EarnIt

Earn it offers an array of parental tools at your fingertips to encourage children to complete tasks and teach them the value of responsibility. The app is initially very easy to set up and requires an account to link to other devices. Devices are paired using a simple QR code that responds to either the device of the parent of the child. Once the device is paired tasks can be added easily by completing the task fields that include assigned child, task, date, rewards, task details and even the option to add a photo as evidence when they have achieved the task! The application initially includes instructional overlays within the app to help the user navigate and understand the features and icons. We found this very useful.

Once the child has received the task and completed it they can add comments attach a photo if requested, then submit for approval. Parents can either accept or decline the task completed and reward accordingly. The reward is instant and the child can see how much they have been rewarded. The task is also accompanied by a smart task icon for instant identification.

Goals can also be set within the application for children to aspire to. This could be anything from saving for a new pencil case to saving for a holiday. The communication and response between devices are flawless and very intuitive.

Geofencing enables the parent to set a Geofence around the position of the child within a given range of metres to kilometres. It is noted that location service needs to be active for this to be engaged. This could be ideal for when children are starting to venture outside of the home with friends or away on holiday in an unfamiliar location.

The parent dashboard also offers several other features these include: Account details, the ability to add multiple children, a user guide, contact details to the developer and many more. The ability to change to currency of the application whether you are rewarding in British pounds or US Dollars is a welcomed feature.

What we love about the Earnit app 

We loved the initial application set up as this was very easy to do. Applications like this can often be confusing by the user interface is very straight forward. The added feature of adding a photograph once a task has been completed is delightful. There is no getting away when telling parents a task has or hasn't been completed. The feature that enables the parent to block apps and restrict screen time is also an excellent addition along with the Geofencing feature which could be lifesaving.

What skills does it improve?

From a child’s perspective, this application will give them a better understanding of responsibility and certainly improve their organisation as well as their tech skills. The application also encourages short- and long-term goal setting giving the child motivation and something to aspire to. 

Is Earnit app easy to use?

Although the graphical layout is fairly basic the application has a good user interface and is very intuitive. The in-app instructions and website support certainly help.

How will parents benefit?

As a parent, the application enables tasks to be monitored and distributed amongst multiple children. It also provides an insight into screen and app time as well as providing peace of mind when using the geofencing feature, great for multiple children. Parents are notified and the location of the child is loaded into their map application as well as the added addition of a Panic Button for children to notify parents in case of emergency or they need help. This is a fantastic feature that will bring true peace of mind to any parent. There is also a child locator for parents to get a real time location of their kids. This could be ideal for a holiday or day out where the location of a child is important.

How will the user benefit?

The application encourages short- and long-term goal setting giving the child motivation and something to aspire to. The user will feel organised, motivated and feel that they are making a real contribution to the household or their personal goals. The calendar provides a great visual reminder of the tasks at hand.

What the Earnit app could improve on

With this type of application, there is a real danger of over-complicating the software. The balance of the application is just right, however, we did feel that it may benefit from the following features or changes:

• The possibility of being able to personalise the application such as the screen colours and icons. The application is quite bland.
• The ability to change the rewards from currency to other icons such as stars. This would be ideal for younger users with mobile devices or a tablet.
• The ability to link directly to the child’s bank account via internal or contactless payment would be a welcomed feature.

How much does Earn it cost?

The application is currently free on Apple iOS via the Appstore and Android via Google Play.

Is Earn it safe to use?

The application is very safe and the unique QR code that is created to pair the devices is a welcomed feature. The app’s account is protected by a password that is set up by the user. The application will only allow a location finder whilst in use.

Overall Rating of the application

There are many applications similar to Earnit on the market but many come at a price. The features, functionality and safety of the application are excellent and the developers can be congratulated by what the application offers. Earnit comes highly recommended by The EducationalAppStore.com

You can download EarnIt on your iOS or Android devices from the app stores. Download the EarnIt app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.