After nearly two weeks of using Skylight Buddy, the excitement is still going strong. My son loves tapping the rounded checkboxes to mark routine tasks as complete. Sometimes, I have to remind him that he has not actually finished an activity yet. For example, I may prompt him to uncheck a task, complete it with me, and then tap the box again once it is done.
Photo: Nena Farrell
Video: Nena Farrell
The most engaging feature is the celebration animation. When my son marks every task as complete, Skylight Buddy displays a shower of emojis that changes each time, creating a fun reward for finishing his routine. He enjoys triggering the celebration before completing the checklist, although unfinished tasks can be unchecked and completed later to activate the emoji animation again.
It is easy to understand the appeal of this interactive reward system. I almost wish the Notes app on my laptop offered the same kind of celebration whenever I finished a long daily to-do list.
If you already use a Skylight Calendar, syncing it with Skylight Buddy is especially helpful. Your child can check tasks on either device, and updates appear across both screens. This flexibility is useful in larger or multi-level homes. In my case, it means my son does not have to run upstairs just to mark a morning task as complete.
For families who own a larger Skylight Calendar, I also recommend considering a Skylight Plus subscription. Along with the digital photo frame feature, Skylight Plus adds tools such as rewards and meal planning. Skylight Buddy subscribers get access to perks, timers, and reminders, while the company says additional subscription features are planned for the future.
Rewards may be particularly useful for older children who can earn stars for completing chores and daily responsibilities. However, my 4-year-old does not need many extras to stay motivated. He is already excited to complete his checklist—and has even started brushing his teeth more willingly so he can mark the task as done.
Skylight also offers a separate Buddy Plus subscription for $39 per year. This option is less expensive than Skylight Plus and provides access to the extra Skylight Buddy features without requiring a Skylight Calendar. The Skylight Buddy device costs $120 with one complimentary month of the Plus Plan, or $140 when purchased without a subscription.
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Source: www.wired.com