Not every chore needs a clock.

Some responsibilities must happen before a deadline. Some can happen at any point during the day or week. Others appear only when the need comes up.

S’moresUp supports three timing choices:

• Specific due time
• Anytime
• As Needed

Choose the option that matches the real responsibility.

At a Glance

Timing option	Use it when
Specific due time	The chore should be finished by a clear time
Anytime	The chore can be completed during its scheduled period
As Needed	The work appears whenever necessary and may happen more than once

Specific Due Time

Use a specific due time when timing changes the value of the chore.

Examples:

• Feed the dog by 8:00 AM
• Pack the backpack by 7:30 AM
• Put trash out before collection
• Start the bedtime routine by 8:15 PM
• Put the lunchbox in the sink by 5:00 PM

A due time gives the family a clear deadline.

It also lets S’moresUp:

• Send reminders before the deadline
• Show when the chore is late
• Apply Lock when enabled
• Apply Late Penalty when enabled
• Help the family review timing patterns

Choose a Realistic Due Time

A due time should connect to family life.

Ask:

• When does the chore actually need to be done?
• How much time does the child need?
• Does the deadline conflict with school or activities?
• Is the reminder early enough?
• Does completing it late still help?

Avoid creating a strict time only because the app offers one.

Anytime

An Anytime chore can be completed during its scheduled period without one fixed due time.

Examples:

• Fold towels anytime on Saturday
• Read for 20 minutes today
• Organize the school folder this weekend
• Clean the bedroom sometime after school
• Help prepare one part of dinner today

Anytime gives the family member flexibility while keeping the chore visible.

The schedule still matters.

For example:

• Daily + Anytime means the chore can be completed anytime that day.
• Weekly + Anytime means the chore can be completed during the scheduled weekly period.
• Selected day + Anytime means it belongs on that day but has no exact clock time.

When Anytime Works Well

Use Anytime when:

• The work matters more than the exact hour
• The child can choose when to do it
• The schedule already gives enough structure
• A fixed deadline would create unnecessary pressure
• Completing it later in the period is still useful

Anytime can help older children practice planning.

A teen may decide whether to fold laundry after school or after dinner, as long as it is completed during the scheduled period.

As Needed

An As Needed chore has no set time.

It can be completed whenever the need appears and as many times as necessary.

Examples:

• Refill the pet water bowl
• Wipe the table after a spill
• Bring in a delivered package
• Take recycling out when full
• Help unload groceries
• Pick up an unexpected mess

The person completing each valid occurrence receives the configured S’mores value.

As Needed Is More Than “No Due Time”

Anytime and As Needed are not the same.

Anytime

The chore belongs to a scheduled period and usually has one expected completion for that occurrence.

As Needed

The chore does not have a fixed scheduled time and may be completed repeatedly whenever the need occurs.

Example:

• Anytime: Clean the pet bowl once today.
• As Needed: Refill the pet water bowl whenever it is low.

Use the detailed As Needed article for participant and reward behavior.

Specific Time Versus Anytime

Use a specific time when:

• The family leaves at a set time
• A pet needs care by a deadline
• A collection or appointment creates a cutoff
• The next part of the routine depends on the chore

Use Anytime when:

• The child can choose the hour
• The work can happen during a broader period
• The deadline would not improve the result

Example:

• Specific time: Pack backpack by 7:30 AM.
• Anytime: Organize school papers sometime Sunday.

Anytime Versus As Needed

Use Anytime for one expected completion during a scheduled period.

Use As Needed for repeated, unpredictable work.

Example:

• Anytime: Water the plants once on Thursday.
• As Needed: Wipe water near the plant whenever it spills.

Reminders with Each Timing Choice

Specific Time

A task may provide a default reminder 15 minutes before it is due. Families can change the reminder and add more.

Anytime

Use a reminder at a helpful time of day.

Example:

Remind Noah at 4:00 PM about an Anytime after-school chore.

As Needed

A due-time reminder usually does not fit because the chore has no fixed time.

The family can use instructions, availability, and honest completion rules instead.

Lock and Late Penalty

Lock and Late Penalty depend on a due time.

Lock

The incomplete chore becomes locked after it is past due.

Late Penalty

The chore can still be completed after the deadline, but it awards fewer S’mores.

These controls do not normally fit Anytime or As Needed chores because those options do not use the same fixed deadline.

Family Examples

Morning

Pack backpack
Specific time: 7:30 AM

The family leaves at 7:35, so the deadline matters.

Weekend

Fold towels
Anytime on Saturday

The work matters, but the child can choose the hour.

Household Need

Refill pet water bowl
As Needed

The need may happen more than once and cannot be predicted by the clock.

Common Mistakes

Using a due time for every chore

This can make flexible work feel late when it is still useful.

Using Anytime when the deadline matters

The child may not understand that the chore needs to happen before leaving.

Using As Needed when one person should own the job

Use Individual or Rotate when predictable ownership matters.

Treating As Needed like a Bonus chore

As Needed responds to a household need. Bonus is optional extra earning.

Common Questions

Can an Anytime chore have reminders?

Yes. Use reminders at helpful set times.

Can an As Needed chore be completed more than once?

Yes. It can be completed as many times as necessary.

Does As Needed have a due time?

No.

Can a specific-time chore be completed late?

Yes unless Lock prevents normal completion. Late Penalty may reduce the S’mores.

Does Anytime mean the chore never becomes missed?

It still belongs to its scheduled period. Confirm how the current occurrence closes in the product.

Best First Action

Look at one chore with a due time.

Ask whether the time is truly important. Keep the deadline if it matters. Change it to Anytime if the work only needs to happen during the day or week.

Related Articles

• How Chore Scheduling Works
• How As Needed Chores Work
• How Locked Chores Work
• How Late Penalties Work