Families
A shared planner for parents and their nanny or au pair
Updated · by the Simpleban team
In short
Parents and a nanny communicate through notes, texts and a whiteboard, and things fall between them: the permission slip, the swimming kit, the dentist. Simpleban is a free shared kanban board for exactly two people (one parent account plus the nanny) where the weekly routine is repeating cards, the one-offs are cards with a due date, and anything that needs a parent — a form to sign, a decision — is handed over and shows as “waiting on you”. Done cards stay as the day's record.
What goes on the board
- The rhythm: swimming Tuesday, library Thursday, music Friday — repeating.
- Supplies: nappies, snacks, the thing that's run out — handed to a parent.
- Appointments and pick-ups with due dates.
- Decisions: “Can she go to the party on Saturday?” — a card handed to the parents with the details in the notes.
- A short note on each day's card if you like a log.
How it works
- Every card has an owner: you, the nanny, or either of you — so “who is on this?” is answered before anyone asks.
- Hand a card to the nanny and it moves to the top of their board under “waiting on you”. If they're not on the app, Simpleban emails them a few minutes later, and the next morning's 8am email mentions it once if it's still waiting — never every day. You never press a “remind” button.
- When the nanny is done, they hand it back and it reappears at the top of your board.
- Repeating cards come back on their own schedule — daily, weekly, chosen weekdays, every N days, monthly — and can alternate between the two of you.
- Due dates with a calm Today / This week filter, a private calendar feed for Google, Apple or Outlook, and a countdown on the board for the date that matters.
- Notes, checklists and comments live inside each card, so the context travels with the task.
- The nanny joins from your invite link with a name and an email — no password, nothing to pay. Both of you have the full app on your own phone; it installs like an app and works offline for reading.
Honest limits
Simpleban is for two people, so it's one parent account (shared between the parents on one login if you like) plus the nanny. It isn't a timesheet, payroll or contract tool.
Templates to start from
Questions, answered
- Can both parents and the nanny be on it?
- Simpleban is a two-person board. Most families use one parent account (both parents can sign into it) plus the nanny's account.
- Does it do hours and pay?
- No. It's the task board; keep hours and pay wherever you do today.
- Does the nanny pay?
- Simpleban is free forever for two: you and the one person you invite get every feature, unlimited boards and cards, no trial and no credit card. The promise is written into the Terms: nothing that is free today will ever move behind a paywall, and your +1 never pays. If you need more people or want to share boards beyond your +1, we'll soon introduce subscription tiers — a flat rate, never per seat.
- Does the other person need to pay or install anything?
- No. They open your invite link, type a name and an email, and they're on the board. Installing it as an app on their phone is optional. Simpleban is free forever for two: you and the one person you invite get every feature, unlimited boards and cards, no trial and no credit card. The promise is written into the Terms: nothing that is free today will ever move behind a paywall, and your +1 never pays. If you need more people or want to share boards beyond your +1, we'll soon introduce subscription tiers — a flat rate, never per seat.
No more notes on the fridge
Start from the Household template and invite your nanny.
Your board starts as “Household chores” — columns and example cards you can change or delete.
Try the live demo board first