It’s true that many of us live in a digital age with online calendars and great alert systems. But, if you have a family with young kids, it can be beneficial to post a good old physical calendar for everyone to reference. There’s no need to search for your phone(s) and everyone can glance at it to easily stay in the loop. Here are some of my quick tips on how to maintain a family calendar.

1. Pick a family calendar that is big and bold.

There are lots of calendars on the market (and likely some you can get for free). But for a busy family, I suggest you choose one with large boxes and lots of space to write daily activities like this monthly hanging wall calendar or this 30/60-day dry-erase calendar. Include sports activities, piano lessons, school events, dentist appointments and more. Just jot them down as you get the information.

2. Hang it in a location so everyone can see it.

I usually recommend a family calendar for the kitchen, but you may have a hallway or mudroom that is a better location. Be sure to place it low so kids can read it. Consider attaching it to a bulletin board so you have the option to pin other important items around it. If you don’t have wall space, there attach it to your fridge with magnetic hooks.

3. Establish a system for your family calendar.

How detailed would you like to get? You can simply write times on each square. Or you can find some fun colour-coded stickers for each family member or activity. Get the kids involved and let them help you fill out the calendar. Also, be sure to store pencils, markers or stickers nearby so you don’t need to go searching for them. (In fact, you may want to tie a string on a pen and attach it to the calendar. Just a suggestion!)

A family calendar can be great to keep a busy family organized. No wi-fi is necessary!

Check out our Out of Chaos YouTube segment to see how it’s done!