While my kiddo is away at summer camp, I’m home doing what many moms do best: cleaning. But not just tidying – full-on purging and reorganizing. Of her stuff.
Every few months, I go through her clothes, toys, and random treasures to declutter and bring back some sense of order. Today reminded me of a challenge we keep circling back to: organizing clothing for a child with ADHD.
If your family is navigating ADHD, executive function struggles, or sensory overwhelm, this post is for you. I’m sharing what worked for us (and what didn’t) – and I’d love to hear your tips, too.
When Drawers Just Don’t Work
When my daughter reached the age where she wanted to pick her own clothes, I was thrilled. I didn’t care if she wore stripes with florals – I just wanted her to feel confident and capable.
So I set up what I thought was a simple system:
- Dresses and shirts hung in the closet
- Drawers for everything else
- Neatly folded, labeled, and organized
It looked great. But every morning, her room exploded into a pile of clothes. She was frustrated. I was frustrated. And I realized this wasn’t just about messy habits – it was about how her brain processes choices.
ADHD and Clothing Organization: Why Visibility Matters
As I learned more about ADHD and executive function, one thing became clear:
If my daughter couldn’t see something, it might as well not exist.
Her leggings? Still folded neatly in the drawer. But in her mind, they were gone.
My beautifully labeled drawers didn’t solve the real problem: she needed visibility and fewer choices to stay regulated and independent.
Even with picture labels (back when she couldn’t read), it wasn’t enough. She needed to see it all at a glance and have a limited number of decisions to make.
The Closet Overhaul That Finally Worked
Eventually, I took almost everything out of her dresser and moved her daily clothes into the closet — all hung up and grouped by type.
The difference was instant. She could see everything. Fewer meltdowns. Less frustration. Faster mornings.
Here’s what helped the most:
- Hang everything – even pants and shorts
- Group clothing by type
- Remove out-of-season items entirely and store them elsewhere
- Use vacuum-seal bags or bins to save space
- Keep choices limited – too many options = decision paralysis
It’s Still a Work in Progress
This isn’t a perfect system – ADHD organization rarely is. We adjust as she grows.
- I rotate pieces in and out to avoid overwhelming her.
- I limit how many shirts or pants are hanging.
- When we can, we prep outfits the night before.
ADHD-friendly organization isn’t one-size-fits-all, but even small tweaks can reduce daily chaos.
Tools That Made a Big Difference
If you’re looking to reset your kiddo’s closet, here are a few things that helped us:
- Velvet non-slip kid hangers – lightweight and grippy
- Closet dividers – great for labeling by type or day of the week.
- Clear bins or cubbies – perfect for socks, undies, or accessories
- Vacuum-seal storage bags – ideal for storing seasonal items or hand-me-downs
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Your Turn: What Works in Your Home?
Have you found a system that works for your kids? Has it gotten easier with age – or is it still constant adjustment?
Drop your favorite tips in the comments. Whether it’s ADHD-friendly hacks, executive function tools, or just solidarity in the chaos, I’d love to hear from you.
Before You Go…
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