MyChoreBoard Settings: Small Customizations for Your Family
- Jacob Volk
- Setup Guide , Product Updates , Parenting
- 06 Jul, 2026
Most families start with the basics.
Add your kids. Create a few chores. Set up some rewards. Let everyone start checking things off.
That is usually enough to get started, but MyChoreBoard also includes smaller settings that can make a big difference once your family routine is up and running.
Some of these settings help kids understand what a chore actually means. Some make rewards more motivating. Some help younger kids use the app more independently. Others make MyChoreBoard fit better on a shared tablet, wall display, or older device.
This guide walks through a few MyChoreBoard settings parents sometimes miss — and how they can help you customize chores, rewards, and routines for your family.
1. Add task descriptions or steps so kids know what “done” means
Some chores sound simple to parents but feel unclear to kids.
“Clean your room” might mean one thing to a parent and something completely different to a child.
A parent may expect clothes in the hamper, toys put away, the bed made, trash thrown out, and the floor cleared.
A child may think: “I moved the stuff into a pile. Done.”
Task descriptions help close that gap.
In MyChoreBoard, parents can add instructions, steps, or a short description to a task. This makes expectations clearer and helps kids understand what the chore actually includes.
For example, a task called “Laundry” might include:
- Fold clothes for drawers
- Hang up pants and hoodies
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
- Bring the empty basket back
A task called “Clean Bathroom Counter” might include:
- Put away toothbrush and toothpaste
- Throw away trash
- Wipe the counter
- Hang the towel
This is helpful for any multi-step chore, but it is especially useful for:
- New chores
- Younger kids
- Kids with ADHD
- Chores that are often misunderstood
- Tasks that need to be done a specific way
- Reducing the “I didn’t know” conversation
Clear task instructions turn chores from vague reminders into teachable routines.
Instead of saying the same thing every day, parents can write the expectation once and let the child check it when needed.
If you are still deciding which chores make sense for your child, start with the guide to age-appropriate chores for kids.
2. Use reward photos to make goals feel real
Rewards are more motivating when kids can actually see what they are working toward.
A reward called “toy” or “new game” can feel vague. A reward with a picture of the exact item feels much more concrete.
That is why MyChoreBoard lets parents use an image instead of a basic icon for rewards.
This works well for:
- Toys
- Books
- LEGO sets
- Art supplies
- Sports gear
- Accessories
- Special treats
- Experiences
- Bigger goals a child is saving toward
A visual reward can be especially helpful for younger kids, non-readers, and kids who need a concrete reminder of why the chore routine matters.
Instead of only seeing points, the child can connect those points to something specific:
I am getting closer to that.
This makes the reward system feel less abstract. Kids are not just earning numbers. They are working toward something they recognize, remember, and care about.
For a deeper look at this feature, read Make Rewards Feel Real: Add Photos to MyChoreBoard Rewards.
3. Add product links so parents can save the exact reward
Reward images help kids see the goal. Product links help parents remember the exact goal.
When you create or edit a reward in MyChoreBoard, you can attach a product link to that reward. This is especially useful when a child wants a very specific item.
For example:
- A certain LEGO set
- A particular book
- A specific art kit
- A toy with the exact color or model they wanted
- A backpack charm
- A game accessory
- A gift idea you do not want to lose
The link is for parents only. Children do not see the shopping link.
That keeps the child experience focused on motivation and progress, while giving parents a practical way to save the exact item in one place.
This is helpful because rewards can take time. A child may work toward something for days or weeks. Without a saved link, it is easy to forget which version they wanted or where you found it.
With a reward link, the details stay connected to the reward.
That means when your child finally earns enough points, you are not searching through old texts, browser tabs, screenshots, or wish lists. The reward is already saved where you need it.
For more details, read the full guide on how to add Amazon links to specific rewards.
4. Allow marking as N/A when a chore does not apply
Some chores belong on the schedule, but they do not need to be completed every single time they appear.
That is real family life.
Maybe the trash is not full. Maybe the plants were already watered. Maybe lunch does not need to be packed because school is closed. Maybe someone else already fed the pet.
Without an N/A option, families usually end up with two imperfect choices:
- Make the child complete a chore that does not actually need to be done
- Leave the task incomplete even though there is nothing left to do
MyChoreBoard gives parents another option: Allow marking as N/A.
This lets a task stay part of the routine while still giving the family flexibility when the chore does not apply that day.
This can be useful for chores like:
- Take out trash
- Bring in trash cans
- Water plants
- Feed pets
- Pack lunch
- Put away laundry
- Refill supplies
- Empty dishwasher
- Check backpack
Parents can also decide whether marking a task as N/A gives points or simply marks the task as handled.
That makes N/A useful for families who want structure without turning the chore list into something rigid or unfair.
If you have chores that should appear on a more specific schedule, you may also want to use advanced recurring chore scheduling so tasks show up on the days they are actually needed.
5. Big Icons Mode for younger kids and non-readers
Not every child reads fluently yet. Some kids are just getting started with words. Others understand the routine better when they can recognize a picture, icon, or color before reading the task name.
That is where Big Icons Mode can help.
Big Icons Mode enlarges icons and touch targets on that child’s screen. The text size stays the same, but the larger icons make the child interface easier to scan and easier to tap.
This can be especially helpful for:
- Younger kids
- Early readers
- Kids who respond better to visual cues
- Children using a tablet from a distance
- Families using MyChoreBoard on a shared device or wall display
The goal is simple: make the child’s chore list feel less like a grown-up checklist and more like something they can understand and use on their own.
This also pairs well with visual routines in general. If your child does better with pictures, colors, and simple cues, you may also like this guide on how visual cues help kids stick to routines.
6. Focus Mode for kids who get overwhelmed
Some kids like seeing the full day at once.
Other kids see every morning, afternoon, evening, and bonus chore on the screen and immediately feel overwhelmed.
Focus Mode, also labeled as Reduce Clutter / Focus Mode in child settings, is designed for the second group.
When Focus Mode is turned on, MyChoreBoard starts the day with only the current time period open. As earlier chores are completed, the next section opens automatically. Instead of asking kids to manage the whole day at once, the interface helps them focus on what matters right now.
For many families, that small change can make the routine feel calmer.
Instead of saying: Look at everything you still have to do today. Focus Mode says: Start here.
This is especially helpful for kids who struggle with transitions, attention, task initiation, or long lists. It can also be helpful when you want MyChoreBoard to feel more like a step-by-step routine instead of a full chore chart.
For a deeper walkthrough, read the full guide to Focus Mode in MyChoreBoard.
7. Device Settings for shared tablets, wall displays, and family devices
Device Settings are easy to miss because they are not about one specific child or chore. They control how MyChoreBoard behaves on the device you are using.
That matters because families often use MyChoreBoard in different places.
One parent may use it on a phone. Kids may use it on a shared tablet. Another device may sit in the kitchen, mudroom, or family room as a shared chore display.
Device Settings help each device behave the way your family needs it to.
Device Name
The Device Name field is optional, but it can be helpful if you use MyChoreBoard on multiple devices.
For example, you might name devices:
- Kitchen iPad
- Family Room Tablet
- Mom’s Phone
- Kids’ Tablet
This makes it easier to recognize which device settings belong to which screen.
Default Mode
The Mode setting controls what MyChoreBoard opens to on that specific device.
This is useful because not every device in your house needs to behave the same way.
A parent’s phone may be used mostly for setup, approvals, and reward management. A kitchen tablet may be used by the kids throughout the day. A wall-mounted device may be used as a shared family display.
Device Mode lets each one open in the right place.
Parent Mode opens directly to the Parent Dashboard on that device, without asking for the parent PIN each time. This is helpful for a parent-owned phone or tablet where you want quick access to setup, assignments, rewards, and activity history.
Because Parent Mode skips the PIN on that device, it is best for devices that are controlled by a parent, not shared kid devices.
Kid Mode opens directly to the child-facing chore screen. This is helpful when a tablet is mainly used by one child or by the kids during the day.
When you choose a default child, MyChoreBoard can open straight to that child’s chores. You can also prevent the child from switching to another child’s profile.
That helps in two ways.
First, it keeps younger kids from getting confused and looking at the wrong chore list. If the tablet belongs to one child, it can feel like their own personal chore board.
Second, it helps prevent sibling mischief. A child cannot easily switch over to a brother’s or sister’s chores and mark something complete, claim the wrong task, or interfere with someone else’s routine.
WallBoard Mode is best for shared family spaces. Instead of focusing on one child, it gives the family a broader view of what is happening across the household.
This works well on a kitchen tablet, mudroom screen, or family room device where everyone can quickly see what still needs to be done.
This is a small setting, but it can save a lot of daily friction. Instead of switching modes every time the app opens, each device can start in the view that makes the most sense for how it is used.
If you use MyChoreBoard as a shared family display, you may also want to read more about WallBoard Mode.
Clock Format
Device Settings also include a 12-hour / 24-hour clock format option.
Some families prefer 12-hour time. Others use 24-hour time at home, in school, while traveling, or because it is simply clearer for their family.
This setting only changes how time appears on that device, so different devices can use different clock formats if needed.
You can read more about this update in the post covering 24-hour clock support and other setup improvements.
Animations and Sound Effects
Animations and sound effects can make chores feel more fun, especially for younger kids. A little celebration after a completed task can help reinforce progress and make the routine feel rewarding.
But not every child or device needs the same amount of feedback.
Some kids prefer a quieter experience. Some families use MyChoreBoard in shared spaces where sound effects are distracting. Some older devices may also perform better with animations turned off.
Device Settings let you adjust those preferences on each device.
That means your child’s tablet can keep sound effects on, while a wall display or parent phone can stay quieter.
Legacy Color Mode
Legacy Color Mode is a compatibility setting for some older tablets and devices.
On certain older devices, the newer MyChoreBoard colors and visual effects may not render correctly. The child-facing screen can look washed out, faded, or harder to read than it should.
Turning on Legacy Color Mode uses a simpler color style that is easier for those devices to display correctly.
Most families will not need this setting. But if the child screen looks unusually washed out or the colors do not look right on an older tablet, Legacy Color Mode may make the interface clearer and easier to use.
The important thing to remember is that Device Settings apply only to the device you are using. That lets each phone, tablet, or wall display have its own setup.
8. Birth Year for age-based personalization
The child settings screen also includes an optional Birth Year field.
This is not required to use MyChoreBoard, but it can help support age-based personalization inside the app. As MyChoreBoard grows, age can help make themes, animations, and rewards feel more appropriate for each child.
A younger child and a teenager may both use the same family chore system, but they may not need the same experience. Younger kids may benefit from more visual encouragement. Older kids may prefer a cleaner, more grown-up interface and reward structure.
Adding a birth year gives MyChoreBoard more context while still keeping setup simple.
You can leave it blank if you prefer, but it is a useful setting for families who want the app to better match each child’s age and stage.
9. Bonus Tasks are another way to keep the main routine clean
Some chores are required. Others are optional.
Instead of adding every possible household job to the daily routine, MyChoreBoard lets parents use Bonus Tasks for extra earning opportunities.
This is helpful because chore systems can get cluttered quickly. If every helpful job becomes a required task, kids may feel overwhelmed and parents may spend more time managing the chart than they save.
Bonus Tasks give families a middle ground.
Required chores stay focused on the main routine. Optional chores sit in a separate area where kids can choose extra jobs when they want to earn more points.
This works well for things like:
- Wipe the table
- Take out recycling
- Restock snacks
- Pick up the living room
- Help with laundry
- Sweep the entryway
- Bring in packages
For the full walkthrough, read How Bonus Tasks Work in MyChoreBoard.
Small settings can make the routine feel easier
The best chore system is not always the one with the most features turned on.
It is the one that fits your family.
For one child, that might mean clear task instructions, reward photos, and saved product links. For another, it might mean Big Icons Mode, Focus Mode, or a quieter device setup. For parents, it might mean smarter scheduling, N/A chores, WallBoard Mode, or Legacy Color Mode on an older tablet.
These smaller MyChoreBoard settings are easy to overlook, but they can make the app feel more personal, more flexible, and easier to stick with.
Start with the basics. Then adjust the small things.
That is often where the routine starts to feel like it truly belongs to your family.
Frequently asked questions
MyChoreBoard settings help parents customize how chores, rewards, child screens, and family devices work. Some settings are child-specific, like Big Icons Mode and Focus Mode. Others are device-specific, like Default Mode, sound effects, animations, and Legacy Color Mode.
Task descriptions and steps help kids understand what a chore actually includes. Instead of a vague task like “Clean your room,” parents can add clear instructions such as putting clothes in the hamper, making the bed, throwing away trash, and clearing the floor.
Yes. Parents can add reward photos so kids can see the specific item, experience, or goal they are working toward. This can make rewards feel more real and motivating, especially for younger kids and visual learners.
No. Product links are for parents only. Kids can see the reward and track their progress, but the shopping link stays on the parent side so parents can save the exact item without showing the link to the child.
Parent Mode opens directly to the Parent Dashboard on that device without asking for the parent PIN each time. This is best for a parent-owned phone or tablet where quick access to setup, assignments, rewards, and activity history is helpful.
Yes. In Kid Mode, parents can choose a default child and prevent switching to another child’s profile. This helps younger kids avoid looking at the wrong chore list and helps prevent sibling mischief, like marking another child’s chores complete.
Legacy Color Mode is meant for some older tablets or devices where the newer visual effects do not render correctly. If the child-facing screen looks washed out, faded, or hard to read, turning on Legacy Color Mode may make the interface clearer.
N/A is used when a chore appears on the schedule but does not apply that day. For example, the trash may not be full, the plants may already be watered, or school may be closed so lunch does not need to be packed.
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