How to transition kids’ closets from winter to summer & get a head start on fall consignment season
If your mudroom currently contains:
one random snow bootthree hoodieslast summer’s sandalspants nobody claimsand at least one swimsuit that definitely doesn’t fit anymore…
You are not alone.
The seasonal kid-clothes switch is one of those parenting jobs that sounds simple until you actually start doing it. Suddenly you’re surrounded by piles of too-small leggings, mystery socks, and jackets you forgot even existed.
But according to Jen Stickle, co-owner of Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale, this whole process can actually become your secret weapon for making money back on all those outgrown kids clothes.
“It’s a weird time of the year,” Stickle says. “We still have some athletic pants out. We definitely still have sweatshirts out.”
Instead of waiting until September and panic-cleaning closets before the fall sale, Jen recommends building a simple system now that helps you:
Here’s how to make it happen.
Want to hear Jen’s full closet-transition system and pro consignor tips? Watch her full video below:
Jen Stickle is co-owner of Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale in Erie and Pittsburgh.
Step 1: Start With a Simple Reality Check
Before buying a single pair of summer shorts, pull out last year’s spring and summer bins and see what actually still fits.
This is the perfect time to:
Check sizesTry on swimsuits and sandalsSee what basics your kids actually wearFigure out what you truly need before shopping
Jen recommends making a quick list for each child with:
Current clothing sizesShoe sizesFavorite colors or charactersSummer activity needsSports gear needsItems grandparents might need at their house
Because half the battle is remembering what you already own.
And the other half? Realizing how much your kids have already outgrown.
Step 2: Create 4 Bins (This Is the Game-Changer)
Instead of making giant piles everywhere, grab four bins, baskets, laundry hampers, or even diaper boxes and label them:
1. Keep
Items that still work right now:
SweatshirtsJeansRain jacketsAnything still useful during Erie’s “40 degrees in the morning, 75 by afternoon” season2. Try Again in Fall
These are the “maybe” items:
Slightly big pantsJackets with room to growDress clothes that might still fit in September
Jen says separating these NOW saves huge headaches later.
“We don’t want to sort it a second time,” she explains.
3. Recycle/Trash
Anything stained, ripped, stretched out, or beyond saving.
And Jen makes an important point here: badly worn clothes should not automatically be donated.
“This is a dignity issue,” she says. “We don’t want to give stuff with holes to nonprofits.”
4. Save for Consignment
This is where the magic happens.
Good-condition clothes another family could use:
Athletic brandsSeasonal outfitsJacketsShoes in great shapeHoliday outfitsTrendy kids clothing
Jen says this is the perfect time to start building your fall consignor bin for Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale.
“Get a box, get a bin, or dump out a laundry basket and just start collecting all the stuff that is winter that they don’t need anymore,” she says.
Thinking about consigning this fall?
Start that “save for Sunflower Sprouts” bin now! Fall 2026 Erie consignor registration is expected to open this summer, typically about three months before the early October sale.
Follow Sunflower Sprouts on FacebookWhy Erie Moms Love Consigning at Sunflower Sprouts
Let’s be honest: kids grow FAST.
And for many Erie families, consigning has become one of the easiest ways to:
clear clutter before winterearn money back on kids itemsshop the next season for lessavoid paying full retail prices for constantly changing sizes
The earlier you start your consignor pile, the easier fall prep becomes.
Instead of scrambling in September, you’ll already have:
sorted binsorganized clotheshanging supplies readyitems washed and set aside
Future-you will be VERY thankful.
Step 3: Stop Keeping SO Many Clothes
This one stings a little.
But Jen says one of the biggest mistakes parents make is simply keeping too much.
“Less is more,” she says.
Most kids really don’t need:
25 t-shirts14 hoodies30 baby outfitsdrawers overflowing with “just in case” clothes
As you sort, pay attention to:
What your kids actually woreWhat sat untouched all seasonWhat wore out too quicklyWhat you constantly needed more of
That information becomes your shopping roadmap for next season — and helps you decide what’s worth consigning later.
Step 4: Put “Try On Fall Clothes” on Your Calendar NOW
This might be Jen’s smartest tip.
As you pack away fall and winter clothes, create a labeled “Try Again in Fall” bin and actually schedule a reminder on your phone for August.
That way:
you’re not re-sorting everything lateryou’ll know what still fits before school shoppingand you’ll have time to prep consignor items before the fall sale
“The trick is to go into August and make an appointment in your personal calendar,” Jen says.
Want to Consign This Fall?
The next Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale sale is expected in early October in Erie, and consignor registration typically opens about three months beforehand.
If you think you might want to consign:
Because the families who seem super organized by fall?
They usually started with one bin in May.
Give Yourself Credit for This Job
Closet transitions are work.
Mental work.
Laundry work.
Sorting work.
Emotional work.
“Give yourself permission to take time,” Jen says. “And give yourself credit for the time and energy that it takes.”
So order the pizza.
Grab the Starbucks.
Call it productive.
And start that consignor bin while you’re at it.
Your fall consignor prep can start today
As you switch closets from winter to summer, set aside clean, gently used kids’ clothing, shoes, toys, and gear now. You’ll be one step ahead when Sunflower Sprouts opens consignor registration for the fall Erie sale.