Being a simple 9-grid piece of paper, it gave her the push she needed to simplify what was expected from her kids (and herself) each day. This also gave the kids clarity and autonomy over their tasks.

It gave Britt a better vision of where the family was at (and where the struggles were).

It also gave the family a spark of excitement into the routine (kids were doing their own tasks and encouraging one another).

The skylight is an all-in-one organization, so it helps you to stay effortlessly organized with a touchscreen display that shows all your events, chores, dinner plans (if you so choose), and tasks. It will auto-sync with whatever digital calendar you use. With the free Skylight app, you can easily update your schedule, chore chart, lists, and more on the go.

Side-by-Side Comparison (04:33)

The Clipboards are…

Paper-based

Less than $10 in Our Shop

Portable

Update or change in 5 – 10 minutes

Individualized

The Skylight is…

Electronic-based (must be plugged in and connected to wi-fi, but integrates with tech)

$280 to $600

Stationary

Update or change in seconds (from your phone)

Encompasses all children in one spot

Benefits and Limitations (05:25)

Britt actually loves both, but they serve different purposes, and depending on your season, either one could serve your family well.

Clipboards…

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Great for non-readers and young ones.

It's less than $10, so getting started is much more manageable, no matter your life situation.

Reduces overwhelm for both you and the kids (limited to 9 items).

Immediate use, no shipping, etc.

Easy to pivot, replace, get another if anything gets messed up – the clipboards don't get broken – but there is no instant update (which might be a good thing).

Best to use in a state of survival, or with kids 7 and under.

Still better than Skylight, even if you own a Skylight.

Builds consistent habits without it being overwhelming.

The Skylight…

Complex, but allows for a variety of options like:

Instant updates to calendar & tasks (love this) -- but harder to build consistent habits because we're prone to change on the fly.

Meal planning (though this option is limited to what you can add).

There are locking options for sneaky kids.

Being able to view progress at home or on the go.

It's beautiful!

You can add your own photos.

It's just lovely to look at.

It makes you 'feel' organized just by looking at it.

It's expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Works great for multiple kids.

The mount is heavy-duty and even comes with a drill bit, anchors, and a level (BUT the way it hooks on the wall could allow for a child to push up and bring it down).

You cannot connect multiple Skylight calendars at this time (so no one upstairs and one downstairs)

It can feel like one more thing to manage if you aren't careful (set-up is a bit labor intensive).

Britt updates hers on Sundays and only touches it during the week if necessary.

It's fairly user-friendly, but it will take you some time to set it up, get all the tasks in, and figure out how to set them up to recur.

You can sync to your current calendar (Google, iCalendar, etc.).

It all but eliminates questions from kids about what's happening today or what's for dinner.

There are lists so your kids can add items to grocery lists or put questions in for you (Britt recently started using this feature to keep track of asks from her kids); however, it's more clunky to update from the skylight than from your phone.

Do I love it? After 2 weeks, yes, yes I do...BUT I do think it has its place. For Britt’s family, it’s working well (this is a result of having used the clipboards already).

Which System is Better? (23:33)

If you have a house full of boys who are constantly throwing things...maybe not for you.

If you have 4 or 7 kiddos all under 8...maybe the Skylight is not for you, it may complicate things and become an additional stressor.

Are you strapped for cash? This probably isn't for you...it isn't going to be a magic button, it will still take consistency and work to establish and keep up with, so is it worth putting your family in a tough situation...I say no to it for now until you have the means to purchase it.

If you have older kids and they're schedules are changing at the drop of a hat...the Skylight is amazing for this, because it keeps the entire family updated.

If you’re already a consistent planner, this is a significant next step.

If you have a husband who likes to stay informed, this is an excellent option because it syncs calendars.

If you are a color-coding addict...this will make your little heart sing.

Remember, both of these options are tools, not a magical unicorn.

Both need your consistency to work. The Clipboards are simple, they are better with non-readers and visual learners, and it’s a great place to start. The Skylight is excellent, but it is more complex.

Give yourself permission to tweak and change what's not working...because it's going to take time to work out the kinks, no matter what system you try.