Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with Dominic's Tasks in just a few minutes. This guide walks you through the essential setup steps to begin managing your family's task productivity.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the following information ready:

  • Parent Account Credentials: You will need a valid email address to create your parent account
  • Child Information: Gather names and preferred avatars for each child who will use the system
  • Task Ideas: Think about the daily tasks you want your children to complete
  • Reward Ideas: Consider what rewards motivate each child

Step-by-Step Setup

1Create Parent Account

Navigate to the application and click "Sign Up" to create your parent account. This account serves as the hub for your entire family. You will use this account to manage all child profiles, configure settings, and monitor progress.

Enter your email address and create a strong password. You will use these credentials to access the Parent Admin Console.

2Add Your First Child Profile

Once logged in as a parent, navigate to the Admin Console. Click "Add Child Profile" and enter your child's name. Choose an avatar from the available options. The avatar appears on their dashboard and in the parent view.

Each child profile is completely isolated—points, tasks, and history never mix between profiles. This allows you to customize the experience for each child individually.

3Configure Feature Toggles

Go to Settings for your child's profile. Here you will find all the gamification features you can enable or disable. Start with the basics:

  • Points System: Enable this to start earning points for task completion
  • Deadline Warnings: Helpful for teaching responsibility with due dates
  • Morning Bonus: Encourages completing tasks early in the day

You can adjust these settings at any time based on how your child responds to different motivational approaches.

4Set Up Initial Tasks

Create a task bank with the tasks you want your children to complete. For each task, specify:

  • Task Name: What needs to be done (e.g., "Make Bed", "Homework")
  • Point Value: How many points it's worth (small tasks: 1-5, medium: 6-15, large: 16-30)
  • Time Period: Morning, Afternoon, or Evening
  • Due Date: Optional deadline for time-sensitive tasks

Assign tasks to specific children or to all children in the family.

5Define Rewards

Create a reward catalog that your children can "purchase" with their earned points. Good rewards include:

  • Screen Time: 30 minutes of tablet or game time (50-100 points)
  • Privilege Rewards: Choose dinner menu, stay up late 30 minutes (75-150 points)
  • Tangible Rewards: Small treats, toys, or experiences (200-500 points)

You can customize point costs per child—younger children might need lower thresholds.

6Explain the System to Your Child

Spend a few minutes showing your child how their dashboard works. Explain:

  • Where to find their daily tasks
  • How to mark tasks as complete
  • Where to see their points balance
  • How to browse and redeem rewards

Keep it positive and exciting—frame it as a fun game where they earn rewards for helping out!

First Day Tips

Your first day using the system sets the tone for ongoing use. Consider these recommendations:

  • Start Small: Begin with 3-5 tasks per day rather than overwhelming your child with a long list
  • Celebrate Early Wins: When your child completes their first task, celebrate the achievement
  • Be Present: Check in throughout the day to answer questions and provide encouragement
  • Adjust as Needed: If a task is too difficult or not challenging enough, modify it for the next day

Common First Week Adjustments

After the first week, you will likely want to fine-tune the system. Here are common adjustments parents make:

Issue Solution
Tasks taking too long Reduce point values or split large tasks into smaller steps
Child losing interest Add new rewards or increase reward availability frequency
Too much competition stress Disable leaderboard features and focus on personal goals
Deadline tasks being deferred Enable deadline warnings or increase penalty for deferring
Rewards too easy to get Increase point costs or reduce daily task count

Next Steps

Once you have the basics working, explore these advanced features:

  • Time Tracking: Enable the timer feature to help children understand how long tasks take
  • Historical View: Review past days to identify patterns and celebrate progress
  • Approval Queue: Require parent approval before points are awarded
  • Multiple Children: Add more profiles and customize settings for each child

Note

All settings can be changed at any time. There is no "wrong" way to use the system—adjust it to fit your family's needs and your child's motivational style.