How stars are earned, and how the store works
For parents who want to know what the stars are actually for before their child asks for a reward.
How stars are earned
A right answer earns 5 stars. Finishing a subject earns 15, plus 2 more for every right answer in it. Finishing all six subjects in one day earns another 25. That's the whole list. Stars come from the questions, nothing else, and a redone subject earns none, because the day's stars for it are already banked.
For a child in grades 3 to 8 who does all six subjects and gets three out of four right, that works out to around 350 stars a day. Grades 1 and 2 answer fewer questions, so a little less.
The two totals
Every child has two numbers. Stars to spend, which goes down when they buy something. And lifetime stars, which never goes down, and is what sets their level: "Scout" at 1,500, "Pathfinder" at 11,000, "Trailblazer" at 21,000, up to Legend at 100,000. The level card in the store shows both.
That split is deliberate. Spending stars in the store can't cost a child their level, so there's never a reason to hoard.
What the store sells
Open the store from the child's home page. The heading is "Spend your stars".
"Your closet" is first and cheapest: characters and scenes for their avatar, from free up to 600 stars. Buying one puts it on right away. Tap "Wear" to switch between ones they own.
"Real-life rewards" are the ones you deliver: pick tonight's dinner, stay up 30 minutes, a friend over. They cost 1,200 to 5,000 stars, unlock at "Scout", and can be bought again once the last one is used. This is the tier most families live in.
Then the year-end box, which can't be bought at all. It's finished, at 150 full days. Nothing else in the store is a physical thing we send. Every other reward is one you deliver at home.
A locked tier says "Locked" and tells them what unlocks it. An item they can't afford yet shows how many stars "to go".
When your child requests something
- They tap "Request" on an item. It changes to "Requested" and the stars come off their balance right away.
- On your dashboard, that child gets a panel called "Reward requests" with "Approve" and "Decline" buttons.
- Approve it and it moves to a list under "Promised". When you've delivered, tap "Mark done".
- Decline it and the stars go straight back. Nothing to do on your side.
Your child sees the status the whole way through, under "Your rewards": "waiting for a grown-up", then "yours to use!" or "on the way!", then used or delivered.
A child can't request the same thing twice while one is still waiting, so a big balance can't get drained in three taps before you've seen the first request.
Common questions
What happens if I decline a request?
The stars come back to the child instantly and the request disappears. There's no penalty and no message to the child beyond the request going away. Do it whenever the timing is wrong, and tell them why in person.
Can I give stars for things outside the app, like chores?
Yes. Set up a chore list in the grown-up area and approve what your kids say they did, or give the stars with one tap. Chore stars are spendable only: they buy rewards but never count toward levels or the plaque. There's a guide for it.
Why did their level not drop after they spent everything?
Because levels read lifetime stars, not the balance. A child who has earned 12,000 stars and spent 11,000 is still a "Pathfinder". Spending never demotes anyone.
Still stuck?
Email goes straight to a person, usually answered within a couple of days. Include the email you signed up with so we can find your account.
Email ervin@brightstepchild.com