Read time: 5 minutes

Welcome to Nelli! Setting up Nelli for the first time is an exciting opportunity to help your child build independence, manage their time , and stay on top of tasks with a system that’s fun and engaging. Nelli’s star points and rewards system can transform daily routines into a game, motivating your child to complete tasks with a sense of accomplishment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up Nelli effectively—focusing on the star points system, rewards, and how to choose the right tasks to keep your child engaged and motivated.

1. Customising Your Child’s Profile

The first step is creating a personalised profile for your child. Nelli lets them choose their own avatar from a range of friendly monster characters and pick a profile colour. This sense of ownership is key to engaging them from the start. Don’t forget to let them choose their personal jingle —one of 16 fun tunes—which will play when it’s time for them to do a task. The jingle will be followed by Nelli’s text-to-talk feature, which calls out the task in a fun, personalised way, like: “Hey Jackson, it’s time to get dressed for school!”

2. Understanding Nelli’s Task Types

Nelli offers three different types of tasks to help manage your child’s day:

• Time-based tasks: These have a set start time and a countdown duration . Your child will earn star points if they finish the task before time runs out. This gamification-style feature is great for building urgency and focus.
• Notification tasks: These tasks have a start time but no duration, allowing flexibility. Your child will still get their jingle and text reminder, but they can take their time to complete the task. Perfect for tasks like tidying up or finishing homework.
• Checklist tasks: Perfect for older or more independent children, checklist tasks give your child the freedom to manage their own to-do list and mark tasks complete when they’re done.

Nelli also has a Reminder feature, which behaves like a notification task but doesn’t offer star points. This is handy for reminders like “Don’t forget your library book!” or “Put the bins out!”

3. Setting Up the Star Points System

Nelli’s star points system is designed to reward your child for completing tasks. Each task can be assigned between 0 to 3 stars, depending on its importance or difficulty. Here’s how to set it up for success:

• Start simple: Assign 1 or 2 stars for tasks like making their bed or brushing their teeth. Save 3-star rewards for more challenging tasks, like completing homework or practising a musical instrument.
• Use time-based tasks for urgency: Time-based tasks add an extra level of excitement, encouraging your child to race against the clock to earn their stars.
• Balance notification tasks: Use notification tasks for things that don’t require a strict deadline but still need a nudge, like “Clean up your toys” or “Start reading for 10 minutes.”

4. Setting Up Rewards: Finding the Right Balance

One of the main pieces of feedback we’ve received from parents is around setting appropriate reward levels. It’s important to find the sweet spot so that rewards are motivating but not too easily reached.

Tips for Setting Rewards:

• Use small and big rewards: Smaller rewards, like a lollipop or 10 minutes of extra screen time, should be achievable in a few days. Larger rewards, like a trip to the zoo or a new game, should take longer to accumulate stars, teaching your child about saving and delayed gratification.
• Start with achievable goals: If your child can’t see progress toward their reward, they might lose interest. Set rewards that can be earned within a short time, then gradually increase the difficulty.
• Recurring rewards: Consider setting up recurring rewards, such as weekly pocket money. This gives your child a consistent goal to work towards and keeps them motivated to complete tasks regularly.

5. Utilising All Task Types for Maximum Engagement

We’ve noticed that some parents are sticking to checklist tasks only, which limits Nelli’s ability to prompt and engage your child. To get the most out of Nelli:

• Mix task types: Use a combination of time-based and notification tasks. Time-based tasks add a game element that encourages faster completion, while notification tasks provide gentle reminders without time pressure.
• Involve your child in task timing: Let your child help choose the order and timing of their tasks. This gives them a sense of ownership and accountability.

6. Adjusting and Managing Tasks

Nelli gives you flexibility. If your child is unwell or it’s school holidays, you can easily snooze tasks for a day or a longer period. You can also add or remove star points manually when needed, such as awarding bonus stars for good behaviour at school or ad-hoc chores. The built-in timer feature is another handy tool for managing activities like playtime.

7. Using Nelli for Family Activities

Nelli isn’t just for chores! You can set up tasks for family time too. Create blocks of time for activities like bike rides , mindfulness, or one-on-one time with Mum or Dad. You can even use notification tasks for family-wide activities, like remembering to put out the rubbish bins or bringing library books for school.

Final Thoughts: Start Simple and Adapt as You Go

Setting up Nelli is easy, but it’s important to strike the right balance with star points and rewards to keep your child engaged. Start with simple tasks and achievable rewards, then adapt the system as you go based on your child’s needs and progress. Remember, Nelli is here to help, so don’t hesitate to explore all the different task types and features to make it work best for your family.

Enjoy the journey, and have fun watching your child grow in independence with Nelli by their side!