Store kids' shoes and socks in the coat closet
We keep our kids' shoes and socks (rolled into little, self-contained balls) stowed in a hanging canvas shoe organizer the hallway coat closet. Advantages (as compared to keeping shoes in bedroom closets and socks in bedroom drawers):
- No dirt tracked through the house when entering or leaving.
- When we say "put on your shoes and socks" as the last step to getting out the door for an outing, we lose no momentum as we would if we sent kids back to their toy- and distraction-filled bedrooms.
- Socks and shoes live in the same place.
- Bedroom closets and drawers are less cluttered.
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Quick question, are there only as many (or few) pairs of socks as there are shoes?
Posted by: Heather | 20 February 2006 at 01:29 PM
More socks than shoes. The pairs of shoes get stored in individual pockets, and the socks get rolled up in balls and shoved into a single pocket.
Posted by: Parent Hacks Editor | 20 February 2006 at 02:01 PM
We have a similar system, not just for the kids. Behind the front door was just enough space to put a simple prefab bookshelf. We removed the bottom shelves, and put a stackable shoerack in. One shoe-shelf per person, and until the latest family addition the top shelf for guests. No more hunting for shoes. Added benefit: the top shelves funtion as out-shelves. Also, one for each person. Wallets, keys, access cards, etc. can all live right by the door.
Posted by: Mieke | 21 February 2006 at 07:38 AM
brilliant! we'll be moving socks in the morning.
i adore the hook i put in our front closet that is specifically for my handbag.
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Posted by: appleturnover | 28 April 2006 at 08:42 PM