Our Story

Why We Built StarJar

Before the idea of StarJar ever existed, our home was overflowing with half-used sticker charts, forgotten reward systems, and endless requests from the kids: "Can I have more screen time?", "Can I get pocket money?", "Can I bake a cake?"

With three children – one with additional needs and one being assessed – life was already full. The kids wanted pocket money and responsibility, but in reality the path was bumpy. Chores didn't feel as glamorous as they imagined, and we struggled to keep track of who had done what.

"We needed something that wouldn't get forgotten under a pile of school letters or require me to remember who did what three days ago."

Like so many parents, we'd tried sticker charts and lists. They worked for a while, but with both of us busy, it was too easy to forget to update them. With three children at different stages, the charts quickly fell apart.

It wasn't the idea that failed, it was the practicality. We needed a tool that could keep up with our family life.

The Turning Point

The spark came in a moment of half-joking, half-serious inspiration. My husband and creator of StarJar, Christopher, can build anything, and one day I joked with him that he should turn the reward charts into a website/app so we could manage the goals more easily.

At first, we imagined something simple – just a points tracker. But as we thought about it more, we realised it could be so much bigger: a way to track chores, pocket money, and goals all in one place.

How Our Children Shaped the App

Our children's personalities and needs have been at the heart of StarJar from day one. For a long time, we held back on chores, thinking our eldest (who is autistic) wasn't ready. But that meant his younger siblings were also held back.

The very clear sign came when our eldest started Year 5. He told me outright that he didn't want to be treated like a baby anymore. It was a powerful moment that showed us he was ready for more and that we needed to trust him.

That experience led us to design StarJar with flexibility in mind: goals that can be tailored to each child and gradually built up as they gain confidence.

More Than Just an App

When our children check their dashboards, they're not just seeing stars or points – they're actively using maths to figure out how far they have to go, setting goals, and practising independence.

And for us as parents? It means fewer mental tabs open, less stress, and a system we can finally keep up with.

StarJar is a tool that takes the stress out of parenting by bringing consistency, accountability, and a sense of achievement for kids and parents alike.