With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to think about a family calendar for 2012. Paper calendars still tend to be the most popular choice for young families because they are accessible to both parents and children.

Information central
Many families choose a central calendar system — for example, one that is mounted on the wall in a high traffic area like the kitchen — in conjunction with each parent’s personal portable calendar. If you use both a portable and a central calendar, you must remember to keep them in sync.

Worried about recording new events in your central calendar when you are out and about? Leave a message with the details on your home voicemail so you have a reminder to update the calendar when you get back to your house.

Make it family-friendly
Whether you colour-code each family member’s events (blue for one child, pink for another), use colour to record special dates (red for vital reminders, black for everyday), or add some eye-catching icons or stickers, make sure your central calendar is easy for everyone in the family to use and understand.

My favourite family calendar?
I love Avalanche’s spiral-bound File-it wall calendar and have used it in my own home for the past couple of years. It comes in a number of different colours and styles, but the real selling point for me is its built-in pocket.

Avalanche's File-it Calendar

Each month is printed on what is essentially a file folder. I write the date and time of the event on the month-at-a-glance calendar and then pop the background information (the party invitation, the school trip permission form listing what the children need to bring that day, etc.) into that month’s folder. I don’t have to take the time or effort to squeeze too many details into the square and the information is still kept close at hand. If you want to use the calendar to keep track of monthly paperwork, each folder can be detached and stored at the end of the month.

So, what’s your favourite family calendar?