Best Tips & Tricks for Using Your Fern Family Co. Daily Boards

Best Tips & Tricks for Using Your Fern Family Co. Daily Boards

At Fern Family Co, we know that life with kids can be a juggling act. Whether you’re trying to balance school, chores, and playtime, it can be hard to find the right system to keep everyone on track. That’s why we created our Daily Boards—to help families stay organized while also allowing flexibility for the unique needs of each day. Whether you're using the Routine Board, Balanced Board, or Regulating Board, these boards provide the structure your family needs to thrive.

 

Here are my best tips and tricks for making the most of your Daily Boards:

1. Stay Consistent with Screen Time Rules

One of the biggest ways we stay on track in our home is by being consistent with our screen time rules. Our kids know that they must finish their Daily Board before they are allowed to use any screens. This simple rule helps keep them focused and motivated throughout the day.

💡 Tip: On our Routine Board, we set clear expectations for each child: make the bed, brush teeth, get dressed, complete assigned activities, and more. It’s important to make sure all required tasks are completed before the fun part of the day can begin.
✔ Trick: We keep screen time for after the board is finished—no exceptions. The key is that what’s required to finish the board may change based on the day’s needs, but the rule remains the same: screen time is earned after all required tasks are completed.

2. Adapt the Requirements Based on Your Family’s Needs

While consistency is key, I also wanted to create a system that could adapt to the different needs of our family. Some days are more hectic than others, and flexibility is necessary. That’s why the Daily Board system allows us to adjust the requirements based on what’s happening that day.

💡 Tip: Some days, we only require the basics like making the bed, brushing teeth, and getting dressed. Other days, we may have a longer list, including extra chores or specific learning activities. The Balanced Board makes it easy to add in extra activities or change up tasks as needed.
✔ Trick: Be sure to assess the needs of your kids on any given day. If they’re feeling tired or overwhelmed, focus on the basics. On days when energy levels are higher, you can add in more challenging or fun activities. This flexibility helps reduce frustration and keeps things manageable.

3. Keep It Visual and Clear

Our Daily Boards are a simple way to make expectations clear. Kids thrive on consistency, but they also benefit from visual cues to help them understand what’s expected of them. By using our boards, we can eliminate confusion and make it easier for them to follow through.

💡 Tip: Use the Routine Board with simple images or symbols for each task, like a toothbrush for morning hygiene or a book for reading time. This is especially helpful for younger children or those who struggle with verbal instructions. Visuals help them connect with the routine and feel more confident in completing each task.
✔ Trick: Keep the language simple and the layout clear. When your kids can quickly glance at their board and know exactly what’s expected, they are more likely to follow through. This also builds their independence, as they know what they need to do without needing constant reminders.

4. Encourage Clean-Up After Each Activity

A huge game changer in our home was teaching the kids that an activity isn’t finished until it’s cleaned up. We found that even when the kids would complete their tasks, the house would often be left in disarray. While it wasn’t frustrating knowing they were engaged in productive play, the mess created added stress.

💡 Tip: Add a "Clean Up" task to the Routine Board. This reinforces the idea that every activity needs to be wrapped up before moving on to the next one. Whether they’re cleaning up toys, folding laundry, or putting away their books, it’s important that the cleanup is part of the routine.
✔ Trick: Be consistent with this rule. Once the kids understand that they can’t move on to their next task or reward until everything is cleaned up, they will be more likely to take responsibility for tidying up after themselves. It cuts down on frustration and helps them develop good habits.

5. Incorporate Physical and Mental Activities

We make sure to keep a balance between physical activities and mental enrichment each day. The Balanced Board allows us to structure time for both, while still allowing flexibility depending on our family’s energy levels or interests.

💡 Tip: Each day, we require the kids to pick one Body Activity for 30 minutes. This could include anything from sports practices and swimming to yoga or a dance workout. Physical activity helps them stay active, but we also include it as a fun option so it doesn’t feel like a chore.
✔ Trick: We also ask the kids to pick two Mind Activities for 30 minutes each. These can include reading, puzzles, math games, or arts and crafts. The beauty of this system is that we can change the activities based on how fun or challenging we want the day to be. It keeps them engaged and learning in a way that feels enjoyable.

6. Use the Regulating Board for Emotional Awareness

Teaching emotional regulation is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. That’s where the Regulating Board comes in. By helping our children identify how they’re feeling, they can take steps to manage those emotions constructively.

💡 Tip: Encourage your kids to check in with how they’re feeling throughout the day using the Regulating Board. Whether they’re feeling calm, frustrated, or overwhelmed, the board helps them understand their emotional state and identify the appropriate strategies for self-regulation.
✔ Trick: You can use the Regulating Board to create space for emotional reflection. Whether through deep breathing exercises, drawing, or taking a break, the goal is to give your kids the tools to handle their emotions in a healthy way.

7. Review the Day Together

At the end of the day, it’s helpful to sit down with your kids and review how things went. Not only does this create a moment of connection, but it also gives them an opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments and any areas they struggled with.

💡 Tip: Review the Balanced Board together, and celebrate the progress made. Praise your kids for completing their tasks and encourage them to reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
✔ Trick: Ask questions like, “What was your favorite part of the day?” or “Was there anything that was hard for you?” This encourages communication and gives you insight into how to adjust the routine for the next day.

Bonus: Color by Number Fun!

To make finishing the board even more exciting, we’ve added an extra fun element: our Color-by-Number Pages! These pages are designed to be completed after your child finishes their tasks, making it an easy way to earn a reward for their hard work.

💡 Tip: When your kids finish all their activities for the day, they can use our Color-by-Number Page to celebrate. Each page is simple, fun, and rewarding to finish. This is a great way to make the completion of tasks feel like a fun accomplishment.
✔ Trick: Keep a stack of these color-by-number pages handy and ready to go. Once the board is complete, your child can immediately grab a page to color, giving them an instant reward that reinforces their hard work and encourages them to stay on track the next day.

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