How to Prepare a Child's Wardrobe for Winter

At the first hint of coolness in the air, kids will start reaching for hoodies and long pants to keep warm. The savvy parent is prepared for this seasonal change with a winter wardrobe that's ready and waiting. A month or two before your child needs her cold-weather clothing, figure out what she needs and gather the items. Stay organized with a detailed clothing inventory to make your job as simple as possible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Review clothing your child currently owns to determine items he can continue to wear during the winter season. Check all clothing in your child̵7;s dresser, closet and in storage boxes or bins.

    • 2

      Sort each item of clothing to determine fit and condition. Pass down or sell clothes that your youngster has outgrown. Check zippers and buttons of all clothing items to make sure the apparel is in working order; check for holes and tears. Set aside any items that need repairs. Decide if you will fix and keep them, give them away or discard them.

    • 3

      Make an inventory list of how many of each clothing item your child has in wearable condition. For example, you might list eight pairs of underwear and socks, five T-shirts, two long-sleeved shirts, four button-down shirts, two pairs of jeans, one pair of slacks, two sweatshirts and one hoodie for your son.

    • 4

      Compare your child̵7;s available clothing to recommendations by the Scholastic website. Children should have 10 pairs of underwear, 10 to 14 pairs of socks, six to 10 T-shirts and two to three sweaters or sweatshirts. Preschoolers need at least five pairs of pants and older children should have at least three pairs of pants. A child should have at least one coordinating outfit for dressy occasions, also. Check outer wear, too. Kids need two pairs of shoes, one pair of boots, a warm winter coat and winter accessories such as scarf, hat and mittens. Of course, this is just a guideline; your child may have needs that require more or less in the way of clothing and accessories.

    • 5

      Make a detailed shopping list of the essentials your child needs to complete her winter wardrobe.

    • 6

      Purchase or procure the items from a variety of venues, depending on your budget. If your clothing budget is small, ask friends for hand-me-downs and shop at thrift stores and rummage sales. In addition to local retailers, shop on the Internet at online discount sites, auction websites or classified advertisement websites for low-price clothing.

    • 7

      Put away all clothing items so your child can find them easily. Place underwear and socks in one drawer, T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts in another drawer and athletic pants in another drawer. Hang button-down shirts, blouses, jeans, trousers and dresses in a closet. Place outer wear in a coat closet for convenient access.

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