Learning Goals System

While parents create and manage rewards, children interact with them as learning goals they can work toward. This page explains the learner-facing goal system from a parent’s perspective.

How Goals Work

From the learner’s perspective:

View available rewards in the Goals page
Save points toward rewards they want
Track progress with visual progress bars
Cash out when they have enough points saved
Wait for approval from the parent

From learner-goals-page.tsx:201-265:

const LearnerGoalsPage: React.FC = () => {
  const { selectedLearner } = useMode();
  const learnerId = selectedLearner?.id ?? 0;
  const [tab, setTab] = useState<'goals' | 'history'>('goals');
  
  const { data: goals = [] } = useQuery<RewardGoal[]>({
    queryKey: ['/api/rewards', learnerId],
    queryFn: () => apiRequest('GET', `/api/rewards?learnerId=${learnerId}`).then(r => r.data),
    enabled: !!learnerId,
  });
  
  const { data: balanceData } = useQuery({
    queryKey: ['/api/points/balance', learnerId],
    queryFn: () => apiRequest('GET', `/api/points/balance?learnerId=${learnerId}`).then(r => r.data),
    enabled: !!learnerId,
  });
};

The Learner Interface

Header with Balance

From learner-goals-page.tsx:242-252:

<View style={styles.header}>
  <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setLocation('/learner')}>
    <ArrowLeft size={22} color={theme.colors.textPrimary} />
  </TouchableOpacity>
  <Gift size={20} color={theme.colors.primary} />
  <Text style={styles.headerTitle}>My Goals</Text>
  <View style={{ flex: 1 }} />
  <View style={styles.balanceBadge}>
    <Text style={styles.balanceText}>⭐ {balance} pts</Text>
  </View>
</View>

The balance shown includes only available points, not points already saved toward other goals.

Goal Cards

Each goal displays comprehensive information: From learner-goals-page.tsx:40-114:

const GoalCard: React.FC<{ goal: RewardGoal }> = ({ goal, learnerId, onSavePoints, onRedeem, isProcessing }) => {
  const saved = goal.savedPoints ?? 0;
  const pct = goal.tokenCost > 0 ? Math.min(100, Math.round((saved / goal.tokenCost) * 100)) : 0;
  const isComplete = saved >= goal.tokenCost;

  return (
    <View style={[styles.card, { borderLeftColor: goal.color, borderLeftWidth: 5 }]}>
      {/* Header with emoji and title */}
      <View style={styles.cardHeader}>
        <View style={[styles.emojiCircle, { backgroundColor: goal.color + '22' }]}>
          <Text style={{ fontSize: 32 }}>{goal.imageEmoji}</Text>
        </View>
        <View style={{ flex: 1, marginLeft: 12 }}>
          <Text style={styles.cardTitle}>{goal.title}</Text>
          {goal.description && (
            <Text style={styles.cardDesc}>{goal.description}</Text>
          )}
        </View>
        {isComplete && !goal.hasPendingRedemption && (
          <View style={[styles.readyBadge, { backgroundColor: goal.color }]}>
            <Text style={styles.readyBadgeText}>Ready!</Text>
          </View>
        )}
      </View>

      {/* Progress bar */}
      <View style={styles.progressSection}>
        <View style={styles.progressLabelRow}>
          <Text style={styles.progressLabel}>
            {saved} / {goal.tokenCost} pts saved
          </Text>
          <Text style={[styles.progressPct, { color: goal.color }]}>{pct}%</Text>
        </View>
        <View style={[styles.progressTrack, { backgroundColor: theme.colors.divider }]}>
          <View style={[styles.progressFill, { width: `${pct}%`, backgroundColor: goal.color }]} />
        </View>
      </View>

      {/* Action buttons */}
      <View style={styles.cardActions}>
        {!isComplete && !goal.hasPendingRedemption && (
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={[styles.actionBtn, { backgroundColor: goal.color + '20', borderColor: goal.color }]}
            onPress={() => onSavePoints(goal.id)}
          >
            <Text style={[styles.actionBtnText, { color: goal.color }]}>💰 Save Points</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        )}
        {isComplete && !goal.hasPendingRedemption && (
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={[styles.actionBtn, { backgroundColor: goal.color }]}
            onPress={() => onRedeem(goal.id)}
          >
            <Text style={[styles.actionBtnText, { color: '#fff' }]}>🎉 Cash Out!</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        )}
      </View>
    </View>
  );
};

Saving Points

When a child clicks “Save Points”, they see a modal to choose how many points to commit: From learner-goals-page.tsx:116-197:

const SavePointsModal: React.FC<{ goal: RewardGoal | null; balance: number }> = ({
  goal, balance, learnerId, visible, onClose
}) => {
  const [points, setPoints] = useState(0);

  const saveMutation = useMutation({
    mutationFn: (pts: number) =>
      apiRequest('POST', `/api/rewards/${goal!.id}/save?learnerId=${learnerId}`, { points: pts })
        .then(r => r.data),
    onSuccess: () => {
      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['/api/rewards'] });
      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['/api/points/balance'] });
      onClose();
    },
  });

  if (!goal) return null;

  const saved = goal.savedPoints ?? 0;
  const remaining = Math.max(0, goal.tokenCost - saved);
  const maxSave = Math.min(balance, remaining);
  const presets = [1, 5, 10, maxSave].filter((v, i, a) => v > 0 && a.indexOf(v) === i);

  return (
    <Modal visible={visible} transparent onRequestClose={onClose}>
      <View style={styles.modalBox}>
        <Text style={styles.modalTitle}>
          Save to {goal.imageEmoji} {goal.title}
        </Text>
        <Text style={styles.modalSub}>
          Balance: {balance} pts · {remaining > 0 ? `Need ${remaining} more` : '✓ Goal reached!'}
        </Text>

        {/* Preset buttons */}
        <View style={styles.presetRow}>
          {presets.map(p => (
            <TouchableOpacity key={p}
              style={[styles.presetBtn, points === p && { backgroundColor: goal.color }]}
              onPress={() => setPoints(p)}
            >
              <Text style={[styles.presetBtnText, points === p && { color: '#fff' }]}>{p}</Text>
            </TouchableOpacity>
          ))}
        </View>

        {/* Custom stepper */}
        <View style={styles.customRow}>
          <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setPoints(Math.max(0, points - 1))}>
            <Text>−</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <Text style={[styles.pointsDisplay, { color: goal.color }]}>{points}</Text>
          <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setPoints(Math.min(maxSave, points + 1))}>
            <Text>+</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>

        <TouchableOpacity
          style={[styles.modalBtn, { backgroundColor: goal.color }]}
          onPress={() => saveMutation.mutate(points)}
          disabled={points <= 0}
        >
          <Text>Save {points} pts</Text>
        </TouchableOpacity>
      </View>
    </Modal>
  );
};

How Point Saving Works

Child Selects Amount

Uses preset buttons (1, 5, 10, or max) or custom stepperThe maximum they can save is:

const maxSave = Math.min(balance, remaining);

Whichever is less: available balance or points still needed

Points Transfer

When they click “Save”:

Points deducted from available balance
Points added to saved total for that reward
Progress bar updates immediately
Balance badge updates

Working Toward Goal

Child continues earning and saving until:

const isComplete = saved >= goal.tokenCost;

When complete, the “Cash Out” button appears

Points saved toward a goal are locked to that goal. Children can’t use them elsewhere unless the parent deletes the reward (which refunds the points) or they redeem it.

Cashing Out (Redemption)

When a child has enough points saved: From learner-goals-page.tsx:227-234:

const redeemMutation = useMutation({
  mutationFn: (rewardId: string) =>
    apiRequest('POST', `/api/rewards/${rewardId}/redeem?learnerId=${learnerId}`).then(r => r.data),
  onSuccess: () => {
    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['/api/rewards', learnerId] });
    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['/api/redemptions/my', learnerId] });
  },
});

Click Cash Out

The child clicks the ”🎉 Cash Out!” button on the goal card

Create Redemption Request

System creates a redemption with status PENDING

Wait for Parent

The goal card shows:

{goal.hasPendingRedemption && (
  <View style={styles.readyBadge}>
    <Text>Waiting…</Text>
  </View>
)}

And a message:

<Text>⏳ Waiting for parent approval…</Text>

Parent Approves/Rejects

From the parent Rewards page, you can:

Approve - Points are spent, child receives reward
Reject - Points refunded to available balance

Redemption History

Children can view their past redemptions in the History tab: From learner-goals-page.tsx:292-328:

{tab === 'history' && (
  <>
    {redemptions.length === 0 ? (
      <View style={styles.empty}>
        <Text style={{ fontSize: 52 }}>📭</Text>
        <Text style={styles.emptyTitle}>No history yet</Text>
        <Text style={styles.emptyDesc}>
          Cash out your first reward to see it here!
        </Text>
      </View>
    ) : redemptions.map(r => (
      <View key={r.id} style={[styles.historyCard, { borderLeftColor: r.rewardColor }]}>
        <View style={styles.cardHeader}>
          <Text style={{ fontSize: 28 }}>{r.rewardEmoji}</Text>
          <View style={{ flex: 1 }}>
            <Text style={styles.cardTitle}>{r.rewardTitle}</Text>
            <Text style={styles.cardDesc}>
              {r.tokensSpent} pts · {new Date(r.requestedAt).toLocaleDateString()}
            </Text>
          </View>
          <View style={[styles.statusBadge, {
            backgroundColor: r.status === 'APPROVED' ? '#E8F5E9' :
                              r.status === 'REJECTED' ? '#FFEBEE' : '#FFF8E1'
          }]}>
            <Text>
              {r.status === 'APPROVED' ? '✓ Approved' :
               r.status === 'REJECTED' ? '✗ Rejected' : '⏳ Pending'}
            </Text>
          </View>
        </View>
        {r.parentNotes && (
          <Text style={styles.cardDesc}>
            Parent: {r.parentNotes}
          </Text>
        )}
      </View>
    ))}
  </>
)}

Parent Notes

When approving or rejecting redemptions, parents can include notes that children see in their history:

{r.parentNotes && (
  <Text>Parent: {r.parentNotes}</Text>
)}

Example notes:

“Great job! We’ll go this weekend.”
“Let’s wait until after your homework is done.”
“Pick which game you want and we’ll get it.”

Understanding the Two-Balance System

Sunschool uses two separate point balances:

Available Balance

Points the child can spend freely:

Save toward any goal
Use for other features
Shown in the header badge

Saved (Locked) Points

Points committed to specific goals:

Locked to that reward
Count toward goal progress
Can’t be used elsewhere

From the API:

// Total points earned
const totalPoints = /* sum of all point transactions */;

// Points saved toward goals
const savedPoints = /* sum of points saved to rewards */;

// Available balance
const balance = totalPoints - savedPoints;

Goal States

Goals progress through several states:

In Progress

!isComplete && !hasPendingRedemption

Shows ”💰 Save Points” button

Complete

isComplete && !hasPendingRedemption

Shows ”🎉 Cash Out!” button with “Ready!” badge

Pending Approval

hasPendingRedemption

Shows “Waiting…” badge and waiting message

Approved

Appears in history as approved, points spent

Rejected

Points refunded, goal returns to previous state

Empty States

If no goals are available: From learner-goals-page.tsx:272-278:

{goals.length === 0 ? (
  <View style={styles.empty}>
    <Text style={{ fontSize: 52 }}>🎁</Text>
    <Text style={styles.emptyTitle}>No goals yet!</Text>
    <Text style={styles.emptyDesc}>
      Ask your parent to add some rewards for you to earn.
    </Text>
  </View>
) : (
  // Show goal cards
)}

Best Practices for Parents

Make goals achievable

Ensure point costs are reasonable for your child’s engagement level. A child who earns 5-10 points per day shouldn’t face 500-point goals.

Approve promptly

When children request redemptions, respond within a day or two. This keeps them motivated and trusting the system.

Use encouraging notes

Even when rejecting (rare cases), include a kind explanation:

“Let’s save this for after your test”
“Great saving! Let’s do this on the weekend”

Watch the progress tracking

Use the learner progress feature on reward cards to see what motivates each child. Some might focus on one big goal, others spread points across many.

Celebrate milestones

When a child reaches 50% or 75% toward a goal, acknowledge their progress. This builds momentum.

Troubleshooting

Child says points disappeared

Check if they:

Saved points toward a goal (shows in progress bar)
Had a redemption approved (spent the points)
Tried to save more than available (would fail silently)

Can't cash out despite having enough

Verify:

Points are in “saved” balance, not available
The goal isn’t inactive
There isn’t already a pending redemption
Page has been refreshed

Goal doesn't show progress

Ensure:

Points were actually saved (check available balance decreased)
The save mutation succeeded (no errors)
Page was refreshed after saving

Next Steps

Manage Rewards

Learn about the parent rewards interface

Track Progress

Monitor points earned through learning

View Dashboard

Return to the main parent view

Export Data

Download goal and redemption history

Parent Guide

Managing Learning

Advanced

Learning Goals System

Learning Goals System

How Goals Work

The Learner Interface

Header with Balance

Goal Cards

Saving Points

How Point Saving Works

Cashing Out (Redemption)

Redemption History

Parent Notes

Understanding the Two-Balance System

Available Balance

Saved (Locked) Points

Goal States

Empty States

Best Practices for Parents

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Manage Rewards

Track Progress

View Dashboard

Export Data

Parent Guide

Managing Learning

Advanced

​Learning Goals System

​How Goals Work

​The Learner Interface

​Header with Balance

​Goal Cards

​Saving Points

​The Save Points Modal

​How Point Saving Works

​Cashing Out (Redemption)

​Redemption History

​Parent Notes

​Understanding the Two-Balance System

Available Balance

Saved (Locked) Points

​Goal States

​Empty States

​Best Practices for Parents

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Manage Rewards

Track Progress

View Dashboard

Export Data

Learning Goals System

How Goals Work

The Learner Interface

Header with Balance

Goal Cards

Saving Points

The Save Points Modal

How Point Saving Works

Cashing Out (Redemption)

Redemption History

Parent Notes

Understanding the Two-Balance System

Goal States

Empty States

Best Practices for Parents

Troubleshooting

Next Steps