Kids come with a lot of stuff from the get-go. Experts in child development claim that toddlers as young as two years old may comprehend chores and make an essential contribution to the household’s cleanliness. It’s possible to teach kids to be tidy and organized, which will help them adjust into school more smoothly and connect socially.
The Basket Method is one of several strategies that families use to keep their areas neat. This technique uses baskets to assist children in keeping their rooms tidy while also making it simple to be responsible for their own belongings.
What it the basket method, anyway?
The basket method is simple: A basket is assigned to each child and they use it to store their belongings. At the end of each day, everything that’s in their basket goes into a designated playroom closet or storage cupboard. This means that toys and books are not strewn about the room during the day.
The baskets can be used to hold items throughout the day so kids don’t have to carry them around all day long. For example, if a child has finished playing with a toy, they put it into the basket and continue with their activities. When they want to play with that toy again, all that’s needed is for them to take it out of the basket.
The baskets are typically labeled by each member’s name. For example, “Alex’s Basket” will be found in the playroom closet. Sometimes, kids are also assigned to clean out their own baskets. If this is part of your routine, it’s important that the children understand what goes into each basket at all times.
How baskets help kids become organized
Baskets are an ideal tool for teaching kids to be organized because they’re very convenient. For instance, you won’t have to keep reminding your child to clean up her room if she’s able to do it by herself. This is the reason why teachers often encourage their students to use baskets in their classrooms so they can have designated areas for papers, books, and other items.
Parents may also want to consider putting baskets into older children’s rooms that are transitioning into a teenager’s room. As kids get older, they tend to take more responsibility for their things and take pride in keeping their rooms neat and tidy.
When kids pick up after themselves, they also develop better organizational habits that will serve them well as adults.
How it works
The basket comes into the main living area at the beginning of the day. Throughout the day, a parent or the child may put an item back in the basket as a strategy to limit clutter or get it back to its proper spot. The child takes the basket to their room and puts the things in their right place. The empty basket is ready for a new day.
A basket system like the one above is easily adaptable to fit most homes. The most important thing is that you stick with it and remember that it takes time. A messy room may seem overwhelming at the start, but it will eventually get easier over time when kids develop new habits.
Why it’s awesome
The basket method is an excellent approach to instill pride of ownership, duty, and respect in children. They learn to take part in the chores without being overloaded by being responsible for the goods in the basket and seeing that they are put away.
Picking up one basket at the end of the day is less intimidating than gathering several objects. Moms and dads don’t mind placing a stray shoe or book in a basket that they know their child will carry to their room.
Other ways to use the basket method
The basket method is a great way to streamline many sorts of chores. For example, if you have a multi-level home, you can keep a basket at the foot of the stairs to capture items that need to go up or down before the child leaves for school.
Every night, you can designate a basket to keep next to your child’s bed to collect the items that they need to take care of tomorrow morning. This could be anything from gym clothes or homework supplies to toys and books.
With older kids, you can use baskets in their rooms to help them collect dirty clothes for laundry, dishes to take care of after dinner, or shoes to bring in.
The basket method is a great way to teach your children organization skills. It improves cleanliness and order by utilizing designated containers rather than allowing clutter to pile up in one area. If implemented correctly, it can change the way you organize your home for years to come.
Teaching kids the importance of being tidy helps them adjust and adapt to new situations easier. Knowing the importance of being a part of a team and how to take care of their belongings allows them to contribute to the family in a meaningful way, too.
Now that you have an idea about how the basket method works, why not give it a try? The key is being patient with your children as they adjust to their new routines. Soon enough, picking up after themselves will become second nature!
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