Let’s be honest, “organized” is rarely the first word that comes to mind when we think about family life. Between shuttling kids to soccer, managing your “can we have dessert for breakfast?” debates, and trying to remember which day the recycling goes out (again), life can feel pretty darn chaotic to put it mildly. Enter the parent planner.
Imagine having every school event, grocery list, chore rotation, and so much more accounted for and written down. A parent planner is like the Swiss Army knife of family organization. With a simple glance, you can streamline your day, plot out meals for the week, and even discover that your dentist appointment actually isn’t this Monday, thank goodness.
In this post, I’m sharing how a parent planner can help you transform the daily chaos into organized chaos. Think of it as the key to balancing family life, but with way fewer tears and maybe even a touch more zen. Or, at the very least, fewer sticky notes plastered across the kitchen.
What you should include in your parent planner
A well-rounded parent planner should include sections to cover the family’s daily and weekly needs, plus a few extras for staying organized and stress-free. Here are some essentials to consider:
- Calendar Section: Monthly and weekly spreads for scheduling school events, sports practices, doctor’s appointments, and family activities.
- Daily Schedules: Spaces to outline each family member’s daily routines, drop-off/pick-up times, and any extra activities.
- Meal Planning: Weekly meal plans, grocery lists, and recipe ideas to simplify meal prep and shopping.
- Chores & Responsibilities: Lists or charts to assign chores to family members, track completion, and manage household responsibilities.
- Budget Tracker: A basic section for keeping tabs on household expenses, bills, and any specific savings goals.
- School & Extracurriculars: Sections to record important dates, projects, or teacher contact information; it can also include assignment deadlines, sports schedules, and field trip details.
- Health & Emergency Info: A section for family health information, such as allergies, medications, and emergency contacts, including doctors and nearby hospitals.
- Important Contacts: Spaces to save contacts for caregivers, teachers, coaches, and family friends.
- Goal Setting: An area for personal and family goals, like a family vacation or children’s achievements.
- Self-Care & Wellness: Spaces for tracking personal fitness, relaxation activities, or journaling to ensure parents make time for their own well-being.
Our Ultimate Mom Planner also includes seasonal or holiday planning, habit trackers, and home maintenance checklists, depending on specific family needs.
Check out my latest video on YouTube:
Free parent planner template
Comment “parent planner template” on this post and I’ll email you my Daily Planner Template (pictured below) for free, absolutely no strings or spam!
How you can organize your parent planner
To organize your parent planner effectively, start by dividing it into sections and setting up a structure that fits your family’s routines. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Choose Your Format
- Binder or Notebook: Use dividers for easy navigation between sections. You can add, remove, or rearrange pages as needed.
- Digital Format: Use a digital planner app like Notion, Google Calendar, or a tablet app with a stylus for flexibility. Create folders for each section.
2. Set Up Core Sections with Dividers or Tabs
- Monthly Calendar: Place this at the front to see an overview of big events and appointments.
- Weekly Planner: Follow the calendar with weekly pages for detailed schedules and to-dos. This is ideal for planning day-to-day logistics.
- Meal Planning & Grocery List: Dedicate a section for meal ideas, recipes, and grocery lists. You can set this up on a weekly or monthly basis.
- Chores & Responsibilities: Include a chore chart or tracker for family members and regular household tasks.
- School & Extracurriculars: A section for school-related dates, assignment tracking, and contact information for teachers and coaches.
3. Personalize with Extra Sections
- Budgeting: Include a page or section for monthly expenses, budgeting goals, and any upcoming financial commitments.
- Health & Emergency Info: Keep health records, medication schedules, and emergency contacts here for quick reference.
- Goal Setting & Wellness: Set family and individual goals, and keep a wellness checklist for self-care, family fun, or personal development.
4. Color Coding & Labels
Use color-coded stickers, highlighters, or tabs for each family member. For example, each person could have a designated color, making it easy to see who has appointments or activities at a glance.
5. Create Consistent Review Times
Pick a specific day each week to review the calendar and meal plan, check off completed chores, and update any budget or goal-tracking sections.
6. Add Reminders and Alarms (for Digital Planners)
Set up notifications or reminders for important events or appointments. If you have a digital planner, sync it with your phone to receive alerts.
7. Review and Update Regularly
Check off tasks daily, adjust schedules as needed, and review sections weekly to keep everything current. At the end of each month, reassess and update your goals and plans.
This structure will keep everything easy to find and reduce stress by ensuring you have all your family’s needs covered in one organized place.
What you see pictured below is an example of how I printed and assembled my own parent or mom planner. I keep mine in a simple white binder and also added colored tabs so that I can find all of the sections easily and quickly. The colored tabs and section dividers come with our Ultimate Mom Planner. You can purchase a white, three-ring binder from Amazon for around $10. You can also have your planner printed at a professional print shop. The download never expires so you can use this planner year after year!
Free parent planner printable
Comment “parent planner printable” on this post and I’ll email you my Daily Planner Template (pictured below) for free, absolutely no strings or spam!
In summary
Using a parent planner is the easiest and quickest way to simplify and organize your home and family routines. With everything in one place, you can reclaim your time and truly enjoy being at home with your loved ones. Ready to take the first step towards a more organized life?
