Side by side
You are going to want help from the kids and they will want to climb up to the stacked, and that is not so safe.
In a parenting class recently, I heard that when a child is old enough to use the computer by them self, they are old enough to run the washer and dryer.
You may want to have them help sort laundry when they are younger so that as they start to run loads, they have practice.
The sooner you let them help, even if it takes longer to do the work now, the longer they will want to help.
My son is 19 months and loves to help empty the dryer into the basket, and our washer is top loader, so I have to hand him the clothing to put into the dryer, but he loves to throw it in and shut the door.
If I tell him to go play while I do laundry, it would become a habit and when he was older he would go do what he wanted while I did laundry, not my favorite thought. And as a teenager I want as many good habits in place as possible, with as little excuses as possible.
Sorry I got carried away, side by side, lol.
S.
mother to Kai
www.HomeWithKai.com