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Notification Style

HausFlow Family notifications are part of the coordination loop — not a second parent, not a pressure machine.

The goal is simple: make the next action clearer without adding emotional drag.


What Notifications Do

HausFlow Family sends two types of push notifications:

Chore assigned — instant When a parent assigns a chore, the kid's device receives a push notification in under two seconds. The notification shows:

  • the chore name and point value
  • a message from their parent

Example:

📋 Fold Laundry — 20 pts "heads up — Dad just dropped a new quest on you 👀"

Routine block closing — 30-minute warning If a kid still has incomplete items in a routine block that closes in 30 minutes, they receive a reminder.

Example:

⏰ Morning Routines — 3 left "Tick tock ⏰ — Morning block closes in 30 min. You on it?"

Both notification types respect the quiet hours window set in parent settings. No notifications fire during that window.


Parent Role in Notifications

When a parent assigns a chore, the notification the kid receives uses the parent's chosen role title — not their first name.

Instead of:

"Tou just dropped a new quest on you."

Kids see:

"Dad just dropped a new quest on you."

This is intentional. Younger kids connect to role titles more naturally than first names. It reinforces the household relationship instead of feeling like a message from a stranger.

Parents set their role title during onboarding or from Settings → Household → Parent role. Options: Mom, Dad, Step Mom, Step Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Guardian. If no role is set, the parent's first name is used.


Notification Tap Routing

Tapping a chore notification opens the task detail screen directly. Tapping a routine reminder opens the routines tab in the kid's tasks screen.


What to Avoid

Notifications should never use:

  • "You forgot"
  • "You're falling behind"
  • "Overdue"
  • "You're letting everyone down"

These turn a coordination tool into a shame loop. HausFlow Family notifications are calm, specific, and actionable.


Settings and Control

Quiet hours — parent sets a start and end time. No notifications fire during that window. Configured from Settings → Household → Quiet hours.

Notification preferences — both parents and kids can control which notification types they receive from Settings → Notifications.

Token registration — push tokens are registered automatically on first app launch and refreshed each time the app returns to the foreground.


Principles

  • clarity over vagueness — say what the task is, not just "you have something to do"
  • support over shame — the tone stays warm and actionable
  • next steps over emotional commentary — the notification points to what's next, not what went wrong
  • recoverability over perfection — missing a routine block is not a failure, just a reset