If convincing your kids or grandkids to unload the dishwasher or occasionally vacuum the carpet feels like an uphill battle, you’re not alone. After all, no child really wants to do chores – which is why you could benefit from a helping hand, which is where new tech comes in.
A relatively recent trend in the app space is gamification, a concept where difficult, mundane or routine tasks are turned into a habit-forming game. Duolingo is perhaps the most famous example, focusing on completing small, regular tasks that gradually build momentum towards learning a language.
A new app seeks to bring this gamification technique to the world of kid’s chores: Chorly. Within the app you can create custom chore lists for each family member, and when they’re completed they can be ticked off for rewards. Once a task is completed, your child can add photographic evidence to ensure there’s no cheating.
You can set clear goals for regular chore completion, too. As each task is completed, your child will accrue points that go towards various prizes you can set up for them, such as toys, pocket money, a trip away or even something as simple as a delayed bedtime.
For example, you might set a goal of 2,000 points, at which point you’ll finally get the family cat they’ve always wanted. Not only does this serve as a helpful motivator for kids to complete their chores, it helps to reinforce good habits. Over time, for example, keeping their room tidy will become second nature if they keep up with tracking their chores on the app.
The visual list of completed tasks and accrued points also provides a sense of accomplishment alongside the personal pride they’ll take in making an impact around the house, and the long-term goals will help to foster patience and a proactive, step-by-step mindset that can be applied to all areas of life. Chorly is available for both iOS and Android, and right now you can take advantage of a 40% discount on a Chorly subscription with the code 40OFF.
Early reviews have been positive on the Google Play store. “I love this app,” said one five-star review. “It’s simple and I can tell the app can be more than what it offers right now. I like the bells and whistles when it comes to organising… I’ve used it almost a week now and my kids are asking what else can they do.”
On the Apple App Store, Chorly currently has an average rating of 4.8/5. “I love how Chorly encourages my kids to do chores. My daughter now actually walks the dog and cleans her room properly to earn gift cards that I buy for her through the app. The proof and approval feature is fantastic for busy parents like me!” said one happy parent.
Another noted that it’s easy enough for even very young children to use: “As a mom of three, this app is a game changer! It’s simple enough for my 5-year-old to use since they have view for small kids who don’t have phones, and the rewards system motivates all of them without. Chorly has made our chaotic routine manageable and even enjoyable!”
Some users have been disappointed that it’s a subscription service. “I don’t like that it’s a subscription. I wish it were free, with the option to subscribe,” said one such user. Others have encountered some bugs, although this is common for recently-released apps: “So far, love the app. Just one big problem. It keeps logging us out. It won’t let us stay logged in which is making it very inconvenient.”
Other habit-forming apps you might consider including the Habitica, which turns your to-do lists and desired habits into daily games (free, or you can spend more in the app for extras). Habit Tracker is another popular option on iOS, which is also free with in-app purchases to unlock more features. That said, Chorly truly is an innovation in the space thanks to its family-oriented setup and child-friendly interface. Give it a spin with 40% off by using the code 40OFF when arranging your subscription.
