Frequently Asked Questions

 

Adults

Welcome to Handipoints

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]

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]

What is a point?

You and your children will add Tasks to their Task Charts. When your child completes a Task, they will earn Handipoints and Bonus Points. You can change the number of Handipoints they earn for each Task. When you grade their Task, they will receive a point value that matches their grade. [back to top]

What is a Handipoint?

A Handipoint is a value 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. You cannot change the Bonus Point value of a Task. 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 is a grade?

You will grade your child’s performance on Tasks. When a child checks off a Task, they will get the full point values for the Task. It is up to you to grade the Task and rate their performance. If you give them a B or above, they receive extra points in addition to what they already got. All of their points are taken away if you mark that they did not actually do the Task. [back to top]

What is the Parents’ Forum?

The Parent’s Forum is a place to read our Handipoints.com blogger Chris’ parenting blog: MommyPoints. Parents leave advice, comments and anecdotes on her blog and you can join the discussion by posting comments of your own! [back to top]

What does Happy, Healthy and Smart mean?

For easier organization, all Tasks and Stamps are Happy, Healthy or Smart. Happy Tasks and Stamps usually deal with games, chores and fun activities. Healthy Tasks and Stamps usually deal with food, health and exercise. Smart Tasks and Stamps deal with homework, reading, creativity and trivia. [back to top]

What are Stamps, costumes and videos?

In addition to real-life rewards, HandiLand has virtual rewards and fun games your child can play. Stamps are virtual picture and audio trivia cards that your child gets for checking off their Tasks. Stamps come in collections. Your child also 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 Cartoon Theater where your child can buy Handipoints cartoon videos and an Arcade where they can play games. Fun new stuff is added all the time! [back to top]

Tasks

How do I add a new Task Chart?

To add a new Task Chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child you want to create a Task Chart for from the drop-down menus
  3. Click “Add or Edit Tasks” in the top center of the page
  4. Click “Add Chart”
  5. You will be taken to a window where you will name your chart, choose the day it starts and set a number of options.
  6. Click “Save” and you will be taken to your new chart. If you do not want to save, you can click “Cancel” to return to the last screen. [back to top]

How do I edit the settings of a Task Chart?

To edit an existing Task Chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to edit from the drop-down menus
  3. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  4. Click “Chart Options”. You will be taken to a window where you can change the name, the day the chart starts and the chart’s options
  5. Click “Save” when you are done editing or “Cancel” to return to your previous screen [back to top]

How do I delete a Task Chart?

To delete an existing Task Chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to edit from the drop down menus
  3. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  4. Click “Delete Chart.” Once a chart is deleted, it cannot be brought back, so make sure you’ve decided to delete
  5. A message window will ask you to press “Okay” and confirm the delete.

After this, your chart will be deleted permanently. [back to top]

What is a behavior chart?

A behavior chart is something you keep to reward points to your child for good behavior or to dock points from your child for bad behavior. To create a behavior chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab.
  2. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  3. Click “Add Chart”
  4. When you create the chart, make sure to uncheck the box that says “Allow (Child’s Name) to mark items complete in this chart.” You will have sole control of the chart.

To add Task to the behavior chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Click on Add Tasks
  3. Click on Happy Tasks
  4. Click on the “Be Good Category”

There you will find all of the good behaviors you want to reward. To add demerits for bad behavior, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Click on Add or Edit Tasks
  3. Click on Demerits

Here you will see all of the bad behaviors that you can take points away for. Add and customize these Tasks like you would any other Task. [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. Click the blue link to go back to your Chart or click “View Your Chart”

[back to top]

How do I make a chore daily?

When you are adding a new Task, follow these steps:

  1. Select “Everyday” from the drop-down menu in Step 3.
  2. Click “Save”
This Task will show up with a slot for every day of the week. When you indicate that the Task must be done more than once, it will show up as a square in your Task Charts.[back to top]

How do I indicate a chore is to be done once?

When you are adding a new Task, follow these steps:

  1. Select “Once” from the drop-down menu in Step 3.
  2. Click “Save”
If you indicate that a Task should be done just once, it will show up as a circle in the Task Chart. When your child checks off a “once” Task, it will remain crossed out until you click “Reset” next to that Task in your Task Chart. [back to top]

How can I schedule a Task for a specific day?

When you want to schedule a Task for a specific day, follow these steps:

Click on your Task Charts tab

Select the child and Task Chart you want to work with from the drop-down menus

  1. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  2. Search for, browse for or create the custom Task you want
  3. Step 3 of the Add Task screen is selecting the scheduling options from the drop-down menu. You can choose every day, once, Tuesdays, weekends, etc.
  4. Select your option from the menu
  5. Click “Save”

There will be a square blank for your child to check that appears on the day you want the task done. [back to top]

How do I edit or delete a Task?

To delete a Task, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to view from the drop-down menus
  3. Locate the Task you want to delete
  4. Click the red X to the right of the dates

You will not get asked to confirm your delete, so make sure you really want to delete. 

To edit a Task, follow these steps:

Click on your Task Charts tab

Select the child and Task Chart you want to view from the drop-down menus

  1. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  2. Click the red X to Delete the Task in the Step 3 window.
  3. Create the Task again with your new settings and click “Pick” or “Add,” if you are making a Custom Task.
  4. Click “Save”

The changes should show up in your Task Chart. [back to top]

What if I marked a Task completed by accident? What if I graded a Task by accident?

You can always edit your Tasks. To change a completed Task back to uncompleted, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to view from the drop-down menus
  3. Click the check mark on a specific day and Task to uncheck the Task. If you delete a Task that you marked off, your child will get those points taken away.

To change a Task you’ve already graded, follow these steps:

  1. Go to your Correct Mistakes tab
  2. Find the Task on the ordered list
  3. Click the red X to delete it
This will affect the Handipoints and Bonus Points balances in your child’s account. Do this only if you want to delete the Task and take away the points your child earned by doing it. [back to top]

Can I add my own Task to the list?

You can enter your own, personalized Task if you cannot find what suits your needs in our searchable Task database. To add your own custom Task, follow these steps:

Click on your Task Charts tab

Select the child and Task Chart you want to view from the drop-down menus

  1. Click on “Add or Edit Tasks”
  2. Click on “Create Custom Tasks”
  3. The first Task in that list will be a blank that you can fill in
  4. Name the Task and choose your options
  5. Click “Save”

Custom Tasks have a set Bonus Points value of 10, this is the maximum. [back to top]

Where do I review all the Tasks my child has done? How can I see where my child is spending Handipoints and Bonus Points?

To see your child’s activity in one place, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Correct Mistakes tab
Under the “Correct Mistakes” tab you will see a date-sorted list of everything your child has done, the grades they received and the points they earned. You’ll also see how and when they spent their Handipoints and Bonus Points. You can go back and delete or edit Tasks that you’ve already graded on this screen, as well. [back to top]

How do I print out a Task Chart for my child?

To print out a Task Chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart that you want to print from the drop-down menus
  3. Press ‘Print’ in the upper right hand corner
  4. Pressing the print button will pop up a new window with a printer friendly version of your Task Chart.
  5. If you have a pop-up blocker, make sure you turn it off or allow pop-ups from the Handipoints site
  6. Make sure your printer is connected to the computer and turned on. [back to top]

How do I mark a Task complete?

After a child has completed a Task, you can mark it complete in their Task Charts. To mark a Task complete, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to work with from the drop-down menus
  3. Find the Task you want to mark complete
  4. Find the day the Task was completed
  5. Click on the box or circle under that day
  6. A gold check mark will appear and your child will be credited for the maximum points for the Task. To add more points as a bonus or to take points away for a job not properly done, go to the Grade Tasks tab. From there, a grade of B or above will award extra points.

You may want to wait about ten second before closing the window so our servers register the change. You can mark off as many Tasks as you want when you visit the Task Chart. Keep in mind that your kids can mark off their own Tasks, too. If you don’t know how this works, read our FAQ or watch the video all about HandiLand [back to top]

How can I copy a Task from another Chart?

If you want to copy a Task from another Chart (even if its from another child’s chart) without having to type it in again, follow these steps:

  1. Go to your Task Charts tab.
  2. Select the Chart you want to work with from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  4. Click “Copy From My Charts”
  5. Click on the Chart you want to copy from
  6. Find the Task you want and click “Pick”
  7. Set the schedule for the Task if you need to
  8. Click “Save” Now the Task from one of your other charts will show up where you want it.

Grading

Why am I supposed to grade Tasks?

Your supervision is needed to make sure that your child is doing their Tasks right. Knowing that their efforts are graded will also motivate them to try their best.

When a child checks off a Task, they get the maximum Handipoints and Bonus Points value right away. Grading allows you to give extra Bonus Points for a job well done. If you award a grade of B or above, your child gets an extra percentage of their points for their good work. If you mark that your child did not do a task, then both the Handipoints and Bonus Points previously awarded are taken away.

If you want to bypass the grading system, you do not have to grade and your child will receive the maximum point values just by checking off Tasks. [back to top]

What’s a grade?

A grade is a letter evaluation of your child’s performance on a Task, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. Grades are a good way to further motivate your kids. If you grade at a B or above, they get a percentage of extra Bonus Points above and beyond what they received already. [back to top]

How should I determine my child’s grade?

Every parent will have his or her own unique approach to grading. Some Tasks, like dusting the living room, will give you an obvious, visible result to evaluate. Other Tasks, such as reading for half an hour are more difficult to rate in quality. Follow your instincts in your grading and make sure that your grading reflects any improvement or slacking week after week. [back to top]

How do I enter a grade for a Task?

To grade a Task that your child has done, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your parent account.
  2. Click on the Grade Tasks tab, the Grade Tasks button on your child’s Scorecard or the Grade button in the Task Charts
  3. Select the child you want to grade for in the drop-down menu
  4. Use the grading scale slider button to choose a grade
  5. Click “Save”

Clicking Save will save the grades and distribute points to your child. [back to top]

What is the grading scale?

100% to 96.5% is an A+
96.5% to 93.5% is an A
93.5% to 90% is an A-
90% to 86.5% is a B+
86.5% to 83.5% is a B
83.5% to 80% is a B-
80% to 76.5% is a C+
76.5% to 73.5% is a C
73.5% to 70% is a C-
70% to 66.5% is a D+
66.5% to 63.5% is a D
63.5% to 60% is a C-
Anything below 60% is an F [back to top]

What is the “Did you do it?” question?

There is an option in the Grade Tasks area to mark whether or not the child actually did the Task. If you mark “No” the point values your child received for marking off the Task is deducted from their account.

This is a way to keep the system fair and penalize children for cheating and marking off Tasks that they didn’t do. [back to top]

Savings Goals

How do Goals work?

You will agree on tangible, real-life Goals to give to your child once they save up enough Handipoints. They will save these points by doing graded Tasks. You will add a Goal for them and they will redeem their points for a Goal once they have enough Handipoints. Treat a Goal like a promise. It is a great way to motivate your child. When they reach their Goal, it is your responsibility to purchase and provide the Goal you’ve agreed upon. [back to top]

How do I pick a Goal?

The “Savings Goals” tab has a catalogue of popular Goals and Goal ideas. If you are stuck for ideas, discuss it with your child. The Goal should be something that they can save for and enjoy, so make sure to include them in the decision process.

To check out the Savings Goals, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. To browse for toys and gadgets, click on “Reward”
  4. To browse for fun activities, click on “Recreation”
  5. In either of the above you can search for specific activities or items with the search box
  6. You can also browse the categories like “Gadgets” or “Family Fun” to find toys and activities you like
  7. To make a cash Savings Goal, click on “Cash n’ Coins”
  8. To make a charity donation Savings Goal, click on “Charity”
  9. Once you find the “Reward” or “Recreation” goal you want click “Pick” to pick this Savings Goal
  10. Once you find the “Cash n’ Coins” or “Charity” Savings Goal you want, type in the dollar amount and Handipoints amount and click “Save” [back to top]

How does the Cash n’ Coins Goal work?

Much like a store-bought Goal, an allowance or savings Goal lets your child save up Handipoints for a cash allowance or lump sum. If you agree to deposit $200 into the child’s account after a certain number of Handipoints, you will have to do it. This is a great way to teach your child the value of saving money and working hard. To set a Cash n’ Coins Goal, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. Click on “Cash n’ Coins”
  4. Set the dollar amount that you’ll reward your child and the amount of Handipoints they have to earn to get the reward
  5. Add a name and an optional picture
  6. Click “Save” to save the Goal or “Cancel” to return to the previous screen

Now your child will be able to see and redeem Handipoints for this goal in their HandiLand account. [back to top]

How does a Recreation Goal work?

A Recreation Goal will take more effort on your part than buying a toy or giving your child money, but it is also more rewarding. When your child has earned the Handipoints for a Recreation Goal, you must fulfill your promise. Some parents will only allow small and manageable Recreation Goals. A trip to the movies is a good example. Other parents will let their kids pick a destination for the weekend. Either way, this is another great way to motivate your children to work hard and save their points. Plus, it’s a good vacation excuse for Mom and Dad. To set a Recreation Goal, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. Click on “Recreation”
  4. You’ll see a search box and categories like “Family Fun” or “Trips”
  5. Search for a goal or browse through the categories
  6. If you don’t find what you want, you can click on “Create your own custom reward goal”
  7. Click “Pick” If you are making a custom Goal, click “Save”

Now your child will be able to see and redeem Handipoints for this goal in their HandiLand account. [back to top]

How does the Reward Goal Work?

You can choose from our large Amazon.com collection of Goals, or enter your own item. Once your child has collected enough Handipoints to redeem for the item, you must purchase the item online or in a store to reward your child. To set a Reward Goal, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. Click on “Reward”
  4. You’ll see a search box and categories like “Toys” or “Gadgets”
  5. Search for a goal or browse through the categories
  6. Click “Pick,” if you are making a custom Goal, click “Save”

If you don’t find what you want, you can click on “Create your own custom reward goal”

  1. Set the Handipoints value of whatever Goal you find
  2. Click “Pick”
  3. If you are making a custom Goal, click “Save”

Now your child will be able to see and redeem Handipoints for this goal in their HandiLand account. [back to top]

How does the Charity Goal work?

Another option for your child’s tangible Goal is a donation to charity. Agree beforehand that you will donate a determined amount to a charity, after your child earns a certain number of Handipoints. This teaches the virtues of saving for the benefit of others. To set a Charity Goal, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. Click on “Charity”
  4. Set the dollar amount that you’ll donate for your child and the amount of Handipoints they have to earn to earn the donation
  5. Add the name of the charity and an optional picture
  6. Click “Save” to save the Goal or “Cancel” to return to the previous screen

Now your child will be able to see and redeem Handipoints for this goal in their HandiLand account. [back to top]

Where do I buy my child’s Goal?

You can buy Goals at a local store or online. [back to top]

How do I use the Savings Goals window in the Parent Portal?

You will see all of the Savings Goals you and your child have set up in the column to your left.

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. Look in the column on your left and see each Goal as a thumbnail
  4. The ones with a green border are Savings Goals that your child has already picked out and spent their Handipoints towards.
  5. The ones with progress bars are the ones your child is saving up for. If you see that the bar is at 100%, that means your child has enough Handipoints to buy this goal, but they have not yet decided to buy it. If you see the Goal value is less than 100%, that means your child doesn not currently have enough Handipoints to buy it. [back to top]

Can I spend my child’s Handipoints on a Goal?

Yes. You can buy Savings Goals on your child’s behalf and spend their points. To buy a Goal on your child’s behalf, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goals tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. In the column to the left, find the goals that are at 100%, you can buy any of these goals
  4. Click on “View”
  5. To spend your child’s Handipoints, click “Redeem”

This will affect your child’s Handipoints totals. [back to top]

How do I edit an existing Savings Goal?

To edit an existing Savings Goal, follow these steps:

Click on the Savings Goal tab

In the column on your left, you will see all of the Goals you currently have

  1. Pick the Goal you want to edit
  2. Click “View”
  3. Click “Edit”
  4. Set the Handipoints values, dollar values, name and picture of the Goal, just like you did when you added it initially
  5. Click “Save” to save the edits, click “Cancel” to return to the previous screen

If you do not see the “View” button, that means that your child has already bought the Goal with their Handipoints and you cannot edit it. [back to top]

Can I take Goals away before my child buys them?

Yes. To take a Goal away before your child buys them, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goal tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. In the column on your left, you will see all of the Goals you currently have
  4. Find the Goal you want to take away
  5. Click “View”
  6. Click “Delete” [back to top]

Can I take Goals away after my child has bought them?

Yes. This will take away the Handipoints your child has spent on the Goal. You will not be able to replace them. If you still want to take a Goal away after your child has already spent their Handipoints, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goal tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. In the column on your left, you will see all of the Goals you currently have
  4. Find the Goal you want to take away
  5. Click “Approve”
  6. Click “Reset”

Do not click “Delete,” this will take the Goal away and the system will assume you have purchased the Goal. If you click “Reset,” this will take away the Handipoints your child has spent. [back to top]

What if my child buys a Goal by mistake?

Deleting a goal does not affect your child’s Handipoints balance. To correct mistakes and return the Handipoints to your child’s account, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Balance Sheets tab
  2. Find the record of the purchase, all purchases are in red
  3. Click the red x
  4. This will bring up a box asking you if you want to delete the purchase and return Handipoints to your child
  5. Click “Ok” [back to top]

What do I do after I buy a Savings Goal?

After you buy a Savings Goal, you should remove it from the Savings Goals window. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Savings Goal tab
  2. Select the child you want to set Goals for from the drop-down menu
  3. In the column on your left, you will see all of the Goals you currently have
  4. Find the Goal you’ve bought already
  5. Click “Approve”
  6. Click “Delete” [back to top]

Scorecards, Child Settings and Account Settings

What does my Scorecard tell me?

Every one of your kids has their own Scorecard, so you can see all of their progress in one window. You will see a row for each child. On the left-hand side you will see their name and their CoolCat character wearing the outfit your child has given them. You’ll also see the last time your child has logged in and an “Edit” and “Delete” option for each account.

Moving right from there, you will see their Handipoints and Bonus Points values. Handipoints are denoted by the yellow star and Bonus Points by the purple star.

If you have Task Charts and Savings Goals for your children, you will see options to grade Tasks and approve Savings Goals in the blue and purple boxes, respectively. If you have not yet set up Task Charts or Savings Goals for your child, you will have the option to do so.

Here are all the things you need to know about your child and easy access to Grading and Savings Goals, all in one place on the Scorecards! [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]

How do I edit my account information?

In the very top right hand corner when you log in to your parent account you’ll see the words “Edit Account.” To edit your account information, follow these steps:

  1. Click “Edit Account”
  2. From here you can edit your account name, your password, Handipoints value, e-mail and the account information of your children
  3. Click “Save” to store these new options [back to top]

How do I edit or delete a child from my account?

On the Scorecard home page, you can edit or delete a child’s profile by clicking the words “Edit” or “Delete,” respectively.

You can also edit or delete a child’s account from your account options [back to top]

Points

How can I see point values for individual children?

The Scorecards page and the Correct Mistakes tab track your child’s Handipoints and Bonus Points. If you are looking at a page that toggles between children with a drop-down menu, you will need to select the right child from the menu. If you are on the Scorecards home page, you can see all of your children’s points at once. [back to top]

How do I set the dollar value of a Handipoint?

Choosing a Handipoints value is a very personal decision. To make it easier for a child to earn a goal, choose a lower value. If you enter 1 Handipoint equals $1, for example, they will earn their goal quickly. If you want to make it difficult, enter a higher value. For example, setting 4 Handipoints equals to $1 multiplies the dollar cost of a reward by 4 to determine the Handipoints amount. How much does the Goal cost in real life? How many times would your child have to wash the dishes or walk the dog to earn it? Ask yourself these questions and set a Handipoints value that feels right. To set the dollar value, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your parent account and click on ‘Edit Account’ in the top right-hand corner
  2. Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner to access your account options
  3. Fill in the value you’d like to represent one Handipoint in the blank
  4. Click “Save”

This will save the value and convert your Savings Goals catalog into this value. [back to top]

Are there penalties for bad behavior? Can I take points away?

To take away Handipoints or Bonus Points, you can use demerits. To find your demerits and add them to a Task Chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click on your Task Charts tab
  2. Select the child and Task Chart you want to work with from the drop-down menus
  3. Click “Add or Edit Tasks”
  4. Scroll down and find “Demerits”
  5. Browse through the demerits and select the ones you want
  6. You can edit how many Handipoints are taken away when you click a demerit
  7. When you have selected the ones you want, click “Save”
  8. Click the link to go back to the Task chart

Like with other Tasks, you can also create your own custom demerits with negative point values. [back to top]

What is a Handipoints value?

This is a conversion rate that will apply to the pricing of your goals. It comes pre-set to 4 Handipoint equaling $1. That means that your goals catalogue will have a $25 dollar goal that costs 100 Handipoints. You can toggle this value to fit your needs and it will automatically change the Handipoints value in the Savings Goal catalog for you. [back to top]

Why can’t my child earn more than 150 Bonus Points in a Day?

We cap a child’s ability to earn more than 150 Bonus Points in a day to keep HandiLand fair for all Ð the kids who are earning a ton of points and those who don’t earn that many.

That being said, your child can still earn Bonus Points after they get their 150 for Tasks by playing trivia inside HandiLand, there is no limit on points earned that way.

HandiLand for your Kids

Can my child talk and play with other children in HandiLand?

HandiLand is a place for your child to meet CoolCats from around the world. They can talk to each other thought a menu of pre-selected messages, thoughts and actions. This is a great way for them to blow off steam after doing all those chores!

Is talking and playing inside HandiLand Safe?

Since cats can only use phrases and actions that we have selected ahead of time, the material they can talk about is limited and completely safe. HandiLand is monitored to make sure that children are having fun in the safest and most enjoyable way possible.

What is a Stamp?

Your child will collect Stamps, which are pictures and pieces of trivia, randomly when they check off Tasks. If they check off Happy Tasks, they get Happy stamps, and so on. To get a good mix of stamps, your child has to do a lot of Tasks in each category: Happy, Healthy and Smart. Handipoints.com releases new Stamps regularly to keep the game exciting. Stamp collections have anywhere from 4 to 16 stamps. An example of a collection would be Apples, with stamps like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji etc. When your child finishes a Stamp collection, they get 100 Bonus Points. [back to top]

How does my child collect stamps?

Kids get Stamps at random while checking off Tasks in their Task Charts. If they check off Happy Tasks, they get Happy stamps, and so on. To get a good mix of stamps, your child has to do a lot of Tasks in each category: Happy, Healthy and Smart.They can find their Stamps by going into HandiLand and checking out the Post Office. Kids can also trade Stamps and clothing with one another so they can get Stamps or clothing items that they are missing.

Children can also buy Stamp packs or individual stamps with Bonus Points in the Post Office in HandiLand. [back to top]

What is a costume?

In HandiLand, your child gets a CoolCat character that they use to navigate around. The can browse the Cat Catalog with their Bonus Points to pick out clothes for their cat. These outfits, like fireman and ballerina costumes, feature trivia tidbits. Different costume pieces can be mixed and matched for extra fun. Your child can reach the Dressing Room and Clothing Catalog from HandiLand or from the Score Card page. [back to top]

How does my child collect costumes?

Every clothing item that your child buys for their Cat is stored in the Dressing Room. They can go back again and again to mix and match clothing pieces and accessorize their Cat. Kids can also trade Stamps and clothing with one another so they can get Stamps or clothing items that they are missing. [back to top]

What is the Cartoon Theater?

The Cartoon Theater is a place in HandiLand where your child can use their Bonus Points to buy cartoons featuring Milo and Petals, the Handipoints gang. Your child can buy cartoons and watch them over and over. Your child can reach the Cartoon Theater by going into HandiLand. [back to top]

What is the Arcade?

The Arcade is an area of HanidLand where your child can play games. New games come out all the time and your child has the opportunity to get high scores and go down in HandiLand history!Your child can find the Arcade with tons of new games inside HandiLand! [back to top]

What kind of games can my child play?

HandiLand is always adding new games. Games range from one player to multiple player and new ones are being added on a weekly basis. There are some games-like a daily trivial game-that change often and award points for correct answers.

Correct Mistakes Tab

How do I read my Correct Mistakes Tab?

To see all the things your child has been doing, click on the Correct Mistakes tab in your Parent Portal. You will see the words: “View Records For:” and then two drop-down menus. Here you can select the child whose information you want to view, as well as the month you want to see. Here you’ll find what Tasks your child has done, how they’ve spent their Bonus Points and Handipoints and when. This information is organized by date, starting with the most recent.

In that same dark blue bar, you’ll see the “Print Chart” icon. Click here and you’ll be taken a printer friendly version of your Balance Sheets. If you have a pop-up blocker, make sure to either disable it or add Handipoints to your list of approved sites.
Below the blue bar, you’ll see your list of Tasks and Goals. They will have a green arrow or a red arrow next to the date. Green arrows mean Tasks for which your child has earned points, as well as Handipoints that your child has withdrawn from a Savings Goal and back into their account. Red arrows mean Handipoints that your child has deposited toward a Savings Goal. You’ll also see the name of the Task or Savings Goal and the date it was completed.

The first column, with an orange star, is the Handipoints value that was either earned or spent for the entry. The purple star column is for Bonus Points that your child has earned with a particular Task. In the column with the grades, you’ll see the grade you gave your child for a particular Task. Savings Goals deposits and withdrawals are blank in this column.
The red X means “delete.” If you click the red X next to any Task or Savings Goal purchase, you will get a dialogue box asking you to confirm the delete. Once you delete a Task, your child will get those points taken out of their account. Once you delete a Savings Goals purchase, your child will get their Handipoints back.

At the bottom of the Correct Mistakes tab, there is a dashboard that shows Monthly Totals for your child in terms of Handipoints, Bonus Points and grade, as well as Final Balances.

[back to top]

How do I change the grade for a Task?

After you have already graded a Task, the only way to change it is to delete the Task in the Correct Mistakes tab and mark the Task complete all over again.

  1. Click on the Correct Mistakes tab
  2. Find the Task you want to delete
  3. Click on the red X for that Task
The Task will be deleted and you can mark it complete in the Task Charts all over again. [back to top]

What’s the difference between Monthly Totals and Final Balances?

In the Monthly Totals area on your Correct Mistakes, you’ll see the Handipoints, Bonus Points and the average grade your child has earned this calendar month. In Final Balances, you’ll see the total Handipoints, Bonus Points and grade that your child has earned since the account was created. [back to top]

Parent Forum

Who is the blogger?

Chris is a mother of seven who blogs about parenting challenges, ideas and using Handipoints with her children. Read more about her on her “About Me” page. [back to top]

How do I read an entire entry?

Each entry will have a link that says “Read more >>.” Click here and you will be taken to the expanded entry. [back to top]

How do I comment on an entry?

At the bottom of each entry there is a “Leave a Reply” field for your comment. To enter a comment, follow these steps:

  1. Enter your name, or your online nickname, your e-mail address and your website URL, if you have one. Your e-mail address will not be kept on file or used in any way. Asking for your e-mail is a precaution against automatic commenting and spam.
  2. Type your comment in the larger field
  3. Click “Submit Comment.” [back to top]

Can I contact Chris or a commenter on her blog?

Chris does not make her personal e-mail address public, and neither do the parents who comment on her blog. If you wish to contact Chris or any of her readers, leave a comment. Individual readers may post their websites in their comments, and may be available there. [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]

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 change my child’s username?

When you change your username, 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

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

If you want to cancel your account, please go to this page.

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.