How to Set Up Your Family Dashboard

Your AuPairSync dashboard is your family's central command center—a single place to see everything happening in your household at a glance. This guide will walk you through setting up and customizing your dashboard for maximum efficiency.

What You'll Learn

In this guide, you'll discover how to:

1. Configure your dashboard layout
2. Add and customize dashboard widgets
3. Set up quick actions for common tasks
4. Organize information for your family's needs
5. Sync your dashboard across devices

Step 1: Initial Dashboard Setup

When you first log into AuPairSync, you'll see your dashboard with default widgets. Here's how to personalize it:

Choose Your Layout

1. Tap the Settings icon (⚙️) in the top right corner of your dashboard
2. Select Dashboard Layout from the menu
3. Choose from three layout options:
   • Compact View - Perfect for quick glances on mobile
   • Balanced View - Best for tablets and desktop (recommended)
   • Detailed View - Maximum information display for large screens

Add Your Family Members

1. Navigate to Family Settings from the dashboard
2. Click Add Family Member
3. Enter each person's details:
   • Name
   • Role (Parent, Au Pair, Child)
   • Profile photo (optional)
   • Notification preferences

Your dashboard will now display personalized information for each family member.

Step 2: Configure Dashboard Widgets

Widgets are the building blocks of your dashboard. Here are the essential widgets to set up:

Today's Schedule Widget

Shows upcoming activities for all family members:

1. Tap Add Widget (+) button
2. Select Today's Schedule
3. Choose which family members to display
4. Set your time range (default: 6 AM - 9 PM)

Pro Tip: Enable color coding by person to quickly identify who's doing what.

Active Tasks Widget

Displays pending tasks and their status:

1. Add the Active Tasks widget
2. Configure filters:
   • Show only my tasks vs. all family tasks
   • Priority level (urgent, high, normal)
   • Due date range
3. Enable push notifications for task reminders

Quick Actions Shortcuts

Create shortcuts for frequently used actions:

1. Add the Quick Actions widget
2. Choose up to 6 actions to display:
   • Add new task
   • Create calendar event
   • Send message
   • Log expense
   • Check off morning routine
   • Add shopping list item

Step 3: Organize Your Information Flow

The key to an effective dashboard is showing the right information at the right time.

Priority Information First

Arrange widgets in order of importance:

1. Top Row: Today's schedule and urgent tasks
2. Middle Row: Messages and notifications
3. Bottom Row: Upcoming events and recent activity

Set Up Smart Notifications

Configure notifications to reduce noise:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications
2. Enable Smart Notifications (filters out non-urgent updates)
3. Set Quiet Hours (e.g., 9 PM - 7 AM)
4. Choose notification sounds for different priority levels

Step 4: Customize for Your Family's Needs

Every family is different. Here's how to tailor your dashboard:

For Parents with Multiple Children

• Enable the Multi-Child View widget
• Set up Child-Specific Task Lists
• Use Color Coding by Child for the calendar widget

For Au Pairs

• Add the My Daily Checklist widget
• Enable Parent Preferences quick reference
• Set up Emergency Contacts widget (always visible)

For Shared Custody Families

• Configure Multi-Parent Coordination view
• Enable Custody Schedule Integration
• Set up Handoff Checklist widget

Step 5: Sync Across Devices

Your dashboard stays synchronized across all your devices automatically:

1. Install AuPairSync on all devices (phone, tablet, desktop)
2. Log in with the same account
3. Changes made on one device appear instantly on others

Mobile-First Design: The dashboard is optimized for one-handed use on phones while offering expanded views on larger screens.

Advanced Dashboard Features

Automation Rules

Set up rules to automate dashboard updates:

• Auto-create morning tasks when alarm goes off
• Populate lunch prep checklist on school days
• Generate weekly summary every Sunday evening

Integration with Calendar

Connect external calendars to see everything in one place:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Select Connect Calendar
3. Choose provider (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook)
4. Select which calendars to sync

Dashboard Analytics

Track your family's patterns:

• Task completion rates by person
• Busiest times of day/week
• Most common activities

Access analytics from Settings > Dashboard Insights

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Widgets Not Updating

• Pull down to refresh the dashboard
• Check your internet connection
• Ensure notifications are enabled in device settings

Layout Looks Different on Mobile

• This is normal—layouts adapt to screen size
• Switch to Compact View for optimal mobile experience

Missing Information

• Verify family members are added in settings
• Check filter settings on each widget
• Ensure calendar and task permissions are granted

Try It Yourself

Ready to set up your family dashboard?

Join the TestFlight Beta and start organizing your family's daily life with a personalized dashboard.

Related Feature Guides

• Managing Tasks Effectively with Photos & Context
• Coordinating Schedules with Shared Calendar
• Streamlining Communication with Message Hub

Learn More

• Dashboard Feature Showcase - See the dashboard in action
• Use Case: First Week with Your Au Pair - Dashboard setup for new au pairs
• Use Case: Multi-Parent Coordination - Dashboard for shared custody families

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Questions? Contact us at support@aupairsync.com or join our community forum.