Made by a game developer, not a parenting guru
Getting kids to do the boring stuff, without the nagging.
I build an action-RPG that kids unlock by doing real-world quests: chores, reading, exercise. These are my honest notes on the psychology underneath that, including the parts that don't work.
Latest writing
- ◆ Jun 24, 2026 /motivation
Do chore apps for kids actually work? What the research says about the long game
Gamified chore apps almost always work at first, then most kids drift back. Here's the psychology behind why, and what actually makes a reward last past the first month.
- ◆ Jun 20, 2026 /motivation
The 'first, then' rule: a 1965 trick for getting kids to do the boring stuff
Grandma knew it instinctively, and a psychologist named it in 1965. The Premack principle is the simplest, most reliable way to motivate a reluctant kid, if you get one detail right.