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Colorado Springs dad keeps kids busy with 'Busy Kid' App

Posted at 10:21 AM, Apr 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-30 12:21:15-04

COLORADO SPRINGS — After weeks of being at home, a Google search gave one local dad the answer to keeping track of his kids chores and their allowances.

"It's not business as usual per say but we're doing all right," said Brad Crawson, a Colorado Springs dad of three. "I came across an app called 'Busy Kid,' and it allows you to program allowances."

His kids Katie, Jack, and Sam have no problem keeping up with their chores, but when it came down to giving allowances, that's when the confusion started.

"They would get imaginery allowances from their mother," Crawson explained. "The app took that away and now I pay for it and they get to see what their allowances are."

Here's how the app works. Parents assign their kids chores to do by a certain deadline. Each time the child does a chore they mark it off on the app. After completing them all, parents get an alert notifying them that the child completed their tasks.

"Every Thursday, we send you a message saying 'Hey your kid earned $25 this week, do you want to approve the pay day or not?'" said Gregg Murset, CEO and co-founder of "Busy Kid." "The best way to describe it is it's your kids first job with direct deposit."

Even in the smallest hands, the app teaches valuable life skills.

"I learned how to manage my money," said Katie, the youngest member of the Crawson family.

"They can take some of the money that they've earned and donate it to charity," Murset said. "They get their own visa card, load money onto it and go spend like the rest of us."

Kids and teens can even become young investors.

"I own Apple and Microsoft stock," said Jack.

'Busy Kid' used to have a subscription fee for families, but it is now free for anyone to use.