Setting Up Family Rules in ChoreGami

Customizing ChoreGami’s family settings ensures the system works perfectly for your household’s unique needs and values.

Accessing Family Settings

From the Web App:

Log in to your ChoreGami account
Click your profile or “Settings” in the menu
Select “Family Settings” from the options
Enter your Parent PIN to access family controls

From the Mobile App:

Open ChoreGami and sign in
Tap “Settings” (usually a gear icon)
Select “Family” or “Family Settings”
Authenticate with your Parent PIN or biometrics

Core Family Settings

Family Information

Basic Details:

Family Name: How your family appears in the app
Primary Parent/Guardian: Account administrator
Family Time Zone: For scheduling and deadlines
Language Preferences: App display language

Family Photo:

Upload a family photo for the dashboard
Make it fun - kids love seeing family pictures in the app
Keep it current - update as your family grows

Family Values and Rules

Chore Philosophy:

Define your family’s approach to chores and responsibilities:

Example Philosophies:

“We all contribute because we’re a team”
“Everyone helps according to their ability”
“Chores teach life skills and responsibility”
“Our home is everyone’s responsibility”

House Rules:

Set clear expectations for:

Chore completion deadlines
Quality standards (what counts as “done”)
Consequences for incomplete chores
Bonus opportunities and recognition

Member Roles and Permissions

Parent/Guardian Permissions

Full Access:

✅ Create and modify chores
✅ Manage point values and rewards
✅ View all family activity
✅ Manage family settings
✅ Handle billing and account settings

Teen Permissions (Ages 13+)

Enhanced Access (customizable):

✅ Create simple chores for themselves
✅ Suggest family chores
✅ View family dashboard (if allowed)
✅ Modify their own profile
❌ Change point values or major settings

Child Permissions (Ages 6-12)

Basic Access:

✅ Mark chores complete
✅ View their points and rewards
✅ Browse available rewards
✅ Update their avatar/profile picture
❌ Create chores or change settings

Young Child Permissions (Ages 3-5)

Supervised Access:

✅ Mark chores complete (with parent help)
✅ See their points visually
✅ Browse rewards with pictures
❌ Independent app use

Chore Rules and Standards

Completion Standards

Define “Done”:

Create clear standards for different types of chores:

Cleaning Tasks:

Bedroom: Bed made, clothes put away, floor clear
Kitchen: Dishes in dishwasher, counters wiped, floor swept
Bathroom: Sink clean, mirror wiped, towels hung up

Organization Tasks:

Toys: All toys in designated places
Homework: Completed and in backpack
Clothes: Clean clothes put away, dirty in hamper

Quality Expectations:

Age-appropriate standards - adjust expectations based on development
“Good enough” philosophy - don’t demand perfection
Improvement focus - celebrate progress over perfection
Consistency over perfection - regular completion is more important

Deadline Rules

Timing Options:

Daily chores: Complete by bedtime
Weekly chores: Complete by Sunday evening
Flexible chores: Complete within 3 days of assignment
Seasonal chores: Monthly or quarterly deadlines

Grace Period Policy:

15-minute reminder before deadline
30-minute grace period after deadline
Late completion still earns partial points
Communication encouraged if delays happen

Point System Rules

Point Value Philosophy

Fair Distribution:

Time-based: Longer tasks earn more points
Difficulty-based: Harder tasks earn more points
Age-adjusted: Same task may have different values for different ages
Consistency: Similar tasks always have similar values

Example Point Structure:

Easy Tasks (5-10 minutes): 1-3 points

Make bed, feed pets, put dishes away

Medium Tasks (15-30 minutes): 4-8 points

Clean room, load dishwasher, homework completion

Hard Tasks (30+ minutes): 9-15 points

Deep clean bathroom, yard work, meal preparation

Bonus Tasks: +2-5 extra points

Self-initiated help, exceptional quality, helping siblings

Point Earning Rules

Standard Earning:

Complete by deadline: Full points
Late but same day: 75% of points
Next day completion: 50% of points
Beyond that: 25% of points or parent discretion

Bonus Opportunities:

Self-initiated chores: +50% bonus points
Helping others: +2-5 bonus points
Exceptional quality: +1-3 bonus points
Streak bonuses: +1 point per consecutive day

Reward System Rules

Reward Categories

Immediate Rewards (Daily Earning):

Extra screen time: 10-20 points
Special snacks: 5-15 points
Stay up late: 15-25 points
Choose dinner: 20-30 points

Short-term Rewards (Weekly Earning):

Friend playdate: 50-100 points
Special outing: 75-150 points
New book/small toy: 100-200 points
Family movie night choice: 60-120 points

Long-term Rewards (Monthly Earning):

Bigger toys/games: 300-600 points
Special experience: 400-800 points
Money for savings: Variable
Big family outing: 500-1000 points

Spending Rules

Purchase Guidelines:

Parents approve all reward purchases
No buyer’s remorse - purchases are final
Saving encouraged but not required
Fair sharing of family rewards

Restriction Options:

Screen time limits even with point purchases
Bedtime enforcement regardless of “stay up late” rewards
Healthy choices - limit junk food rewards
Family schedule - outings must fit family calendar

Behavioral Guidelines

Attitude and Effort

Acceptable Behavior:

Asking for help when needed
Doing your best effort
Accepting feedback constructively
Helping family members when possible

Unacceptable Behavior:

Arguing about chore assignments
Deliberately doing poor work
Complaining constantly about chores
Refusing to participate in family responsibilities

Consequences and Support

Natural Consequences:

Lower points for poor quality work
Redo requirements for unacceptable completion
Loss of privileges for attitude problems
Extra chores for family disruption

Positive Support:

Extra help when children are struggling
Celebration of effort and improvement
Flexibility during difficult times
Recognition of good attitudes and helpfulness

Communication Rules

Family Meetings

Regular Check-ins:

Weekly family meetings to discuss how things are going
Monthly review of chore assignments and points
Quarterly planning for new goals and rewards
Annual family retreat to set goals and values

Meeting Topics:

What’s working well in our chore system
What needs adjustment or improvement
New ideas from family members
Celebration of achievements and growth

Conflict Resolution

When Disagreements Arise:

Listen to all perspectives before making decisions
Focus on solutions rather than blame
Involve kids in problem-solving when appropriate
Maintain family unity while addressing issues

Common Conflicts:

“That’s not fair” - Review point values and assignments
“I forgot” - Discuss reminder systems and responsibility
“It’s too hard” - Adjust expectations or provide more support
“They didn’t do theirs” - Address individual accountability

Customization for Your Family

Special Circumstances

Single Parent Families:

Adjust expectations for available supervision
Create support systems with extended family or friends
Focus on essential chores first
Build in flexibility for difficult days

Blended Families:

Coordinate with other households when possible
Respect different house rules at different homes
Focus on consistency within your household
Communicate clearly about expectations

Special Needs Considerations:

Adapt chores to individual capabilities
Use visual supports when helpful
Allow extra time for completion
Celebrate effort and progress

Seasonal Adjustments

School Year vs. Summer:

Adjust expectations based on school schedule
Modify deadlines during busy periods
Add seasonal chores (leaf raking, garden help)
Plan for holiday disruptions

Implementation Tips

Starting Your Family Rules

Involve the whole family in creating rules
Start simple and add complexity gradually
Write down agreements so everyone remembers
Review regularly and adjust as needed
Model the behavior you want to see

Making It Stick

Consistency in applying rules and consequences
Patience while family adjusts to new systems
Flexibility to modify what isn’t working
Celebration of successes and improvements

Need Help Customizing?

Every family is unique! If you need help setting up rules and settings that work for your specific situation, contact our support team for personalized guidance.

Remember: The best family rules are the ones your family will actually follow. Start simple, involve everyone in the process, and adjust as you learn what works best for your household.

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