Family Check-In

Setup guide

Complete instructions for setting up Family Check-In with Google Calendar.

Initial setup

1. Install Family Check-In from the Roku Channel Store
2. Open the channel on your Roku device
3. A QR code and linking code will appear on screen
4. On your phone or computer, visit familycheckin.org/link (or scan the QR code)
5. Enter the linking code from your TV screen
6. Sign in with your Google account and authorize calendar access
7. Your TV will automatically update when authorization is complete

Configuring calendars

Press the * (star) button on your Roku remote to open Settings, then configure:

Agenda calendars

These calendars appear on the left side of your screen, showing upcoming family events, meals, and appointments.

• Select one or more calendars
• Events show in chronological order
• Both all-day and timed events appear

Chore calendars

These calendars display chores organized by family member in columns.

• Select one or more calendars
• Use square brackets to assign chores to people (e.g., "Take out trash [John]")
• The event's end time determines when a chore is "due" (can be all-day or specific time)
• When all due chores for a person are completed, their column header displays its configured color

Working with Google Calendar

Creating a new calendar

1. Open Google Calendar on your computer or phone
2. On the left sidebar, click the + next to "Other calendars"
3. Select "Create new calendar"
4. Enter a name (e.g., "Family Chores" or "Household Tasks")
5. Optionally add a description and time zone
6. Click "Create calendar"
7. The new calendar will appear in your calendar list

Creating recurring events

1. In Google Calendar, click on the date/time for the event
2. Enter the event title (e.g., "Take out trash [John]")
3. Click "More options" to expand the event editor
4. Set the start and end time (or make it all-day)
5. Click "Does not repeat" dropdown
6. Select a recurrence pattern:
   • Daily: Event repeats every day
   • Weekly: Repeats on the same day each week (e.g., every Monday)
   • Monthly: Repeats on the same date each month
   • Custom: Define your own pattern (e.g., every 3 days, weekdays only)
7. Choose the calendar where you want the event
8. Click "Save"

Creating all-day events

1. In Google Calendar, click on a date
2. Enter the event title
3. Click "More options"
4. Toggle on "All day" switch
5. Set the end date (defaults to same day, or choose a future date)
6. Select the calendar
7. Click "Save"

Note: For chores, the end date/time determines when the chore is considered "due".

Sharing a calendar with others

1. In Google Calendar, find the calendar in the left sidebar
2. Hover over the calendar name and click the three dots
3. Select "Settings and sharing"
4. Scroll to "Share with specific people"
5. Click "Add people"
6. Enter the email address of the person you want to share with
7. Choose their permission level:
   • See only free/busy: They see when you're busy but not event details
   • See all event details: They can view all event information
   • Make changes to events: They can edit existing events
   • Make changes and manage sharing: Full control including sharing with others
8. Click "Send" to share

Tip: Create a shared "Family Chores" calendar that everyone in your household can access and edit.

Organizing chores

Assigning chores to family members

Use square brackets in the event title to assign chores:

• "Vacuum living room [Sarah]" - assigned to Sarah
• "Feed the dog [Alex]" - assigned to Alex
• "Clean bathroom [Mom]" - assigned to Mom
• "Take out trash [Sarah] [Alex]" - assigned to both Sarah and Alex (each must complete it separately)
• "Buy groceries" - no assignment, appears in "Unassigned" column

The name in brackets must match the column name configured in Settings. When multiple people are assigned, the chore appears in each person's column and each must mark it complete individually.

Setting up columns

1. Press * (star) button on Roku remote
2. Go to Settings → Configure Columns
3. Add a column for each family member
4. Set the column name (must match the tag in calendar events)
5. Choose a color for completed status

Marking chores complete

On your Roku:

1. Navigate to a chore using the arrow keys
2. Press OK to toggle completion status
3. The checkmark and strikethrough indicate completion
4. Changes sync to Google Calendar immediately

When all due chores in a column are complete, the column header displays its configured color.

Tips and best practices

• Separate calendars: Use different calendars for chores, family events, and meals for easier organization
• Consistent naming: Use the same name format in brackets (e.g., always "Mom" not sometimes "Mom" and sometimes "Mother")
• Due times: The end time of a chore determines when it's "due". Set appropriate end times so chores show as due when you want them completed
• Recurring chores: Set up recurring events for daily/weekly chores instead of creating them manually each time
• Refresh data: Open Settings and back out to manually refresh calendar data

Troubleshooting

Events not appearing

• Verify the calendar is selected in Settings
• Check that events have the correct date range
• For chores: ensure events have proper [Name] tag matching your column names
• Open Settings and back out to refresh data

Calendar changes not showing

• The app refreshes automatically every 30 minutes
• For immediate updates: open Settings and back out
• Check your internet connection

Need to reconnect calendar

• Press * (star) button on Roku remote
• Go to Settings → Clear Authentication
• Follow the connection process again

For additional help, visit our support page.