Unpaid chores in Kroni: set up a simple checklist with zero reward
By Erik Nilsen · Kroni6 min read
Yes, you can. You can create a task with the reward set to 0. Your child checks it off when it's done, and you decide whether that particular task needs an adult's approval. The balance doesn't change. The task list then works as a plain checklist for everyday things. It isn't something your child gets paid for.
This guide covers only the setup. You'll see how to create an unpaid task, how to decide on approval, and how to check that everything works the way you expect. If you'd rather read about when it makes sense to pay for chores, see Allowance and rewards for kids: what actually works?.
How a task with zero reward works
In Kroni, every task has two settings, and each one works on its own:
- Reward: how many virtual coins the task is worth. You can enter 0 here.
- Approval: whether an adult needs to check the task before it counts as finished.
So a task can have no reward and still need approval. Or it can have no reward, and your child's check mark is enough. You can enter 0 for a regular routine as soon as you set up your family for the first time.
Two things are worth knowing up front:
- A completed task with zero reward adds no virtual coins. Checking off a sub-step doesn't add coins on its own either.
- Unpaid tasks count as normal active tasks. The free version includes one child and five active tasks, so unpaid tasks use up the same limit.
Step 1: Start with a familiar task and set the reward to 0
Pick something your child already does, or almost does. That way the first week is about getting used to the list, not learning a new skill.
Write the task clearly enough that your child can tell when it's finished. "Clean your room" can mean many things. "Clothes in the hamper and toys in the bins" is easier to judge, for your child and for you.
If you're not sure what fits your child, you can find ideas in What should kids be able to do at home? A complete list by age. Adjust the ideas to your own child, though. Age alone doesn't tell you what a child can manage or do safely.
Step 2: Choose approval for each task
You don't need one rule for the whole list. For each task, ask yourself: is there any point in an adult checking this one?
- Approval off: good for tasks where it's easy to see they're done, and where the point is for your child to remember on their own.
- Approval on: good when you've agreed on how the result should look, or when you'd like a natural moment for a quick chat about the task.
Every task with approval turned on is one more thing for you to follow up. Start by using approval only where it actually adds something.
Example: three unpaid tasks
This family is made up. Emil lives with two adults, and they want a simple evening list with no money involved. Emil already has $4 in virtual balance from a different, paid task. The amount is just an example.
| Task | Done when | When | Approval? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School bag ready | Lunchbox empty and in the dishwasher, homework and gym clothes in the bag | Sunday–Thursday evening | No | Easy to see, and the goal is for Emil to remember it himself |
| Clothes in the hamper | No clothes on the floor, dirty laundry in the hamper | Every evening | No | A quick routine that doesn't need checking |
| Set the table | Plates, cutlery and glasses for everyone eating | Weekday dinners | Yes | The family has agreed on what goes on the table, and it's nice to look it over together |
All three tasks have a reward of 0.
Three checkpoints: before, during and after
Here's how you can check that the setup works as expected. These steps are general and don't show exactly what the screen looks like.
1. Before
- The task list shows three unfinished tasks.
- Balance: $4 (example).
2. During
- Emil checks off "School bag ready" and "Clothes in the hamper." Neither needs approval, so both show as done.
- Emil checks off "Set the table." This one needs approval, so it waits for an adult.
- Balance: still $4.
3. After
- An adult approves "Set the table."
- All three tasks are finished.
- Balance: still $4.
If the balance changes after an unpaid task, first check whether anything else was recorded in the meantime, such as a paid task or a balance adjustment. If not, check that the reward really was saved as 0. Also keep in mind that the app only tracks virtual coins. If your family has an agreement about real money, you handle cash, bank transfers or payments through a mobile payment app yourselves, outside the app. Tasks with zero reward have nothing to do with any of that.
Review the list after a few days
Take a short look after about a week, or once each task has been done a few times. You're not measuring progress here. You're checking whether the list is easy to use day to day:
- Was "done when" clear enough, or did you disagree about what counted?
- Does the task with approval still need it, or could it run without?
- Should one of the other tasks have approval after all?
- Does the timing work, or does a task land at an awkward moment?
- Is there room for one more task, given how many active tasks you already have?
Change one thing at a time. That makes it easier to see what helped.
Copyable template: your unpaid checklist
Copy this table and fill it in before you add the tasks in the app. It's only for planning. Nothing you write here moves into the app on its own.
| Task | Done when | When | Reward | Approval? (yes/no) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | |||||
| 0 | |||||
| 0 |
Balance check
- Balance before: ______
- Balance after all tasks are finished: ______
- Other balance changes in the meantime (for example paid tasks or adjustments): ______
- Are the numbers the same once you leave those out? ______
Review (date): ______
- What will we change? ______
Frequently asked questions
- Can I mix paid and unpaid tasks for the same child?
- Yes. You set the reward for each task separately, so some tasks on the same list can have an amount and others 0. Only the paid tasks change the virtual balance.
- Do unpaid tasks count toward the active task limit?
- Yes. An active task with zero reward still counts as an active task. The free version includes one child and five active tasks, so unpaid tasks use up the same limit.
- Do unpaid tasks need an adult's approval?
- No. You decide that for each task. You can turn on approval where a quick check is useful and let your child's check mark be enough for the rest.
