Hi friends!
After years of knowing ClassDojo like the back of my hand, our kids’ school made the switch to ParentSquare — same idea of teacher updates, photo shares, and messaging… but with a steeper learning curve than I expected.
I’m usually quick with technology and I love open communication, but after a few weeks of being bombarded with app notifications, texts, and emails, I was feeling overwhelmed and still somehow missing key information.
So after pretending it would magically get easier (we’ve all done this), I finally dug into the app — and discovered a few simple settings and shortcuts that make ParentSquare way more manageable. If you’re new to it or just drowning in notifications, these tips will save your sanity.
Tip 1: Notifications Are the Name of the Game
Before you do anything else, update your notification settings. This controls how much information hits your phone — and how often.
Here’s how to get there:
- Open the ParentSquare app
- Tap the hamburger menu in the top left
- Select Account
- Tap Notifications
I’ll include a screenshot of how I have mine set up to help you customize yours based on what you actually want to see vs. what you can see.
Tip 2: Save the Teacher Text Number
If you’ve gotten a text notification from your child’s teacher, save that number.
It will always come from the same thread, which means:
- You instantly know it’s the teacher
- Messages don’t get lost in a sea of unknown numbers
- And yes — you can reply directly like a normal text
This one small step makes communication so much easier.
Tip 3: Learn the ParentSquare App Menus (They Actually Make Sense Once You Know Them)
A quick orientation goes a long way:
- Home: A running feed of everything
- Messages: Personal or group messages from teachers (often duplicates of texts)
- Alerts: Important schoolwide information or reminders
- Calendar: Key dates for events, early releases, and school activities
Once you understand where information lives, the app feels far less chaotic.
Tip 4: Find Online Forms in One Spot
Instead of scrolling through dozens of posts looking for a permission slip or RSVP:
- Tap the three dots (…) in the bottom right
- Select Forms
This shows you all outstanding forms at a glance — no scavenger hunt required.
Tip 5: Filters Are Your Best Friend
The Home feed can be a lot, especially when you’re trying to find class-specific updates.
To simplify it:
- Go to Home
- Tap the Filter icon in the top right
- Change “To” to Classes
This helps you quickly see what matters most for your kids, even if you have multiple children.
Getting Caught Up & Staying Informed?
Even with notifications and filters dialed in, I still recommend doing a quick scroll through the newsfeed once a week. It ensures you don’t miss anything important — especially those posts that didn’t trigger notifications.
I also use the heart icon on posts to mark items I’ve already read or added to my calendar. It’s a simple little system, but it keeps everything organized and prevents double-checking later.
Fulfilled Hustle Tip:
#thefulfilledhustle
Reduce the friction between you and the information you need.
Tailor your ParentSquare notifications, filters, and habits to match how you work best. A few minutes of intentional setup — plus a quick weekly sweep — keep you informed without drowning in updates. Less chaos, more confidence.
School communication is one of the trickiest parts of the parenting equation. You want to stay informed without feeling buried in messages, reminders, and updates coming from every direction. I hope these tips help make things a little simpler and a lot more manageable!
For more school-related topics, check out our Behind the Backpacks section!
R