How to Set Up Shared Google Calendars for Your Family

Google Calendar is one of the most powerful free tools for family scheduling, but most households barely scratch the surface of what it can do. By setting up dedicated shared calendars, you give every family member visibility into the events that matter — without cluttering anyone's personal schedule.

Step 1: Create a Dedicated Family Calendar

Open Google Calendar on your computer and click the plus icon next to "Other calendars." Select "Create new calendar" and name it something clear like "Smith Family." Add a description if you like, then click "Create calendar." This calendar will hold events that involve the whole household — dinners, vacations, visitors, and shared chores.

Step 2: Share It with Family Members

Go to the calendar's settings, scroll to "Share with specific people or groups," and add each family member's Google account. Give everyone "Make changes to events" permission so anyone can add or edit entries. Each person will receive an email invitation to add the calendar to their own account.

Step 3: Create Individual Activity Calendars

For households with kids in multiple activities, it helps to create separate calendars for each child or each activity type. For example, you might have "Emma — Soccer," "Jake — Music," and "Family Events." This makes it easy to toggle views and see just the information you need at any given moment.

Step 4: Color-Code for Clarity

Assign a distinct color to each calendar. When you look at a weekly view, colors let you instantly identify whose event is whose. Most families find that giving each person their own color works best: blue for Dad, green for Mom, purple for a child, and so on.

Step 5: Enable Notifications Wisely

Google Calendar lets you set default notifications per calendar. For the family calendar, a reminder 30 minutes before an event works well. For individual activity calendars, you might want a one-day-ahead reminder so there is time to prepare equipment or pack bags.

Take It to the Next Level with a Wall Display

Shared Google Calendars work even better when the whole family can see them at a glance. FamDisplay connects to your Google Calendars and shows them on a dedicated wall-mounted screen. Every event, every color, every update — visible to everyone without unlocking a phone. It is the easiest way to turn your shared calendars into a true family command center.

Quick Tips for Keeping Calendars Tidy

• Review and remove outdated recurring events once a month.
• Use event descriptions to add addresses, packing lists, or notes.
• Set a weekly "calendar check-in" where the family reviews the week ahead together.
• Keep personal events on a personal calendar — the shared one should only hold items that affect others.