What Are Goals, and How Is It Different from Rewards?

Help Your Kids Dream Big and Stay Motivated

In S’moresUp, both Goals and Rewards are tools to motivate your kids, but they serve very different purposes. While rewards offer immediate gratification for completed tasks, goals are all about teaching patience, persistence, and the value of saving for something special. Together, they help build a well-rounded understanding of effort, achievement, and responsibility.

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What Are Goals in S’moresUp?

Goals are long-term objectives that kids work toward by saving their S’mores Points. Instead of spending points on smaller, immediate rewards, kids can allocate them toward bigger aspirations, like a new gadget, a family outing, or even a larger personal achievement.

How Goals Work:

1. Parents and kids set a specific goal in the app.
2. A target amount of S’mores Points is defined.
3. Kids allocate points earned from chores and streaks toward the goal.
4. Progress is tracked visually, motivating kids as they get closer to achieving it.

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How Are Goals Different from Rewards?

1. Focus on Long-Term vs. Short-Term:

   • Rewards: Immediate gratification. Kids redeem points for small, tangible incentives.
   • Goals: Teach delayed gratification by encouraging kids to save for larger, more meaningful outcomes.

2. Purpose:

   • Rewards: Motivate kids to complete daily chores and tasks.
   • Goals: Help kids develop financial discipline, patience, and a sense of accomplishment.

3. Interaction:

   • Rewards: Kids can choose and redeem from the Reward Shelf whenever they have enough points.
   • Goals: Require kids to save and allocate points over time until the target is reached.

4. Lesson Taught:

   • Rewards: Emphasize effort and immediate achievement.
   • Goals: Foster planning, saving, and working steadily toward something bigger.

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Examples of Goals and Rewards

Goals:

• Saving for a new bike.
• A special weekend trip or vacation.
• A big-ticket item like a gaming console or laptop.

Rewards:

• Extra 15 minutes of screen time.
• A small treat like ice cream.
• A family movie night.

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How to Set Goals and Rewards in S’moresUp

1. Setting a Goal:

   • Go to the Goals Section in your child’s profile.
   • Set a target amount and description for the goal.
   • Encourage your child to allocate earned points toward achieving it.

2. Creating Rewards:

   • Navigate to the Reward Shelf.
   • Add reward and Toggle ON Need to save to claim this Reward? option.

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Why Both Are Important

1. For Balanced Learning:

   • Rewards teach kids the immediate benefits of effort, while goals encourage patience and perseverance.

2. To Foster Financial Literacy:

   • Kids learn the value of budgeting and making choices between saving and spending.

3. To Keep Kids Motivated:

   • Immediate rewards maintain daily engagement, and goals keep them inspired by something bigger.

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Help Your Kids Dream and Achieve

With S’moresUp, you don’t have to choose between goals and rewards—use both to teach valuable life lessons. Rewards keep the excitement alive, while goals show your kids the power of saving and working toward something meaningful.

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Start Setting Goals Today!

Log in to S’moresUp and help your kids define their first big goal. Teach them to save, plan, and celebrate their achievements—it’s a lesson they’ll carry for life.