In my experience, the best family planners have clear sections that are easy to navigate and simple to use. But you also need to decide if you want a planner that's dated or undated, a wall calendar or a book calendar, the size, and then the layout. Do you want something that breaks every day down by the hour or a more open bullet style? If you're someone who only needs a planner for a specific season, or if you know that you're likely to only use it intermittently, an undated option is best. It's also great if you follow more than one type of calendar, like the families who use the standard Julian calendar and Hebrew calendar together. ➥ Wall Calendar or Book Style?

A personal choice, certainly, but there are reasons each is great. Book calendars, for one, don't take up space on a wall or mess with your aesthetic. They also tend to have way more space for notes and times. Wall calendars are deliciously visual, so if you have older kids, this may be the way to go.

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There are also binder-style family planners, which are best for people who like to add as they go or have a ton of extra stuff they need to have in their planner. (Think medical records or revenue goals.) ➥ Style and Extras