Help Center

Getting Started with StarKid

Setting up StarKid for your family is quick and easy. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started in minutes.

1. Download and Install

Download StarKid from the iOS App Store on your iPhone or iPad. The app is free and designed specifically for families.

2. Create Your Account

Sign up with your email address to create your parent account. This will be the main account that manages all family settings.

3. Add Your Children

Create profiles for each of your children, including their name, age, and a fun avatar. Each child gets their own personalized experience.

4. Set Up Initial Tasks

Start with a few simple, age-appropriate tasks for each child. You can use our templates or create custom ones.

5. Create Reward Options

Set up rewards that motivate each child - these can be privileges, treats, activities, or anything that excites them.

Managing Children Profiles

StarKid makes it easy to manage multiple children, each with their own customized experience.

Creating Child Profiles

• Add each child's name, age, and select a fun avatar
• Set age-appropriate default settings
• Customize their task difficulty levels
• Choose their preferred reward categories

Individual Customization

Each child can have different:

• Task lists based on their abilities and interests
• Star earning rates that match their motivation levels
• Reward options that appeal to their personalities
• Progress tracking tailored to their development stage

Managing Tasks & Rewards

The heart of StarKid is the task and reward system. Learn how to create, customize, and manage tasks that motivate your children.

Creating Effective Tasks

• Be Specific: "Clean your room" is better than "be good"
• Age Appropriate: Match tasks to your child's developmental stage
• Clear Criteria: Define what "complete" looks like
• Reasonable Difficulty: Not too easy, not too hard

Task Categories

• Daily Tasks: Brush teeth, make bed, homework
• Chores: Set table, feed pets, take out trash
• Learning: Reading time, practice instrument
• Behavior: Share with siblings, use kind words

Setting Up Rewards

• Experiences: Extra story time, choose family movie
• Privileges: Later bedtime, friend sleepover
• Activities: Special outing, craft project
• Treats: Favorite snack, small toy

Understanding the Star System

Stars are the currency of motivation in StarKid. Learn how to effectively manage and use the star system to encourage positive behavior.

How Stars Work

• Children earn stars by completing tasks
• Each task has a star value you set (typically 1-5 stars)
• Stars accumulate in each child's account
• Children spend stars on rewards they want

Setting Star Values

• Simple tasks: 1-2 stars (put away toys, brush teeth)
• Medium tasks: 3-4 stars (complete homework, help with dishes)
• Big tasks: 5+ stars (clean room thoroughly, exceptional behavior)

Pricing Rewards

• Small rewards: 5-10 stars (extra story, small treat)
• Medium rewards: 15-25 stars (movie choice, friend over)
• Big rewards: 30-50 stars (special outing, larger item)

Parenting Tips & Best Practices

Make the most of StarKid with these expert tips and strategies from families who've found success with the system.

Starting Successfully

• Begin with tasks your child already does sometimes
• Celebrate early wins with enthusiasm
• Let children help choose their first rewards
• Be consistent with star awarding for the first week

Maintaining Motivation

• Rotate rewards to keep things fresh
• Add seasonal or special event rewards
• Increase task difficulty gradually as children grow
• Celebrate milestones and achievements

Handling Challenges

• Lost motivation: Review and refresh rewards
• Too easy: Add more challenging tasks
• Sibling comparison: Focus on individual progress
• Forgetting tasks: Use reminders and visual cues

Long-term Success

• Gradually increase expectations as children mature
• Transition some tasks to "just part of family life"
• Focus more on internal motivation over time
• Use the system to teach goal-setting and persistence

Troubleshooting & Support

Having issues with StarKid? Here are solutions to the most common problems and how to get additional help.

Common Issues

App Not Loading or Crashing

• Force close and restart the app
• Restart your device
• Check for app updates in the App Store
• Ensure you have a stable internet connection

Data Not Syncing

• Check your internet connection
• Log out and log back in to your account
• Make sure you're using the same account on all devices

Child Lost Motivation

• Review and update reward options
• Adjust star values to match effort required
• Add variety to tasks and rewards
• Consider taking a short break and restarting fresh

Getting Additional Help

• Feedback Form: Use our feedback form for issues, suggestions, and bug reports
• Email Support: Contact us at support@starkid.ca
• FAQ: Check our FAQ page for quick answers