The Power of the Checklist...or the Screen?

For Christmas this year, I received a new toy. I know, you're probably thinking, "Aren't you a little old for toys?" Well, a toy for a grown-up is a little different. I got a Skylight Calendar. And I couldn't wait to play with it!

I've been seeing ads for this calendar for a while now and thought it must be too good to be true. Each ad showed a child walking up to the calendar and interacting with it. They could pull up chores, routines, schedules, and check for rewards. They were completing tasks without a word from an adult. If that isn't the dream for every parent...

At my house, the situation was different. Our walls were covered in chart paper, scribbled with routines and expectations. Laminated check lists with attached white board markers were taped to doors, at seats, in bedrooms and playrooms. We fully display for our kids everything we expect of them. As a special educator, I am a firm believer in visuals and supports to help kids perform independently. Leaving this paper stage felt a bit scary, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

I spent meticulous time converting all of our routines and chores into digital lists. The Skylight calendar has an app that connects to your phone and computer and they sync all of your calendars together, which is nice, but not why I wanted it. I quickly found the section for Tasks and got going. I set up separate routines for morning, afternoon, and evening for each person in our family, and I could do this remotely. No need to stand at the calendar forever while trying to make changes or set things up. I was also able to add chores. Each person can have a different list. Each task completed can earn that person stars towards a reward, but doesn't have to.

There is something about a screen that is just way more enticing to kids of this generation (of all generations?) than paper. The day the calendar was live, my kids couldn't get enough of it. They requested even more tasks than they were already assigned. I was hesitant to add on. What if this is just excitement from novelty? Will this motivation last?

The answer is yes. It's been almost 5 weeks, and the novelty hasn't worn off. As I am writing, my kids walked in the door from school and straight to the Skylight. They pulled up their afternoon routine and got going. Currently, they have 6 tasks that have to be completed before they can have free time: shoes on rack, unpack backpack and lunchbox, put away your toys, put away your laundry, Read for 20-30 min, and Homework. My youngest likes to do his homework first and everything else after. My oldest likes to unpack and clean up before sitting down to his homework. Whatever works, as long as it's getting done! My new afternoon job is to be support. I am here if they need me, I am here to remind them to stay on task, I am here to bounce ideas and questions off. The only thing I have to say to them now is, "What's left on your cheklist?" Or "Have you finished your whole checklist?"

I wasn't sure that having these things all in one place would work. I still really like my signs and papers, but I'm realizing they have a different role now. Sinage to remind the kids to clean up after themselves, wash hands, etc. will probably always be on the walls of my house, but the efficiency that came with the Skylight calendar is beyond what I was able to do the old school way. But remember, tools are only as good as the person using them, so stay involved and continue to be supportive!