This “Magic Basket” Solves Two Common Problems for My Family

I have a clutter-busting, kid-resetting secret weapon. It’s called the Magic Basket, and it lives in our game closet. Family life is messy. Figuratively, but also literally. Having so many people inhabiting one space means that things get left out all over the house. From socks that get taken off right when and where feet get too hot to abandoned hair ties and scattered LEGO pieces, there’s something everywhere from everyone. 

We have rules and routines in place that help get the whole family in on trying to prevent messes and pitching in to clean them up. For example, we regularly do a “Power 10,” in which everyone picks up and puts away everything in their designated zone — all within 10 minutes. But our systems aren’t perfect, and more often than I like, I find myself overwhelmed by clutter and feeling like I have to clean it up by myself. 

Add to that our second problem: boredom and/or misbehavior in the household. When everyone is in a space for an extended period of time, we tend to get a bit touchy. So then we have a cluttered space and a serving of bad tempers, especially from the younger set — though the adults are not immune. 

So I employ a kid-mess variation of the laundry basket method to help solve both problems.

I grab a basket I keep for just this purpose, and I pick up all the stuff the kids have left out. Unlike when I use the laundry basket method for myself, I don’t have to do the worst part: putting everything away. Instead, the basket goes back in the closet, out of sight. If you don’t have enough space to store it in a closet, a Magic Basket can also live right out in the open.

Addressing kid clutter quickly and easily is one part of the magic of the Magic Basket. Even if putting them in the basket isn’t part of a big cleanup, having a designated spot for small pieces prevents them from getting lost. Furthermore, I’m happy because I get a clutter-free space without having to invest much time or energy. We all know what a difference a happy mama makes in the atmosphere of the whole household! 

The next part of the magic comes from the impact of emptying the Magic Basket. When one of my kids is bored or bouncing off the walls or picking on someone else or otherwise getting themselves into trouble,  I’ll tell them to go empty out the basket. They’re tasked with putting each item back precisely where it belongs. I’ve also made emptying our special baskets a bonus chore on our Skylight calendar. The kids get five stars for completing the job. They’re happy, and so am I. 

Obviously, I love this because those items get organized, with minimal effort from me. And it benefits everyone, since it ensures that LEGO, puzzle and game pieces, and any other rogue toys are at the ready when the kids need them. But I also love it because it’s an excellent way to redirect behavior that’s headed in the wrong direction. By the time a child is done emptying the Magic Basket, they’ve unwittingly reset themselves. Although they inevitably grumble when they’re assigned Magic Basket duty, they finish the task with a sense of accomplishment. 

Another benefit of the basket is that when someone is looking for something that they left around the house (including me!), they know where they can probably find it. Very likely, if it’s not where it belongs, it’s in the basket. It’s become a holding spot for out-of-place items and emptying them regularly ensures that it doesn’t become just another clutter hot spot.

The Magic Basket has worked so well over the years that we’ve added another basket to the kitchen, where clutter also tends to accumulate. We call it the Stash Basket, and unlike the Magic Basket that stayed tucked inside a closet, the Stash Basket lives right out in the open, where it’s super accessible for tossing in those random toys that go back upstairs or the screwdriver that needs to get put back in the toolbox.

I hope the kids are internalizing the lesson that creating order in physical spaces does something to calm us on the inside, but if nothing else, interpersonal conflict has been averted, boredom has been squashed, and the soul-sucking clutter has vanished. That’s my kind of magic.