The Skylight Buddy Is the New Hero of My Kid’s Daily Routine (He Actually *Wants* to Do Chores Now!)

My household relies on the giant calendar mounted in our kitchen, filled with color-coded schedules for my husband, our sons, and me. While I’ve spent time trying to persuade my husband that upgrading to a digital calendar would be easier, his lack of tech savviness has prevailed. I did, however, convince him to test a digital routine device for our oldest son, since our wall calendar is mainly for the grown-ups. That agreement led us straight to the Skylight Buddy, which the company sent me for free to test.

This compact gadget has completely transformed my 6-year-old’s daily routine. It features timers for toothbrushing, tracks chore completion to grant rewards, and provides a clear breakdown of his upcoming day. It has quickly become an essential staple for our household schedule and will help us so much during busy school days. The downside? It keeps selling out. Luckily, it’s back in stock and perfect for back-to-school.

The Skylight Buddy has become a true “buddy” throughout my son’s day, waking him up in the morning and then helping him drift off to sleep at night. Its built-in sound machine offers adjustable volume levels for brown noise, ocean waves, rain, stream, or white noise, paired with a customizable night-light that automatically turns off when morning alarms ring.

It even helps my son get dressed! He can tap the top bar to check the extended forecast and decide what he’ll wear for the day (he loves telling me to pack an umbrella).

Setting up the Buddy on the app took me about 10 minutes, even as a first-time subscriber. While kids can easily navigate the device independently, an adult does need to handle scheduling chores in the app. My only minor complaint is that it must remain plugged in — which means we can’t go through the schedule at the breakfast table — but overall, it has been a fantastic addition.

You have the option of adding the Buddy Plus subscription plan (which I was also able to test for free), which includes several standout features, including timed tasks. Unlike timing tooth brushing on my phone — which usually leads to complaints — the Buddy timer, with its Buddy mascot, keeps my son engaged for the full two minutes recommended by the American Dental Association. It is equally helpful for quick speed-cleaning sessions when picking up toys.

However, my son’s absolute favorite perk is the Plus plan’s Rewards system. Tasks earn customizable star values — such as 2 stars for cleaning up or 5 stars for finishing homework — which he can track and redeem for parent-approved rewards directly in the app. It’s made him actually want to do daily chores!

The design and interface of the Skylight Buddy are so cute and accessible, which are my favorite things about it. It’s given my son a sense of responsibility and freedom that he didn’t have before. Now that he’s getting older, he wants to handle more things on his own, and the Buddy allows him to do that. From the kitchen, I’ll often catch the distinct sound effects echoing from his room as he independently navigates his routine and marks off completed tasks. In fact, he’s even requested that I include his younger brother’s chores on his device so he can complete those for extra rewards.

While the Skylight Buddy is an investment, it is one I recommend. The device is priced at $139.99, alongside a Buddy Plus subscription option at $39/year (which breaks down to $3.25 per month). However, first-time subscribers purchasing the Buddy packaged with the Plus plan can get both for $119.99, which includes a free one-month trial before the annual rate kicks in — basically giving you the Plus membership for just $20 for your first 13 months. There’s also a silicone case to protect the Buddy, priced at $20.

Having tested the device both with and without the Plus plan, I can confirm the subscription is well worth adding. It unlocks visual countdown timers, customized nudges and reminders, and star-based reward incentives — all of which ended up being my son’s favorite perks. Plus, if your home already uses a Skylight Calendar, the Buddy connects seamlessly under the same account to sync daily routines, tasks, and chores (though full calendar schedule entries are left off the Buddy display).

It has smoothly integrated into our busy family’s day-to-day schedule, giving my son a newfound sense of independence and responsibility right as he enters first grade.

Buy: The Skylight Buddy, $139.99