Choosing the Best Family Calendar: Digital vs Paper Planners

Once your kids are old enough to participate in all the activities, having an effective way to organize your day-to-day is important. Some parents can be overwhelmed by the idea of a family calendar and aren't sure which method to start with.

If you have multiple children, keeping track of everyone's activities can become overwhelming. Enter the family calendar. On paper, the family calendar appears to be a dream come true. However, you can't simply decide to start with a family calendar and expect everything to fall into place. The task of choosing which one to use and which one is best for your family can feel daunting.

From digital to paper to apps, which one is the best? That's where we come in. Below, I compare the different types of family calendars, explain why families love them, and also provide my own personal recommendation. Ready to get started?

Why a Family Calendar Can Change Your Life

If you are anything like me, then feeling overwhelmed can quite literally make you freeze in place. In today's society, the cost of living often means most parents are working (whether in or out of the home). Add school for the kids, after-school activities, sports, household maintenance, and dinner prep, and it may start to feel like you are a circus clown juggling all your responsibilities.

Sure, you can keep track of it all in your head, but why would you want to? A family calendar can change your life by making you feel significantly more prepared to tackle the day, as well as all your tasks. If everyone in the family has access to the calendar, then there's no need to repeat yourself. It's a win for everyone.

Different Types of Family Calendars to Look At

Now, if you are on board to finally go all in and start using a family calendar, don't balk at all the options. The first step is to assess your family's needs. Do you need a calendar that is easily accessible and visible to everyone? Do you and your partner communicate better through a shared app? Perhaps you enjoy the old-school way of writing out every appointment on paper?

Once you figure out which route you want to take, it is time to weed out the calendars that won't work for your family. Take a look at the various options available today.

Analog Family Calendars

Physical family calendars are still very popular. For starters, they are typically cheaper than digital calendars. It's easy to display them on a shared wall space, and you don't constantly have to be on something digital to check it (like your phone). Here are a few popular physical family calendars that may work for you.

Family Planner

A good old-fashioned planner takes me back to school days, when we used agendas to keep track of our day-to-day activities. There are numerous family planners available on the market today, and each offers a straightforward way to record your day-to-day activities. Also, some planners can keep track of everything, such as meal planning, grocery lists, doctors' numbers, and more.

Wall Calendars

A large wall calendar can be simple and effective. Hang it up somewhere where the whole family can see it. All you need is a pen to write in all the important information each month, from ball games to ballet. If you get one large enough, there should be plenty of room to write in all the activities.

Dry Erase Boards

Dry-erase boards are similar in style to wall calendars, except that they are more cost-effective in the long run. You can also erase the board if you make a mistake and start over.

Pros of Analog Calendars

Like anything, analog calendars come with plenty of pros. Here are a few:

• Lower screen use
• Gives better privacy
• Less dependence on tech
• Allows for more creativity

Cons of Analog Calendars

While analog calendars are simple, they still have some drawbacks. These include:

• Kids wanting to draw on them, especially those dry-erase boards, leading to smudges
• Constantly having to write the appointments physically, which can be tedious
• The calendars may only offer limited space
• Not portable (unless it's a planner)
• Hard to collaborate with your family
• Can be time-consuming
• Increase in clutter

Digital Options

A more popular option for families today is a digital calendar. Digital family calendars can offer a seamless experience, facilitate better collaboration, and are often less time-consuming to update with information. Another plus is that several digital calendars can be downloaded straight to your phone, making it easy to bring your calendar with you on the go. Take a look at these popular digital calendars below.

Google Calendar

The Google Calendar is a popular scheduling app that is downloadable on both iOS and Android devices for free. Many people love this app because it makes events easy to manage, allows you to create a to-do list, and offers family sharing features.

Family Apps

Google Calendar is not the only family app that is easy to share and use. Some other popular ones that you can download straight to your phone include FamilyWall, Cozi Family Organizer, and Nifty.

Digital Wall Calendars

If you want to move away from phone apps and into something a little more complex, several digital calendars are available today. These digital calendars can be easily set up at home and connected to your phone. This means you can take the app with you on the go, while also having a primary display for the kids and family at home. Some popular digital calendars are Amazon Echo Show, Hearth, and Cozyla Calendar.

Pros of Digital

There are several advantages to digital wall calendars. These include:

• The ability to easily collaborate
• Typically hooks up to a phone app
• Easily customize tasks and events
• Get real-time updates

Cons of Digital

Although they are easy to use, digital wall calendars can have some drawbacks. These can be:

• Overreliance on power and the internet
• Can be expensive upfront
• Not as private as a paper calendar
• May come with subscription fees
• It may be challenging to learn the ins and outs at first

My Top Pick: Skylight

My favorite family calendar is the Skylight digital calendar, by far. It is on the more pricey side, around $300. However, if you love organization like me, then you will quickly fall in love with it. There is a section where your children can keep track of their chores and daily tasks. There are even options to give them rewards with stars. Once they reach a specific number of chores, you can choose an “award” for them.

Additionally, there are places for you to input a meal plan for each day of the week and keep a recipe box of your favorite meals. You can also input activities and choose to repeat them throughout your calendar. No more writing the same activity over and over again!

In Conclusion

Ultimately, only you can determine which type of calendar is best suited for your family. You may enjoy the physical aspect of paper calendars. They can be a great way to go tech-free and express creativity. Or you may love the ease and collaborative spirit of digital calendars. Regardless of the route you choose when selecting the best family calendars, one thing is certain: now is a great time to get started with one.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock.com