Watch CBS News

Chores App Helps Parents Reach Kids Through Their Phones

BOSTON (CBS) - It can be the source of many family fights: getting your kids to do their chores. A Boston company now wants to take the nagging out of getting stuff done around the house. And their solution relies heavily on what can be a kid's most prized possession -- their phone.

"For dusting I'll get a dollar. For cleaning my bedroom I'll get $4." said 11-year-old Kalla Lively while describing some of her household chores. But Kalla no longer gets cash in hand. Instead, her chores are managed and paid for by Dad on-line. The Newburyport family is using Ourly.help. Kalla's Dad, Derek, uploads money to the site, assigns the customized tasks, and waits for results.

"When its interactive and on a device its seems to make them more excited to do it," explained Derek. Kalla is able to snap before and after photos on her phone to prove to Dad that the chore has been completed. Those photos are then sent to Dad via text message. Once the job is approved the money instantly appears in an online account. "It gives them a sense of power and authority. And small tasks are getting done for Dad -- win win," said Derek.

"Ourly is the right way for parents to give their kids pocket money," said John Malone, CEO of Ourly.help. Malone uses the program with his own busy family and says it makes sense to reach kids through their phones. "Everything they do is digital... if you want to have a conversation about money with your kids it's got to be in the format they understand."

Kids can cash in their money for a variety of online gift cards, like Amazon or iTunes, donate to charity, or cash out whenever they want.

Kalla's younger sister has even started to check her iPad for a to-do list. Kalla told us Ourly has changed her opinion of chores saying it's a "fun and easier way to do chores. You don't think about it as chores."

Parents pay $1.95 every time money is uploaded to the site. And coming later this year kids will be able to deposit their money directly onto a pre-loaded debit card.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.