Collaborate is for chores completed by several family members working together.

It works well for larger projects, shared spaces, and family jobs that are easier when everyone has a clear part.

The chore’s total S’mores value is split among the participating family members.

When to Use Collaborate

Good Collaborate chores include:

• Clean the garage
• Prepare for guests
• Organize a playroom
• Complete a weekend reset
• Decorate for a holiday
• Clean the backyard
• Sort donations
• Prepare a family meal

Use Collaborate when the work truly needs more than one person.

Do not use it only because the parent has not decided who owns the chore.

Start with Clear Roles

A shared chore still needs individual clarity.

Instead of:

Everyone clean the garage.

Try:

• Maya sorts sports equipment
• Noah gathers donation items
• Ava sweeps the floor
• Parent labels the storage bins

Add the roles to the instructions or Smart List.

Collaborate should reduce confusion, not create a group task where everyone waits for someone else.

How S’mores Are Split

The total chore value is split among the participating family members.

Example:

Chore: Weekend living-room reset
Total value: 40 S’mores
Participants: Maya, Noah, Ava, Parent

If four participants share the value equally, each receives 10 S’mores.

After each person receives their share, that amount can be allocated between their Save and Spend accounts.

The Save/Spend allocation happens after the chore value is split among participants.

Confirm how the product handles values that do not divide evenly.

Choose a Fair Total Value

The total should reflect:

• Time
• Effort
• Number of participants
• Skill
• Family impact
• Whether approval is required

A Collaborate chore worth 10 S’mores split among five people may feel meaningless.

A very large value may make the chore more important than the rest of the family system.

Choose a total the family can explain.

Set Up the Chore

1. Choose the chore type Collaborate.
2. Select the participating family members.
3. Write a clear finish line.
4. Add roles or a Smart List.
5. Set the total S’mores value.
6. Add the schedule or due time.
7. Add approval or Photo Proof if useful.
8. Explain how the S’mores will be shared.

Exact setup controls should be verified on iOS and Android.

Completion and Approval

Collaborate completion should reflect the shared result.

If Parent Approval is on:

• The chore waits for review
• The parent checks the finished project
• Approval finalizes the split S’mores
• Rejection sends the chore back for correction

Confirm whether one participant or all participants can submit or mark the current chore complete.

Use the instructions to make the team’s finish line clear before the work starts.

Use Photo Proof for a Shared Result

Photo Proof can help with a project such as:

• Clean garage
• Organized playroom
• Cleared backyard
• Holiday setup
• Donation sorting

Use one or a few useful pictures of the shared result.

Avoid requiring every participant to submit duplicate proof unless the product requires it.

What If One Person Does Most of the Work?

Collaborate assumes the participants are sharing the job.

If one person repeatedly does most of it:

• Make the roles clearer
• Use separate Individual chores
• Reduce the participant list
• Change the total value
• Use Rotate for a recurring chore
• Talk about the family rule before the next occurrence

Do not let a shared chore become a way for several people to earn S’mores while one person carries the work.

Collaborate Versus Rotate

Use Collaborate when people work together at the same time or toward one result.

Use Rotate when one person should own each occurrence.

Example:

• Collaborate: Family cleans the garage together.
• Rotate: One person takes trash out each Wednesday.

Collaborate Versus Family-Wide Goals

Collaborate controls one chore and splits its S’mores.

A family-wide goal can reward several separate chores leading to one shared celebration.

Example:

• Each family member completes their own cleanup chore.
• The family reaches a shared movie-night goal.

Choose the structure that makes ownership clearest.

Family Example

Chore: Prepare the house for guests
Participants: Two children and one adult
Total S’mores: 60

Roles:

• Child 1 clears the living-room floor
• Child 2 organizes shoes and coats
• Adult prepares the guest area

After completion and approval, the 60 S’mores are split among the three participants.

Each person’s share then follows their Save/Spend allocation.

Common Questions

Does every participant receive the full S’mores value?

No. The total value is split among the participants.

Is the split always equal?

The current product model splits the total among participating family members. Confirm exact rounding and any configurable behavior.

Can Collaborate repeat?

Yes, when the chore is scheduled to repeat.

Can Collaborate use Photo Proof and approval?

Yes, where supported.

Should Collaborate be used for siblings doing separate chores?

Not usually. Separate Individual chores may make ownership and rewards clearer.

Best First Action

Choose one weekend family project.

Divide it into clear roles, set one total S’mores value, and explain how the value will be split before the family begins.

Related Articles

• Chore Types in S’moresUp
• How Rotate Chores Work
• How Compete Chores Work
• Add Clear Instructions to a Chore