best shared family calendar app
The modern world is busy and hectic, and it can be challenging to keep track of each family member’s schedule. Whether it’s work, school, extracurricular activities, or social events, there are so many things to juggle. This is where a shared family calendar app comes in handy. It allows families to stay organized, communicate effectively, and stay on top of everyone’s schedules. With the plethora of apps available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your family. In this article, we will explore the best-shared family calendar app and its features.
1. What is a Shared Family Calendar App?
A shared family calendar app is a digital calendar that allows multiple users to view and edit it. It provides a centralized platform for families to manage their schedules, appointments, and events. This app is accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers, making it easy to stay connected and updated at all times. It eliminates the need for traditional paper calendars, which can be easily lost or forgotten. With a shared family calendar app, everyone in the family can stay organized and on the same page.
2. Features to Look for in a Shared Family Calendar App
When choosing a shared family calendar app, there are several essential features to consider. These features will ensure that the app is user-friendly, practical, and meets your family’s needs. Some of the features to look for include:
– Shared access: The app should allow multiple users to access and edit the calendar simultaneously.
– Color-coding: This feature enables each family member to have a unique color for their events, making it easy to identify who the event belongs to.
– Syncing with other calendars: The app should be able to sync with other calendars, such as Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar.
– Reminders and notifications: The app should send reminders and notifications to all users for upcoming events, appointments, or tasks.
– To-do lists: Some apps come with a to-do list feature, allowing families to create and assign tasks to each member.
– location sharing : This feature enables family members to share their location with each other, making it easier to coordinate schedules.
– In-app messaging: Some apps have an in-app messaging feature, enabling family members to communicate and discuss events or tasks within the app.
3. The Best Shared Family Calendar App
After thorough research and testing, the best-shared family calendar app is Cozi. It has all the essential features mentioned above, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy for families to use. Let’s dive deeper into the features of Cozi and how it can benefit your family.
4. Shared Access
Cozi allows multiple users to access and edit the calendar simultaneously. This feature is perfect for families with older children who need to manage their own schedules. Each family member can have their own account within the app, making it easy to keep everyone’s schedules separate.
5. Color-coding
Cozi has a color-coding feature that enables each family member to have their unique color for their events. This feature makes it easy to differentiate between family members’ schedules, especially when multiple events are happening at the same time.
6. Syncing with Other Calendars
One of the most convenient features of Cozi is its ability to sync with other calendars. This includes Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar, making it easy to import existing events and appointments into Cozi.
7. Reminders and Notifications
Cozi sends reminders and notifications to all users for upcoming events, appointments, or tasks. This feature ensures that everyone in the family is aware of their schedules and does not miss any important events.
8. To-Do Lists
Cozi has a to-do list feature that allows families to create and assign tasks to each member. This feature is perfect for managing household chores, errands, and responsibilities. It also allows family members to mark tasks as complete, making it easy to track progress.
9. Location Sharing
Cozi has a location sharing feature that enables family members to share their location with each other. This feature is particularly useful for families with teenagers who are out and about. It gives parents peace of mind, knowing where their children are and their estimated time of arrival.
10. In-App Messaging
Lastly, Cozi has an in-app messaging feature, enabling family members to communicate and discuss events or tasks within the app. This feature eliminates the need for external messaging apps, keeping all family communication in one place.
11. Other Features of Cozi
Apart from the features mentioned above, Cozi has several other features that make it the best-shared family calendar app. These include:
– Meal planning: Cozi has a meal planning feature that allows families to plan their meals for the week. It also has a recipe box where users can save their favorite recipes.
– Shopping lists: Cozi has a shopping list feature that enables families to create and share shopping lists. This makes it easier to coordinate grocery shopping and ensure that nothing is forgotten.
– Journal: Cozi has a journal feature that allows families to document and share special memories, photos, or notes.
– Birthday and anniversary reminders: Cozi sends reminders for birthdays and anniversaries, ensuring that no important dates are forgotten.
12. How to Get Started with Cozi
To get started with Cozi, follow these simple steps:
– Download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
– Create an account and choose the “family” option.
– Add family members by entering their names and email addresses.
– Start adding events, appointments, and tasks to the calendar.
– Customize the settings according to your family’s preferences.
– Explore the other features of Cozi and start using them to stay organized and connected.
13. Cozi’s Pricing
Cozi offers a free version with limited features, including the shared calendar, to-do lists, and shopping lists. For families looking for more features, Cozi offers a premium version for $29.99 per year. This includes all the features mentioned above, plus additional features such as ad-free viewing, birthday and anniversary reminders, and more.
14. The Benefits of Using Cozi
Using Cozi as your shared family calendar app comes with several benefits, including:
– Improved organization: Cozi helps families stay organized and on top of their schedules, reducing the chances of missed appointments or events.
– Better communication: With Cozi’s in-app messaging feature, families can communicate and stay connected within the app, making it easier to coordinate schedules and tasks.
– Increased productivity: The to-do list feature and reminder notifications help families stay productive and get things done efficiently.
– Quality family time: By having a centralized platform for managing schedules and tasks, families can spend more quality time together without the stress of organizing and coordinating.
15. The Verdict
In conclusion, Cozi is the best-shared family calendar app available in the market today. Its user-friendly interface, essential features, and additional features make it the perfect tool for families to stay organized and connected. With Cozi, managing schedules, appointments, and tasks becomes hassle-free, and families can spend more time enjoying each other’s company. Download Cozi today and experience the benefits of a shared family calendar app firsthand.
childrens sensory toys
Children learn and grow through their senses, and sensory toys are a great way to stimulate and engage their senses. These toys are designed to provide a variety of sensory experiences, such as touch, sight, sound, and movement, which can help children develop important skills and abilities. In this article, we will explore the benefits of children’s sensory toys and recommend some of the best options available.
Sensory toys have become increasingly popular in recent years, as parents and educators have recognized the importance of sensory play in a child’s development. Sensory play not only engages children’s senses but also helps them learn about their environment, develop motor skills, and improve their cognitive abilities. By providing a variety of experiences, sensory toys can also help children with sensory processing issues, such as sensory overload or sensory seeking behaviors.
One of the main benefits of sensory toys is their ability to stimulate the senses. For young children, this is crucial as they are still learning about the world around them. Sensory toys provide different textures, sounds, and colors that engage the senses and encourage exploration. For example, a soft sensory ball with different textures can help a child develop their tactile sense, while a musical toy can help with auditory development. By providing a range of sensory experiences, these toys can help children develop a better understanding of their environment and the world around them.
In addition to stimulating the senses, sensory toys also help with the development of fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers, while gross motor skills involve the use of larger muscles, such as those in the arms and legs. Sensory toys that require children to manipulate objects, such as puzzles or building blocks, can help develop their fine motor skills. On the other hand, toys that involve movement, such as swings or balance boards, can help with the development of gross motor skills. By engaging in these activities, children can improve their coordination, balance, and dexterity.
Sensory toys are also beneficial for children with sensory processing issues. Sensory processing refers to how the brain takes in and interprets information from the senses. Some children may have difficulty processing sensory information, which can result in sensory overload or seeking behaviors. Sensory toys can help these children by providing a controlled and safe environment to explore their senses. For example, a child who is sensitive to touch may benefit from playing with a soft, squishy toy, while a child who seeks sensory input may enjoy playing with a fidget toy. By providing these toys, parents and educators can help children with sensory processing issues regulate their senses and feel more comfortable in their surroundings.
Sensory toys are also a great way to promote creativity and imagination in children. Many sensory toys, such as playdough or sensory bins, allow children to use their imagination and come up with their own stories and scenarios. This type of open-ended play is important for children’s development as it encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. By engaging in sensory play, children can also learn to express themselves in different ways, such as through art or storytelling.
Another benefit of sensory toys is their ability to promote language development. During sensory play, children are often engaged in conversation, whether it’s with themselves or with others. This is an excellent opportunity for children to learn new words and practice their communication skills. Sensory toys that involve storytelling, such as puppets or sensory books, can also help children develop their language skills by encouraging them to narrate their own stories. By providing a language-rich environment through sensory play, children can improve their vocabulary, sentence structure, and social skills.
Sensory toys are also a great tool for teaching children about cause and effect. Many sensory toys, such as water tables or sandboxes, allow children to experiment and see the immediate results of their actions. This type of play helps children understand cause and effect relationships, which is an essential skill for problem-solving and decision-making. By providing a variety of sensory experiences, children can also learn about different scientific concepts, such as gravity or density, through hands-on exploration.
Sensory play is also beneficial for children’s emotional development. Sensory toys can help children regulate their emotions and provide a sense of calm and comfort. For example, playing with a stress ball can help children release tension and anxiety, while playing with a calm-down bottle can help them relax and refocus. Sensory toys can also be used as a tool for emotional expression, allowing children to explore and understand their feelings in a safe and non-judgmental way.
Now that we have explored the benefits of sensory toys, let’s take a look at some of the best options available for children of different ages.
For infants and toddlers, soft toys with different textures, such as plush animals or sensory balls, are great for exploring their sense of touch. Sensory books with different textures and sounds can also help with their cognitive development. For gross motor skills, activity gyms or play mats with different textures and hanging toys are great for encouraging movement and exploration.
For preschoolers, building blocks, puzzles, and other manipulative toys are great for developing fine motor skills. Sensory bins with different textures, such as water beads or rice, can also help with their sensory development. Creative toys, such as playdough or finger paints, are also great for promoting imagination and creativity.
As children get older, they may enjoy more complex sensory toys, such as science kits or building sets. These toys not only provide sensory experiences but also help with problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Sensory games, such as matching games or memory games, are also great for developing cognitive abilities.
In conclusion, children’s sensory toys are a valuable tool for their development. They provide a variety of sensory experiences that stimulate the senses, promote motor skills, encourage creativity and imagination, and help with emotional and language development. By providing a range of sensory toys, parents and educators can help children learn and grow in a fun and engaging way. So next time you’re looking for a gift for a child, consider a sensory toy that will not only provide hours of entertainment but also contribute to their overall development.