FAQ
Help Index - Technical Questions

 

Can I change my child’s username?

Yes. Keep in mind. Other cats will be able to see this username in HandiLand:

1. Log in to your Parent Portal account.
2. Click on Edit Account in the top right-hand corner.
3. Find your child's name at the bottom of the page, click on it.
4. Change the username.
5. Press Save

[back to top]

How do I add a child to my account?

When you log into your account, you will see the greeting “Hello” and then your name in the upper right hand corner. To add a child to your account, follow these steps:

  1. Click on “Edit Account” in the top right corner.
  2. On the bottom of that page you have the option to “Create new Kid Account.” Click that link
  3. Fill in your child’s information
  4. Click “Save”

You can also add a child from your Scorecards page by clicking on the "Add a Kid" icon.

[back to top]

Can I add more than six kids to my account?

Yes, there is an initial limit of six children when you first sign up, but you can add as many as you want once you’ve started using your account. Follow the regular steps for adding children:

  1. Click on “Edit Account” in the top right corner.
  2. On the bottom of that page you have the option to “Create new Kid Account.” Click that link
  3. Fill in your child’s information
  4. Click “Save”

You can also add a child from your Scorecards page by clicking on the "Add a Kid" icon.

[back to top]

How much does this cost?

Handipoints is currently a free service. The only cost to parents is the cost of any rewards that you setup for your children as Savings Goals and any Keys you choose to buy.

Kids buy rewards from Parents using their points and Parents buy rewards from any retail or online store like you normally would. Keys are a voluntary purchase you can make so that your kids can buy virtual clothing and furniture items. There are no hidden fees and Handipoints is not involved in any part of buying rewards. Parents have the option of not setting up Savings Goals or only setting up goals that are family activities and rewards that do not cost any money. Families are not obligated to buy Keys or Savings Goals, so the cost is completely up to each family. [back to top]

What do I do if HandiLand isn’t loading?

This first thing we always ask is that you try clicking on the HandiLand tab more than once. Sometimes it sticks once and then goes on its own the second or third time. We also ask that you try logging out of Handipoints and logging back in to the child account to try HandiLand again.

Most of the time, this fixes the issue.

If you are experiencing browser crashes, you should install any operating system patches that are available for your computer. If you are on an Apple computer, you can do this by selecting the Software Updates menu item from the Apple menu in the upper right hand corner. If you are running Windows, click here and follow the directions on the page.

HandiLand uses Flash, a program that runs as part of your Internet browser and allows you to play different web games. The next thing we ask families who are having problems to do is uninstall and then re-install their Flash:

  1. Uninstall the Flash Player by going here.
  2. Restart your computer completely.
  3. Reinstall the Flash Player by going here.
  4. Restart your browser
  5. Try HandiLand again.

If you are still having problems, log out of HandiLand and clear your browser cache and make sure cookies are enabled

The last thing that you can check is your firewall. You may be blocking our site from your computer. You can fix this issue here.

If none of these solutions work for you, see if you can log in to HandiLand on a different web browser or, if you have it available, a different computer. [back to top]

Why isn’t my child getting their points?

Children get points awarded as soon as they check off their Tasks. Parents can award additional points by Grading Tasks with a grade of B or above.

To grade, log in to your Parent account and click on the Grade Tasks tab. Keep in mind, though, that the Grade Tasks tab only stores Tasks for the last week, so be sure to grade at least that often. [back to top]

What is Handiland?

In addition to real-life rewards, HandiLand has virtual rewards, cats from around the world to talk to and fun games your child can play. Your child gets a CoolCat character that they can dress and accessorize. They buy costumes in the Cat Catalog with their Bonus Points. HandiLand also has a screening room where your child can buy Handipoints cartoon videos and an arcade where they can play games. There is an educational Stamp matching game to boot. Fun new stuff is added all the time! [back to top]

What is a Handipoint?

A Handipoint is a reward that your child earns in exchange for doing chores and activities, called Tasks. Every imaginable Task, from washing the dishes to doing jumping jacks has a Handipoints value. You can control this value when you add a Task to your child’s Task Chart. Handipoints go toward tangible goals that you decide on and enter in the Savings Goals tab. A tangible goal can be a trip to a National Park, a mountain bike, money or a donation to charity, depending on what you would like your child to have. After you decide on a Goal, your child will save his or her Handipoints to earn it. [back to top]

What is a Bonus Point?

Every Task comes with a Bonus Point value as well as a Handipoint value. While Handipoints are used to achieve real-life goals, Bonus Points will let your child purchase clothing for their virtual Cat character and unlock games and virtual prizes inside the online world of HandiLand. These activities make tracking chores online fun, educational and entertaining. [back to top]

What is a Task?

Your child does Tasks to earn points. Tasks can be chores or fun. Each Task has a different Handipoint and Bonus Point value. You add new Tasks and keep track of Tasks in the Task Charts tab. [back to top]

What if I didn’t mark a Task off today? Will my child still get those points?

Yes. Your child will get points when they mark off Tasks. If you do not log in every day, you can still check off Tasks that you have done on other days, up to one full week in the past.

All you need to do after that is log in to your Parent Portal and grade those Tasks under the “Grade Tasks” tab. Your child will get extra points for Tasks graded above a B grade. Keep in mind, thought, that the Grade Tasks tab will only bring up Tasks from the last week, so make sure to log in to check off and grade Tasks at least once a week. [back to top]

If this is free, how do you make money? Why do you charge for Keys?

Handipoints is currently a free service. To make money as a business, we put infrequent and kid-appropriate advertising on our Task Chart printouts and we sell Keys through Amazon. Keys are paid items that kids can use to redeem for premium clothing and furniture items for their Cool Cats and they help us make the Handipoints system available as a free membership. Rest assured that there will always be a basic version of Handipoints that Kids and Parents can use for free. [back to top]

How do I add Tasks to my child’s Task Chart?

To add Tasks (chores) to your child’s Task Charts, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child you want from the drop-down menu
  3. If you have more than one chart, select the chart you want from the drop-down menu
  4. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  5. Step 1: Search for Tasks with the search box, browse for Tasks in the Happy, Healthy and Smart Tasks or create your own custom Tasks. These are the three ways of finding Tasks to add.

If you want to search: Type in a keyword to the search box If you want to browse:

  1. Click on Happy, Healthy or Smart Tasks
  2. Click on whatever category you want

If you want to make a custom task:

  1. Click “Create Custom Tasks”

Next, you have to customize the Task you choose. This is Step 2:

  1. Select the Task you want and edit the Handipoints amount if you want. (If you are making a Custom Task, type in the name of your Task as you want it to appear) Click “Pick”
  2. Sort, schedule and save. Step 3: Organize the Tasks into the numerical order you want and choose want days you want your child to do the Task from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click “Save”
  4. 4. Click “View Your Chart”

You will remain in the “Add Tasks” window until you click “View Your Chart.” [back to top]

How often does the Clothing Catalog change?

To keep HandiLand exciting, the Clothing Catalog changes every month and a half with brand new outfits to buy and collect.[back to top]

Account Issues

How do I get the computer to forget my usernames?

Your computer stores your usernames and passwords so that it is easy for you to access your account. If you do not want the computer to store your usernames, go to the log-in screen and click “Forget my usernames.”

If this does not work, you can try clearing you browser’s cache.

What do I do if I want to cancel my account?

If you want to cancel your account, please go to this page. [back to top]

What do I do if I forgot my password?

If you forgot your password, go to the log-in page and click “Forgot your username or password?” This will take you to a form where you can ask us to send you your information. [back to top]

 

 

Keys

What is a Key?

A Key is an icon on a clothing or furniture item that means it is premium. There are Bronze, Silver and Gold Keys and a child needs the right level Key to unlock certain premium items and buy them for their cats. [back to top]

Where can I buy a Key?

A parent can buy Keys with their Amazon account. Amazon processes the payment and is completely secure for parents to use. [back to top]

How much do Keys cost?

  • A Bronze Key costs .99 cents
  • A Silver Key costs $1.99
  • A Gold Key costs $2.99

Parents also have the option to buy 5 Bronze Keys for $4.95, a Key Ring (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze) for $19.99 or a Key Ring (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze) for $9.50. [back to top]

Why do I have to buy a Key?

Keys help Handipoints stay in business and are an optional feature. We attach Keys to premium items for Cool Cats who want exclusive virtual prizes to add to their cat characters and houses. [back to top]

What if the Amazon site isn’t working?

We address this issue in our Technical FAQ. Please click here: www.handipoints.com/help/technical.php#amazon [back to top]

Why can’t I get premium items without a Key?

There are certain paid extras that Handipoints has in the clothing and furniture catalogs so that the main Handipoints service can stay free to use.[back to top]