Why Focus Stars work
ADHD brains are reward-driven, not punishment-driven. Telling a child "if you don't do X, no screen time" burns your energy and their trust. Telling them "finish this and you get a star that leads to something cool" flips the whole thing.
Focus Stars are the currency. Rewards are what stars buy.
Set it up in 3 steps
- Go to Rewards → Turn on Focus Stars. By default, your child earns 1 star per completed routine and bonus stars for perfect weeks.
- Add 3 rewards at 3 price points. A cheap daily one (5 stars), a mid-week one (15 stars), and a weekend "big win" (30 stars). See examples below.
- Show your child the reward menu. Together. This is the moment they get invested. Let them help pick the rewards.
What to actually put in the reward menu
💰 5 stars — daily wins
15 min extra tablet time · pick tonight's dinner · stay up 15 min later · one lolly · choose the music in the car
💰💰 15 stars — mid-week
Movie night with popcorn · one hour at the park · trip to the library · bake something together · new book from Kmart
💰💰💰 30 stars — Saturday big win
Ice cream outing · playdate with a friend · trip to the pool · a small Lego set · picnic in the park
The three rules that make this stick
1. Never take stars away.
Ever. Stars are earned and stay earned. Punishing by removing stars destroys the whole system in one afternoon. If your child misbehaves, use natural consequences — never the star jar.
2. Deliver rewards fast.
If your child earns a 5-star reward, they get it today or tomorrow. Not "at the weekend". ADHD brains have a shorter dopamine horizon — the reward has to feel real, soon.
3. Refresh rewards every 2 weeks.
Novelty is the fuel. If the same 3 rewards sit there for a month, they lose their spark. Swap 1 or 2 out every fortnight. KidsFocus reminds you every second Sunday to refresh.
🎯 Real family result
"Three days in, Milo asked me if he could set his own alarm. He was chasing the star. I nearly cried." — Sarah, mum of a 7-year-old in Melbourne.
Common trap: making it too complicated
Some parents build elaborate reward economies with 20 items, tiered bonuses, and punishment clauses. Please don't. 3 rewards. 3 price points. Refresh fortnightly. That's the whole system.