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Family Calendar

Keep your family organized with shared calendars that sync automatically from Cozi, Google Calendar, and other sources. See everyone's schedules at a glance on displays throughout your home.

Overview​

FamilyCast's family calendar feature connects to your existing calendar services and displays events, appointments, and activities on your family displays. Never miss a soccer game, dentist appointment, or family dinner again.

Key Features:

  • Sync multiple calendar sources (Cozi, Google Calendar, iCal)
  • Color-coded events by family member
  • Multiple view options (day, week, month)
  • Auto-updates every 15 minutes
  • Conflict detection (schedule overlaps)
  • Privacy controls for kids' displays

Connecting Your Calendar​

Cozi is built specifically for families and includes shared shopping lists, to-do lists, and meal planning.

Setup Steps:

  1. Go to Integrations in FamilyCast dashboard
  2. Click Connect Cozi
  3. Log in to your Cozi account
  4. Click Allow Access
  5. FamilyCast syncs all family calendars and colors

What Syncs:

  • All family member calendars
  • Event titles, times, and locations
  • Color coding by family member
  • Event descriptions and notes
  • Recurring events

Sync Frequency: Every 15 minutes

Free Cozi Features:

  • Up to 5 family members
  • Shared calendar
  • Shopping and to-do lists
  • Color-coded events

See: Cozi Integration for detailed setup

Google Calendar​

Connect one or multiple Google Calendars for work, school, and personal events.

Setup Steps:

  1. Go to Integrations → Google Calendar
  2. Click Connect Google Calendar
  3. Sign in to your Google account
  4. Select which calendars to sync
  5. Click Allow

What Syncs:

  • Selected calendar events
  • Event details and locations
  • Attendees (optional)
  • Recurring events
  • Event colors

Multi-Calendar Support:

  • Work calendar
  • School calendar
  • Personal calendar
  • Kids' activity calendars
  • Combine all on one display

See: Google Calendar Integration for advanced setup

iCal/Calendar URL​

Connect any calendar that supports iCal format (Apple Calendar, Outlook, Yahoo Calendar).

Setup Steps:

  1. Get your calendar's iCal URL:

    • Apple Calendar: Calendar → Preferences → Accounts → Copy URL
    • Outlook.com: Settings → View all settings → Shared calendars → Publish → ICS
    • Yahoo Calendar: Settings → Import/Export → Get shareable link

  2. In FamilyCast:

    • Go to Integrations → iCal Calendar
    • Click Add Calendar URL
    • Paste iCal URL
    • Enter calendar name
    • Choose color
    • Click Add

Supported Services:

  • Apple iCloud Calendar
  • Microsoft Outlook/Office 365
  • Yahoo Calendar
  • Any calendar with iCal export

Calendar Display Options​

View Types​

Day View

  • Shows today's schedule hour by hour
  • Perfect for morning routine displays
  • Best for entryway or kids' room displays

Week View (Most Popular)

  • Shows 7 days at a glance
  • Color-coded by family member
  • Ideal for kitchen displays
  • Family planning at a glance

Month View

  • Full month calendar grid
  • See entire month of events
  • Great for planning ahead
  • Works well on large displays

Agenda/List View

  • Upcoming events in chronological order
  • Next 7-14 days listed
  • Compact view for small displays
  • Good for quick reference

Customization Options​

Color Coding:

  • By family member (Mom = blue, Dad = green, Emma = pink, Jack = orange)
  • By category (Work, School, Sports, Family)
  • By calendar source (Cozi = purple, Google = blue)

Event Details:

  • Show/hide event times
  • Show/hide event locations
  • Show/hide event descriptions
  • Show/hide all-day events

Time Range:

  • Start time (default: 6 AM)
  • End time (default: 10 PM)
  • All-day events (top of calendar)
  • Multi-day events (spans days)

Privacy Filters:

  • Hide event details (show "Busy" only)
  • Hide specific calendars from kids' displays
  • Show public events only
  • Family-appropriate filtering

Using the Calendar on Layouts​

Adding Calendar to Layout​

  1. Go to Layouts → Edit your layout
  2. Click Add Content Area
  3. Select Calendar from content types
  4. Configure calendar settings:
    • Choose view type
    • Select calendar sources
    • Set date range
    • Configure colors

Layout Sizes:

  • Full screen (100%) - Calendar only display
  • Large (60-80%) - Calendar + weather or photos
  • Medium (40-60%) - Calendar + messages + weather
  • Small (20-40%) - Compact agenda view

Room-Specific Calendar Setups​

Kitchen Display - Family Hub

Layout:
├─ Family Calendar (week view) - 70%
├─ Weather widget - 15%
└─ Family messages - 15%

Entryway Display - Today's Schedule

Layout:
├─ Today's schedule (day view/agenda) - 80%
└─ Current weather - 20%

Kids' Room - Personal Schedule

Layout:
├─ Kid's personal calendar (filtered) - 60%
├─ Chore checklist - 20%
└─ Activity reminders - 20%

Living Room - Family Overview

Layout:
├─ Photo slideshow - 60%
└─ Week calendar (small) - 40%

Advanced Features​

Scheduled Layouts​

Show different calendar views at different times of day:

Morning (6 AM - 9 AM):

  • Today's schedule (day view)
  • Highlights first event of the day

Daytime (9 AM - 5 PM):

  • Week view
  • Full family schedule

Evening (5 PM - 10 PM):

  • Tomorrow's schedule
  • Prep for next day

See: Display Setup for scheduling setup

Conflict Detection​

FamilyCast automatically detects when family members have overlapping events:

Conflict Indicators:

  • ⚠️ Warning icon on conflicting events
  • Highlighted in yellow or orange
  • "Conflict" label
  • Shows which family members are double-booked

Common Conflicts:

  • Both parents needed at different places
  • Same car needed for two events
  • Overlapping kid activities

Solutions:

  • Rearrange events if possible
  • Coordinate with other family members
  • Plan carpooling or alternative transportation

Event Reminders​

Visual reminders on displays:

Upcoming Event Alerts:

  • 1 hour before: Gentle highlight
  • 30 minutes before: Bright highlight + optional sound
  • 15 minutes before: Pulsing reminder

Morning Briefing:

  • Show "Today's Events" prominently
  • Countdown to first event
  • Departure time calculations

Evening Preview:

  • "Tomorrow's Schedule" after 6 PM
  • Prep reminders (pack backpack, charge devices)

Calendar Filtering​

Show different events to different people:

Adults' Display (Kitchen):

  • All family calendars
  • Full event details
  • Work calendars included

Kids' Display (Bedroom):

  • Kid's personal calendar only
  • Age-appropriate events
  • Simplified view (no work events)

Guest/Public Display:

  • Family events only (hide work)
  • No private details
  • General family schedule

Best Practices​

Calendar Organization​

Use Descriptive Event Titles:

  • Good: "Emma's Soccer Practice - East Field"
  • Avoid: "Practice"
  • Include locations for away events
  • Add important details in description

Color Code Consistently:

  • Assign each family member a color
  • Use consistently across all calendars
  • Makes quick scanning easier
  • Kids recognize their color quickly

Set Realistic Times:

  • Include drive time in events
  • Add buffer for getting ready
  • Account for traffic during rush hour
  • Build in transition time

Use Recurring Events:

  • Weekly activities (soccer practice every Tuesday)
  • School schedule
  • Regular family dinners
  • Standing appointments

Family Coordination​

Weekly Family Meeting:

  • Review upcoming week together
  • Identify conflicts early
  • Plan carpools and logistics
  • Update calendar during meeting

Who Manages What:

  • Parents: Add own events and kids' events
  • Teens: Add own activities (parents approve)
  • School: Import school calendar via iCal
  • Auto-sync: Sports teams, clubs via Cozi

Emergency Contact Info:

  • Add contact numbers in event descriptions
  • Include coach/teacher contact info
  • Note backup transportation options
  • Share calendar with grandparents if they help

Display Strategy​

Central Calendar (Kitchen):

  • Week view for family planning
  • All family members visible
  • Default landing view
  • Check every morning

Personal Calendars (Bedrooms):

  • Individual kid's schedule
  • Filtered to their events only
  • Simpler, focused view
  • Morning and evening check-ins

Quick Reference (Entryway):

  • Today + tomorrow only
  • Departure times prominent
  • Weather included
  • Last check before leaving

Common Use Cases​

Busy Sports Family​

Challenge: Kids have practices and games 5+ nights per week

Solution:

  • Cozi family calendar with all activities
  • Color-coded by child (Emma = blue, Jack = green)
  • Include field/location in event title
  • Add coach contact in description
  • Week view on kitchen display
  • Individual kid schedules in bedrooms

Result: No missed practices, coordinated transportation, less chaos

Divorced/Co-Parenting​

Challenge: Kids split time between two homes

Solution:

  • Shared Google Calendar between parents
  • Custody schedule clearly marked
  • Pickup/dropoff times and locations
  • Kids' activities visible to both parents
  • Each home has FamilyCast display
  • Same calendar synced to both

Result: Better coordination, kids always know where they're supposed to be

Multi-Generational Home​

Challenge: Grandparents living with family need to see schedule

Solution:

  • Family calendar on kitchen display
  • Includes doctor appointments, visits, activities
  • Large font for easy reading
  • Week view with clear visual separation
  • Grandparents can check anytime

Result: Grandparents feel included, know when to expect family home

Work-from-Home Parents​

Challenge: Balancing work calls with school pickups

Solution:

  • Google Calendar synced (work + family calendars)
  • Conflict detection alerts to double-bookings
  • Color-coded: Work = blue, family = green
  • Office display shows combined view
  • Alerts 30 minutes before kid pickups

Result: Never miss school pickup, better work-life balance

Troubleshooting​

Calendar Not Syncing​

Check:

  1. Integration still connected (not expired)
  2. Calendar actually has events
  3. Date range includes events
  4. Events not filtered out

Solutions:

  • Reconnect integration (Settings → Integrations → Reconnect)
  • Verify events exist in source calendar (Cozi/Google)
  • Wait up to 15 minutes for sync
  • Check calendar filter settings

Events Missing​

Common Causes:

  • Events outside displayed date range
  • Filtered calendar not selected
  • Event privacy settings (private events hidden)
  • Recurring event exception

Solutions:

  • Expand date range in calendar settings
  • Verify all desired calendars are selected
  • Check event privacy in source calendar
  • Recreate recurring event if broken

Colors Not Showing​

Issue: All events same color or wrong colors

Solutions:

  • Verify color assignments in integration settings
  • Re-sync calendar connection
  • Check source calendar has colors set
  • Manually assign colors in FamilyCast

Calendar Too Small to Read​

Solutions:

  • Increase calendar area size in layout
  • Use day or agenda view instead of month
  • Larger display device
  • Reduce number of visible calendars
  • Filter to essential events only

See: Common Issues for more troubleshooting

Tips for Success​

Start Simple:

  • Begin with one calendar (Cozi recommended)
  • Add one display (kitchen)
  • Use week view initially
  • Expand after family is comfortable

Build the Habit:

  • Check calendar every morning
  • Update during weekly family meeting
  • Add events immediately (don't wait)
  • Make it part of routine

Keep It Current:

  • Remove old events
  • Update changed times immediately
  • Add locations to away events
  • Set reminders for important events

Get Family Buy-In:

  • Involve kids in setting up their colors
  • Let them add their own events (supervised)
  • Make checking calendar part of morning routine
  • Celebrate when it prevents missed events

Next Steps​

Enhance Your Calendar:

Integrate More:

Advanced Setup:

Questions? Contact [email protected] or check Common Issues