How large are the walk in closets?

I would choose the regular, swing out door.

The reason I asked is most times the closets for kids are made barely large enough to step into and in that case I would have suggested putting in a reach in closet.

However your closets are quite substantial for the kids and will allow for lots of storage and being able to walk into the closets. I would do a swing out door. I wouldn't trust kids with pocket doors for the reasons you stated.

In our current home, both my kids have walk in closets with a swing out door. I love the swing out door to save space inside the closet and they keep them closed most of the time.

In our new build, one kid will have a swing out door and one will have a swing-in door (due to the placement of her closet, a swing-out was not possible). I almost switched the swing-in to a pocket or closet barn door, but finally decided to just live with the swing in (far less expensive).

So I'd vote for swing out if it doesn't interfere with anything else.

I'd sketch a furniture layout for the room -- if an outswing isn't a problem with hitting a chair or dresser, then do that, but otherwise, an inswing should be ok. It's the rare kid who'd have enough clothes to fill all that space. (Maybe they can put a few cushions on one wall and have a hideout!)

I'm like Mrs. Pete... Forgoing doors altogether on my closet. I'd like to use curtains on the kids' closets, especially a girly lace for my daughter. :-)

I LOVE pocket doors. I don't know about the layout or where the closet is located ... where on the wall ... perhaps a barn door style ?? Same idea as pocket, except it's hung outside of closet on the wall and rolls across the closet opening. Barn door style alleviates issues if door comes off of rail.

Solid core, outward swinging doors will work just fine; they will last; and when you sell the house they will make excellent doors for whomever uses the bedroom next. Pocket doors are not appropriate unless there is simply no other choice...

Have you considered a curtain or beads? You could make it a historic cultural learning statement.

I put bifolds on my kids' closets, but pivot double swing doors on my own.

I think a barn-style door could be a happy medium. The functionality of a pocket door to save space but on the outside so that repairs wouldn't be costly.

In-swing doors waste space unless if the closet it big enough.
Bi-folds work fine but I'm sure everyone agrees they will fall out their tracks at one point in the future and piss you off :)
Solid out-sings look nicer IMO than bi-fold if the room is big enough, not that you need much room for them

I love pocket doors. My home is 20 years old and I have 5 pocket doors. I have never had an issue with a pocket door. I wish nearly every door in my house was a pocket door.

One other thing to think about with pocket doors, you will be limited on what you can mount to the wall they slide into. Your screws cannot intrude into the sliding space, so you may be limited to a 1" screw which will limit your load capacity.

You do not mention how old the kids are. My Dad put chalk board on our pocet doors when we were small and then removed the board when we out grew the need and repaced with wall paper to match what we had. We had those pocket doors as long as I can remember with no problem. You could do the same thing with barn doors if you are concerned.

have you considered bifold doors? doesn't swing in or out and doesn't waste space.

Since it's been mentioned more than once now, lol, I wouldn't consider bifolds unless you have older kiddos... Little fingers always manage to get pinched in them (I've actually caught myself a few times), and while it's not the end of the world, it's just one more thing to deal with that is easily preventable. :-)

Another who wouldn't do bifolds. They actually take up more space in the door opening than a regular door would thus making the opening narrower. Get the good quality pocket door ones. As long as it still makes it so you can install the closet hardware you need on that wall. In my old house I had pocket doors on two of the bathrooms - they were not the good quality hardware, but rather the standard that had been there since the early 70s when the house was built and I never had any issues with either of them. One was a much used hall bathroom.

We have 4 walk in-closets all have standard doors. The builder decided if the door needed to swing in or out based on room layout. Master closet and nursery closet swing in, our other kids rooms swing out. I find the standard doors easier than the pocket doors for the little ones having the ability to open and close. Also, when I have my hands full of clothes to hang up its easier to open as well because of the lever handle. Bi-fold wouldn't even be an option on the table for me, I hate those things and the kids mess with the track all the time in our laundry closet by leaning on the doors.