Case Study - Naughty-Nice Meter
A simple, year-round way for families and communities to celebrate positive behavior. The Naughty-Nice Meter rises with good deeds and community gratitude, converting “Christmas Magic” into parent-approved gifts during the holidays.
- Client
- Spirit of Santa
- Year
- Service
- Product design, Behavior design
Overview
The Naughty-Nice Meter is the heart of Spirit of Santa. It’s a friendly, transparent way to make kindness count all year—without turning giving into a contest or turning gifts into cash.
Children earn Christmas Magic for real-life good deeds: helping a neighbor, caring for siblings, pitching in at school, or volunteering with a parent. Each act gently raises the child’s Meter toward a 365-point annual goal, making progress visible and motivating while keeping the focus on effort, not perfection.
When someone is helped, they can receive a small thank-you card. A quick scan of the QR code lets them donate to that child’s Magic fund—gratitude fueling generosity. Donations convert into Christmas Magic (not cash), which parents later redeem for parent-approved gifts. This keeps everything safe, accountable, and aligned with each family’s values and budget.
At its core, the Meter balances the joy of giving and receiving. Kids experience how kindness benefits others, how communities show thanks, and how consistent effort adds up to a meaningful holiday season.
What we did
- Behavior Design
- Parent Dashboard
- QR Thank-You Cards
- Transparency & Safety
The Meter made generosity visible without pressure. Kids loved watching their points grow, and as a parent I appreciated the controls: I approve what counts, set gift limits, and see exactly where the Magic comes from.
Parent & Elementary Teacher
- Point scale (year-round)
- 365
- Parent vote per child per day
- 1
- Cash to kids (Magic only)
- 0
- Parent oversight & approvals
- 100%