to make it more likely that your kids will put their items away. By making the hall closet more kid-friendly, you’ll be creating a space that they will feel encouraged and empowered to use. Here are some tips on making a kid-friendly hall closet:

• Keep their heights in mind

  If you have teens, then there’s really not much of an excuse for not hanging jackets properly, but if your children are under about four-foot-six, they might not be able to reach the rods on which they’re supposed to hang their coats! If your clothing rod is adjustable, try lowering it a foot or more so that it’s easily reached by even the shortest members of your family. If not, buy a tension rod and simply add a second rod. If the kids are very small, placing it only about two feet above the floor not only puts the hangers at a perfect level for them, but it won’t even interfere with your jackets, which are hung several feet higher.

• Supply hooks aplenty

  Small hands might find it difficult to maneuver a jacket onto a hanger, fasten it shut so it doesn’t fall off, and hang it back up on the rod. Instead, try putting hooks in the walls of the closet. Let them hang their jackets, coats and even backpacks on them. This makes hanging items a one-step process, so its more likely that it will get done, and less likely that the clothing will just end up on the floor.

• Build cubbies for shoes

  By giving children their own cubbies, they might be more likely to store their shoes neatly. First of all, this is the method used in many schools, so using a cubby is likely a matter of habit if your child is in pre-K, kindergarten or even first or second grade. Secondly, you can make your child’s cubby more attractive by painting it his favorite color. You could even get him into the habit by leaving a small treat, such as a little toy or even a small pack of candy or gum, in the cubby every once in a while. He won’t want to miss out on something special, so he’ll be likely to check it every day, and will remember to put his shoes away while he’s doing so.

• Place a set of drawers in the closet

  When it comes to winter gear, kids often peel off their layers and dump them on the floor. Give them a place to put small items like gloves, mittens, hats, scarves and earmuffs by placing a small set of drawers in the closet. If the closet is large, then you could use a small bureau, but otherwise, a plastic set of drawers or even something like a night table with drawers will work. Assign each child his own drawer, label it with his or her name, and explain that that is where accessories go.

As with anything else, you’ll need to work with your kids to help them remember to put their items away. Once you get them into the habit, though, you’ll feel a lot less stressed when you aren’t dealing with assorted coats, backpacks, hats, gloves and other kid-paraphernalia littering your floors, couches and kitchen chairs.