QUESTION:
How do you help kids learn to be more minimalist and have less clothes?
SHORT ANSWER:
A couple years ago, after evaluating their lifestyle and pastimes, we came up with a list of how many shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, socks, shoes, etc they needed per week. Each kid got their individualized list and picked out their favorite clothes from their closet that fulfilled that.
Everything else was packed away or donated. We have since kept their small “inventory” to about the same. It makes putting away clothes fast for them (they do their own laundry) and their closets and drawers are rarely ever busting out. Since they do their own laundry (kids are ages 5-15) on “their day” every week, they are never out of clothing.
LONGER ANSWER: (because someone asked for details)
I don’t know if my ideas would be helpful as I imagine it varies per child and family lifestyle (and I’m not an expert 😃).
I listed on paper the activities that each child does:
Play
Exercise
Church
School
Sleep
Swim
Clean/Yard Work
Then, I listed the clothes I thought they might need for that.
I’m just MAKING THIS UP right now, but it looked something like:
7 short-sleeved shirts
3 short-sleeved shirts
4 shorts
3 jeans
7 pairs of socks
2 dresses (or blouse/skirt set)
8 underwear
1 swimsuit
3 PJs
1 sneakers
1 dress shoes
I then talked with each child to get their feedback and ask if I had thought about all the activities they participate in. As we removed the things from their closet that were not on the list, sometimes we remembered another activity requiring special clothes or they had a favorite item they really wanted to include. We made adjustments according to maturity and responsibility for their clothes. (If they didn’t have enough of something, like socks or jeans, I made a list of things to shop for. Although, sometimes, we found that item while decluttering a sibling’s wardrobe.)
It was late summer when I did this. In the winter, I made a list of winter gear needed (we get lots of snow and we have chickens we tend to):
coat
jacket
sweater
snow pants
snow boots
wool socks
scarf
snow gloves
knit gloves
hat
We donated the extras or outgrown items. Except for the socks and sweater (oh- and base layers for under their clothes), they keep winter items in a bin and hook in the mud room (entrance by the garage). They know that is their ONE set and so they are really careful with making sure they put them back in the proper place when they come back inside from play.
ANOTHER THOUGHT:
What happens if they lose or destroy their item? Well, it would depend on their circumstances, but I imagine they would:
1) learn how to repair it
2) earn the money to replace it
3) go without it for the rest of the season and get an unforgettable lesson from it
4) negotiate with a sibling to borrow an item
I hope that gives some insight!