Capsule wardrobes for kids just makes sense. Our little people wear clothes for a such a short amount of time, changing and growing before our eyes into the next size and stage. Spring Capsules for Kids make dressing our little humans simpler. Fall and spring are two times of year I really hone in on my kids’ closets and reassess what they’re wearing.
Spring Capsules for Kids
Why a spring capsule?
A spring capsule for kids reduces shopping, organizing, and laundry. It may be hard to believe, but it’s been true for our family.
A spring capsule for kids decreases shopping time and money spent. I shop once for the items they will wear this spring and it’s done. There will be times, of course, something comes up and we need to purchase a piece of clothing for an event or activity, but it’s easy to do because the capsule is in place. It reduces spending because I’m not buying a closet full of clothes for each child. I’m buying enough.
A spring capsule also helps with organizing clothes. The kids are able to put their clothes away and keep them organized because there aren’t hoards of them. In my experience, if the amount of clothes isn’t manageable for the child, it’s too much.
A spring capsule also helps with laundry. This may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. If every kid has enough clothes for two weeks, that means at any given time I can have two weeks of laundry for each kid in my laundry room. And friends, I don’t want that. Keeping their wardrobes manageable creates less laundry. It also forces me to keep up on laundry, instead of letting it pile up. I do a load of laundry everyday, which has become a part of my daily rhythm and ensures my kids always have something to wear.
How to put together a Spring Kid Capsule
1. Decide what is enough for your kids and your lifestyle.
This is probably the hardest part of creating a capsule wardrobe for kids. Think through what is enough for your kids and your lifestyle. Ask yourself: What activities and events will my kid participate in the next three months? What items will my child need? How often do I want to do laundry? Does my kid need an outfit for everyday of the week or can I make do with less? Decide what is enough for your child and your lifestyle, knowing you can make tweaks along the way.
For our family, I have played around with the numbers of bottoms and tops and it fluctuates each season. Spring in the midwest can bring all sorts of weather, so layers and rain boots are essential.
For us, our boys need around 5 bottoms, 6-10 tops, 3 pairs of pajamas, a jacket, tennis shoes, and boots. For our daughter, 6-8 bottoms, 8-10 tops, 2-3 dresses, 1-2 pairs of tights, 1-2 cardigans, 3 pairs of pajamas, a jacket, tennis shoes, boots, and a dressier pair of shoes are enough. This is what works for us right now and changes with each season.
2. Pull out and try on potential pieces.
Bring out pieces you will consider this spring. Have each child try on the clothes to see what still fits. Keep what fits and donate or store the rest for siblings.
If your kids need an incentive to try on clothes (like mine), a piece of chocolate or the promise of a boardgame or puzzle might do the trick.
3. Make a list of gaps and shop.
After each kid tries on the pieces, make a list of gaps. Choose pieces that are versatile and can go with many of the clothing already in the capsule. A good rule: In order to purchase a piece, it must go with 3 other pieces already in the wardrobe. Shop swap pages, Poshmark, or wherever you like for clothes needed. If your kids are older, include them in the shopping. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids about needs and wants, money and the cost of goods, and making intentional purchasing decisions.
After my kids tried on this year we needed: rain boots for everyone, a short sleeve top for my oldest, Easter shirts for the older boys, tennis shoes for my four year old, and a pair of pajamas and pair of bottoms for my 18 month old. We are blessed with lots of hand-me-downs from cousins, which make up the majority of my younger kids’ capsules. We like Hanna Anderson, Alice and Ames, Childhoods Clothing for any pieces we still need.
Spring Capsules for Kids is a way to make dressing your littles simpler and make it a more independent task. Tell me: Will you create a spring capsule for your kids this year?