BEST FAMILY APPS TO KEEP YOU ORGANIZED AND KEEP YOUR KIDS OCCUPIED
No matter how you define family: nuclear, extended, step, adopted, foster, complex, or traditional… one more word that needs to be included is hectic. Let’s face it: parenting is stressful. The day-to-day demands can be overwhelming: making it to all the appointments, taking the medications on time, keeping the game schedules straight, knocking out the chores, arranging and dropping off for playdates, not to mention, shopping for necessities, carpooling, and pet care. Did someone remember to walk the dog? Did someone feed the dog? Thankfully, there are apps that can help.
Each family has different needs and demands to meet, with the parents leading the charge. You might be managing and struggling to keep straight multiple activities and schedules for your multiple family members that count on you to keep “the fam” running. Throw in shopping for groceries, simple meal management, special dietary needs, and getting the dishes done, too, and it’s clear you might need some help. It’s enough to overwhelm even the most seasoned childcare provider. We feel you, and we want to help. There’s no shortage of family apps out there for Apple and Android (we even have some of this list that work with Amazon Fire and Windows). We’ve rounded up some of the best family apps available and organized them by category so you can quickly find what you need.
THE BEST FAMILY APPS FOR STAYING ORGANIZED
We’ve collected the best family apps that can help save you time and keep everyone organized. These apps will allow you to streamline your schedule so you can kick back and enjoy the little moments. Get ready to sync those to-do lists and family calendars with your spouse’s and kids’ phones, and start downloading your way to the good life! These apps will help you find peace of mind in knowing everyone is where they need to be and that everything is in its place.
ChoreMonster
Chores never end. The laundry, dishes, and dust will pile up around you until your home looks like a nightmarish scene from Hoarders, if you let it. Bathrooms need to be cleaned and floors need to be swept. Consider using an app like ChoreMonster that’s designed to help motivate the kiddos to roll up their sleeves and help. It’s a popular family app that makes helping out around the house a fun activity. The kids follow the chore list you create and earn points… and fun monster rewards along the way. Get it on Android and Apple devices.
Cozi
Who doesn’t want their family life simplified? Strike another item and appointment off the list! Use Cozi to keep track of everyone’s schedules, activities and appointments, create and share grocery lists, to-dos, and chores in real time. It can even store all your recipes, which you can view from any mobile device or computer. Cozi is available for Apple, Android, Amazon Fire, and Windows 8.1.
Remember the Milk
Another app that helps scratch items off your to-do list and never forget the milk (or anything else on your list) is Remember the Milk. It’s an easy way to remember and manage tasks, and you can use it to sync your tasks across multiple devices. The app is available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry devices.
Grocery IQ
When it comes to knocking out the grocery shopping give GroceryIQ a whirl. With this grocery shopping list creator you can use text, barcodes, or voice search to find products from the app’s extensive product database. Once you’ve created your list, you can sync and share lists with other devices, and find related coupons. You can use this free app on Android and Apple devices.
52 Organizing Missions
Need to handle some quick life improvements or maybe you’re finally ready to clean out the closets? 52 Organizing Missions claims it can take your life from chaos to order — in just 30 minutes a week! If you need some motivation to get organized, this app is it. By creating “missions,” the app helps you conquer clutter in small bursts of time. Just follow the steps and set the 30-minute timer in each mission to organize an area in your home or office. The app is only available on Apple devices.
Life360
Tired of using multiple methods to communicate with family members? Life360 offers simplified communication for your family or circle of friends. Features include flexible location sharing, check-ins so everyone’s location is known, group chats and more. Use the app on Android and Apple devices.
CareZone
Many families are also helping to care for their adult parents. Managing their health care, medications, and appointments is a large responsibility. CareZone helps you to stay organized and makes it simpler to take care of yourself and your family. Use the app to keep everything coordinated with a journal, calendar, and all your contacts. You can also scan medication bottles, and all the info is imported into a list that you can share. Get it on Apple and Android devices.
Babysitter Pro
This one is especially for you, parents! The key to harmony in the home is making sure you take some time for yourself. Call up the sitter and schedule a date out with the spouse. A great app for the babysitters or nanny on duty is Babysitter Pro. With this app, the babysitter can log children’s activities, share info with parents, and track important details like allergies, bedtimes, schedules, and payments. Parents can receive a summary of the time spent with their children via SMS or email. Available for Apple and Android devices.
