Mike edits the Kidbud guides: the ones on splitting drop-offs and pickups, family calendar apps, what kids' activities cost and birthday party RSVPs. The job is mostly reading other people's numbers carefully and saying plainly when we don't know something.
How these guides are put together
Every number in a Kidbud guide links to the page it came from, and someone on the team opened that page before the guide went up. If a figure couldn't be checked, it was left out. Competitor prices come from each company's own site, with the month they were checked written next to them, because they change.
We make Kidbud, so we're not neutral about family calendars. The guides say where Kidbud fits and where it doesn't, including the jobs where a free calendar or another app is the better pick.
Spotted a mistake?
Email [email protected] with the page and what's wrong. Corrections get fixed and the page's updated date changes with them.
Guides by Mike
Drop-offs, pickups and routines
- How to split drop-offs and pickups with your spouse
- What time should I leave for drop-off or pickup?
- An after-school routine by age (5 to 12)
- A mental load checklist for couples (kids' schedule edition)
- What happens if you're late for pickup (and how to stop it happening)
- How to get kids out the door on time (school mornings and activity afternoons)
- A back-to-school routine checklist for parents (the first four weeks)
- How to make a kids' activity schedule (with a free printable template)
Family calendars and apps
- The best family calendar apps for busy parents (2026)
- How to share a calendar with your spouse (iPhone, Android, or both)
- How to set up a shared family calendar in Google Calendar
- Cozi vs TimeTree vs FamilyWall: which family app fits your family?
- The best Cozi alternatives for families who drive a lot
- Skylight Calendar alternatives: do you need a $300 screen?
- Hearth vs Skylight: which family calendar screen is worth it?
- How to set up a family command center (wall, digital, or app)
Kids' activities and what they cost
- How many extracurricular activities should a child do?
- How much do kids' activities cost? Real numbers by sport and class
- Summer camp cost per week: what parents actually pay
- What age should kids start swim lessons?
- What age should kids start soccer?
- How to choose extracurricular activities your kid will actually stick with
- Is chess good for kids? What the research says, and when to start
- What age should kids start music lessons? Piano, violin, guitar and more