I wanted to share an exciting project I recently completed to help manage my kids’ chores using Home Assistant. It’s been a great way to encourage responsibility and teach them about scheduling and automation. Here’s how I set it up:
The Goal:
Create a dynamic chores list that adapts to school days, holidays, and specific tasks for each child. The list should update automatically based on the day of the week and whether school is in session.
The Setup:
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Google Calendar Integration: I started by creating a Google Calendar specifically for school days. I named events
#BCSD 1through#BCSD 6for different school days and#BCSD Closedfor days off. This helps the automation recognize when school is in session. -
Toggle Helpers and Input Entities: I used toggle helpers to create individual chores for each child. The naming convention includes the time, day of the week, school day identifier, child’s name, and the chore itself. For example:
0637_0_quinn_todo_teethfor brushing teeth every day at 6:37 AM. -
Auto-Entities Card: To display the chores dynamically, I configured an auto-entities card. It filters chores based on the current day and whether school is in session. This ensures that only relevant tasks appear each morning.
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Sorting and Customization: The list sorts chores by time, making it easy to follow. Each chore is linked to a toggle switch, allowing kids to mark tasks as completed.
How It Works:
- Every morning, the list updates to show chores based on the current day and school schedule.
- Kids can check off completed tasks, providing a sense of accomplishment.
- The automation handles updates and filtering, so I don’t need to manually adjust the list.
Benefits:
- Encourages responsibility and time management.
- Reduces morning chaos by having a clear, organized list.
- Adapts to changing schedules, like holidays or teacher workdays.
I’d love to hear how others manage chores or daily routines using Home Assistant! If you have tips or alternative methods, please share them below. Happy automating! 