Points System

The points system is the foundation of the gamification engine. Children earn points for completing tasks, and those points can be exchanged for rewards. This page explains how points work, how to set point values, and how to use points to motivate your children effectively.

How Points Work

Points are earned through task completion and bonus opportunities. They accumulate in the child's balance over time and can be spent on rewards from the catalog you create. The system is designed to create a clear connection between effort (completing tasks) and reward (earning points to spend).

Points are stored per child profile and never transfer between profiles. Each child has their own balance, their own earning history, and their own spending record. This allows you to customize point values and rewards for each child individually.

Base Point Values

When creating tasks, you assign a point value based on the effort, time, or importance of the task. The following guidelines help maintain consistency:

Task Type Point Range Examples
Quick Tasks 1-5 pts Make bed, brush teeth, put away shoes, feed pet
Standard Tasks 6-15 pts Homework assignments, clean room, set table, 30-minute chores
Large Tasks 16-30 pts Deep cleaning projects, large homework assignments, yard work
Bonus Tasks +5-10 pts Extra help around house, voluntary work, going above expectations

Tip

When starting with a new child, begin with easier point values and increase gradually. It's better to have tasks feel "easy to earn" at first to build momentum and excitement about the system.

Point Bonuses

In addition to base task points, children can earn bonus points through special achievements and completions. These bonuses provide extra motivation for specific behaviors you want to encourage.

Morning Completion Bonus

Value: 50 bonus points

Requirement: Complete ALL morning tasks before 1 PM

Awards 50 bonus points when the last morning task is marked complete, provided no morning tasks remain incomplete. This creates incentive to tackle all morning work early in the day. Requires the "Morning Completion Bonus" feature to be enabled.

Streak Bonuses

Value: Varies (typically 25-100 points)

Requirement: Maintain consistent daily completion for multiple days

Earn bonus points for completing tasks several days in a row. Streak bonuses increase for longer streaks: 3-day streak, 7-day streak, 30-day streak, and so on. Encourages consistency and builds habit-forming behavior.

Daily Target Bonus

Value: Varies (typically 25 points)

Requirement: Reach your daily point target

Awards bonus points when the child reaches their configured daily target. The target can be a fixed number or calculated based on scheduled tasks. Celebrates meeting daily expectations rather than just doing the bare minimum.

Perfect Week Bonus

Value: 100 bonus points

Requirement: Complete all daily targets for an entire week

Earn a substantial bonus for meeting all daily targets seven days in a row. This is a significant achievement that demonstrates consistent effort and responsibility. Often the most motivating bonus for children who enjoy long-term goals.

Point Penalties

While the system focuses primarily on positive reinforcement, penalties can be used to teach responsibility about deadlines and commitments. Use penalties sparingly—positive motivation is generally more effective.

Deadline Deferral Penalty

Value: -5 to -15 points

Trigger: Deferring a task past its deadline

When a task with a deadline is moved to "Do Tomorrow" (or otherwise deferred past the deadline), points are deducted from the child's balance. This teaches that deadlines matter and deferring important work has consequences. The penalty amount can be configured per child.

Incomplete Task Penalty

Value: -2 to -5 points

Trigger: End of day with incomplete tasks

Some families choose to deduct points for tasks left incomplete by day's end. This creates accountability for following through on commitments. Use this sparingly and ensure tasks are achievable before implementing penalties.

Recommended Practice

Focus on positive reinforcement first. Use penalties only for specific teachable moments, not as a regular part of the system. Children who feel constantly penalized often disengage from the gamification entirely.

Point Value Customization

Point values can be customized per child to account for age, ability, and motivation style. Here are common customizations:

Customization Type Description Example
Multiplier Multiply all point earnings by a factor Younger child gets 1.5x points for same tasks
Base Value Adjustment Change the default point values for task types Reduce all "quick tasks" from 5 to 3 points
Bonus Multiplier Multiply bonus point awards Increase Morning Bonus from 50 to 75 points
Custom Thresholds Set custom point costs for rewards Child A gets "30 min games" at 75 pts, Child B at 100 pts

Managing Point Balances

Parents have full control over point balances through the Admin Console. You can view point history, make manual adjustments, and correct any issues that arise.

Viewing Point History

Each child's profile shows a complete point history including:

  • Earnings from completed tasks
  • Bonus points awarded
  • Penalties applied
  • Points spent on rewards
  • Manual adjustments by parents

Manual Adjustments

Parents can add or subtract points at any time with a required reason note. This is useful for:

  • Rewarding exceptional effort outside the app
  • Correcting errors in automated tracking
  • Providing incentives for special circumstances
  • Correcting accidentally spent points

Transparency

All manual adjustments appear in the child's point history with the reason you provide. This maintains trust in the system—children can see exactly why their balance changed.

Point System Best Practices

  • Start Generously: Begin with easier point accumulation to build excitement. You can always adjust down later, but starting too strictly often leads to disengagement.
  • Be Consistent: Apply point values consistently for similar tasks. Children quickly learn to spot unfairness in point distribution.
  • Celebrate Milestones: When children reach significant point totals (100, 500, 1000), celebrate these achievements to reinforce the value of their effort.
  • Connect to Real Rewards: Points have meaning only when they can be exchanged for something valuable. Ensure your reward catalog is compelling and well-stocked.
  • Avoid Point Theft: Never take points away as punishment for behavior unrelated to tasks. This undermines the connection between effort and reward.
  • Review Regularly: Check point balances and earning patterns weekly. Adjust values if you notice children are earning too quickly or struggling to make progress.

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