How I Use Laundry Baskets as a Parenting Product
It May Sound Kind of Crazy, But My Favourite Parenting Product is My Laundry Basket
4
Now that my daughter is older, I still use the IRIS USA, Inc. Comfort Carry Laundry Baskets ($35) for a parenting purpose. Only now the basket isn't so much her friend — we call it Toy Jail. When it's time for her to clean up her toys, I set a timer. When it rings, I walk around the house with the laundry basket, tossing any stray toys into it. It's been a great motivator for her to clean up efficiently, or to simply put toys back in their places when she is done playing with them. I also like how it completely removes the power struggle over cleanup. She gets a chance to do her job, and if she doesn't, I don't have to come up with a big punishment or put a lot of effort into picking up her mess. And I don't feel guilty because I'm not throwing the toys out, I'm just putting them "in jail" for a temporary time.