Kids are like plants in the sun, they never stop growing. One day all their clothes fit perfectly, and the next, they’ve outgrown everything. So what do you do with clothing your child is too big to wear? If you have a younger child, you might pass it down to them as a hand-me-down. But that isn’t always an option. That’s when you need to think about donating kid’s clothes.
Like clothes you yourself might’ve outgrown or grown tired of, children’s clothing can be donated. But unlike our items, knowing when it’s time to donate children’s clothing can be difficult.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide to help make donating kid’s clothing easy:
Donate Kid’s Clothes That Don’t Fit
It’s true what we said before, kids never stop growing. They are constantly outgrowing their clothes. So it’s important to go through their wardrobe annually, if not seasonally, to ensure everything fits. And if something doesn’t fit, that piece of clothing is the perfect candidate for donation.
Confused about where to start? Look for items that are too short. This can mean pants that are too short, long sleeves that are too short, or even shirts that don’t cover your child’s torso when they lift their arms. Also, look for clothing that is constricting. If your child is tugging at their clothes often, that might be an indicator their garments are too restricting and it’s time to donate them.
Donate Clothes Your Kids Avoid
Children start developing their personal style early. They often don’t realize it but choosing to wear certain pieces in their wardrobe over others is a form of self-expression. This will look different for every child, but eventually, you’ll find there are clothes in their closet they don’t reach for.
If you need an easy way to keep track of what clothes your kids wear, try turning all clothes in their closets backward. Once everything is backward let your child pick out their clothes as usual. When you do laundry be sure to put items back into the closet like you normally would. After a few months look in the closet and see what’s still backwards. Anything that is, might be a good candidate for donation.
Try doing this a couple of months before a major gifting event, like Christmas or your child’s birthday. So by the time the event rolls around, you can declutter some of the clothing and items they don’t use, just in time to make room for new items.
Check For Clothing Pairs
One of the best features of children’s clothing is it often comes in pairs or with accessories. That could mean a shirt with a matching pair of shorts, or even a dress with a matching purse. These items may be usable separately, but they’re better when used together. If you want to be thoughtful in your children’s clothing donation, consider putting all pairs together before donating.
If you’re worried the pairs will be separated in the donation box, try using a wooden clothespin to keep paired items together. You better believe the next kid who gets to rock the complete set will appreciate your extra care in keeping the pair together.
Donate Kid’s Socks & Shoes
Items like shirts, pants, and dresses aren’t the only kid’s clothing that’s great to donate. Used socks, shoes, and other accessories are also in high demand. But just like we mentioned in the previous section, try to keep pairs together. Tie shoes together when you can and fold socks into each other to bundle the pair.
But don’t stop at socks and shoes. If your child outgrows belts, hats, mittens, scarves, or any other accessory, consider donating those too. Almost anything your child outgrows can be donated! This even goes beyond clothing items. Baby blankets, towels, and baby bed linens are always appreciated at donation centers.
Recognize Sentimental Attachments
Donating clothes isn’t easy, no matter what age you are. That’s why it’s important to complete this process with your kids. Not only will it give them the opportunity to start learning about donation and sustainability, but it will give you perspective on which items are important to your kids.
If your child is showing a particular attachment to one or two items out of twenty, that’s an indication it’s not time to donate them yet. And it’s okay if they’re not ready to donate everything. The main takeaway is that you get the ball rolling and start healthy donation and decluttering habits that’ll last your child a lifetime.