Frequently Asked Questions

Playwise is a mobile app that helps parents find age-appropriate activities for their children in seconds. Instead of searching Pinterest or Google for hours, you tell us your kids' ages and what kind of activity you're looking for (calm, energetic, creative, etc.), and we instantly show you personalized suggestions with everything you need to get started.

Playwise covers children ages 2-16, organized into six developmental stages: Toddlers (2-3 years), Preschool (4-5 years), Early Elementary (6-8 years), Late Elementary (9-11 years), Middle School (12-14 years), and High School (15-16 years). Each age group has activities specifically designed for their interests, abilities, and attention spans. This is one of the things that makes Playwise unique—most activity apps focus only on babies or toddlers.

Getting started is easy: 1) Download Playwise from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), 2) Create your free account, 3) Add your children with their ages and interests, 4) Start browsing activities! No credit card is required for the free version. You can start finding activities immediately after setup.

Absolutely! Playwise is designed for families with multiple kids. Free version: Add up to 2 children. Premium version: Add unlimited children. Each child gets their own profile with their age and interests. Playwise will suggest activities that work for all your kids together, or you can view separate recommendations for each child.

Playwise is available worldwide through the App Store and Google Play. The app is currently in English, with more languages coming soon. The "Nearby Places" feature works best in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, but we're expanding coverage regularly.

Yes! Playwise Free is genuinely free forever—not a limited trial that expires. With the free version, you get: daily activity suggestions, browse activities by category, basic age filtering, add up to 2 children, seasonal activity highlights, limited nearby places discovery, and zero ads. Premium unlocks additional features for $5.99/month or $35.99/year, but many families find the free version meets their needs perfectly.

Playwise Premium is available in two options: Monthly: $5.99/month (billed monthly), Annual: $35.99/year (that's just $2.99/month—a 50% savings!). Both options include a 7-day free trial. You can cancel anytime.

Premium unlocks: Unlimited activity access (1,800+ activities), full mood-based filtering, unlimited children profiles, save unlimited favorites, complete activity history, advanced search and filters, priority access to new features, and zero ads (same as free).

When you upgrade to Premium, you get 7 days completely free to try all Premium features. Here's how it works: 1) Choose monthly or annual plan, 2) Your free trial begins immediately, 3) Use all Premium features for 7 days, 4) Cancel anytime before the trial ends to avoid charges, 5) If you don't cancel, you'll be charged at the end of the trial. Your payment method is only charged after the 7-day trial period ends.

You can cancel anytime through your device's subscription settings. For iOS: Open Settings > Tap your name at the top > Tap Subscriptions > Find Playwise and tap it > Tap Cancel Subscription. For Android: Open Google Play Store > Tap your profile icon > Tap Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions > Find Playwise and tap it > Tap Cancel subscription. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period. We don't make cancellation difficult or require you to contact support.

Refunds are handled through Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store) according to their respective policies. We recommend canceling before your next billing cycle to avoid unwanted charges. If you cancel, you keep access to Premium features until the end of your paid period. If you believe you were charged in error, contact support@playwise.kids and we'll help you resolve it.

Yes! One Premium subscription covers: unlimited children profiles and all devices signed into your account. You don't pay extra per child. For families who want to share across different app store accounts, use your platform's Family Sharing feature (Apple Family Sharing or Google Play Family Library).

Playwise includes activities across several categories: Indoor Activities (crafts, science experiments, imaginative play, creative projects), Outdoor Activities (backyard games, nature walks, active play, seasonal fun), Nearby Places (playgrounds, parks, museums, family-friendly attractions), Calm & Quiet (coloring, puzzles, reading activities, relaxation), Energy Burners (high-energy games to help kids move and release energy), and Seasonal & Holiday (special activities for Halloween, Christmas, summer, snow days, and more). Each activity includes instructions, material lists, time estimates, and age-appropriateness ratings.

Mood-based filtering lets you find activities based on your child's current energy level or the type of experience you want. Options include: Calm & Quiet (for winding down, rest time, or overstimulated kids), Energy Burner (for restless kids who need to move), Creative (for artistic expression and making things), Educational (for learning opportunities disguised as fun), Together Time (for family bonding activities), and Independent (for when kids need to play on their own). This helps you find the right activity for the moment, not just any activity.

Nearby Places helps you discover family-friendly locations around you: 1) Allow location access (or enter a location manually), 2) Browse nearby playgrounds, parks, museums, and attractions, 3) See details like hours, directions, costs, and family-friendliness ratings, 4) Tap for directions to your maps app. Free users can discover up to 5 places per month. Premium users get unlimited access plus the ability to save favorite places.

Yes! Premium users can: save unlimited favorite activities, view their activity history, and create lists for different occasions (rainy days, road trips, etc.). Free users can browse and use activities but cannot save them.

Playwise works on: iPhone (iOS 14.0 or later), iPad (iPadOS 14.0 or later), and Android phones and tablets (Android 8.0 or later). We're optimized for phones but work great on tablets too.

Yes! Sign in with your account on any supported device to access your children's profiles, favorites, and Premium features (if subscribed). Your data syncs automatically across devices.

If activities aren't loading: 1) Check your internet connection, 2) Try closing and reopening the app, 3) Make sure you're running the latest version (update in your app store), 4) Try signing out and back in. If problems persist, contact support@playwise.kids with details about what you're experiencing.

You can update ages in the app: 1) Go to Settings (gear icon), 2) Tap "My Children", 3) Select the child you want to update, 4) Edit their birthday or age. Pro tip: Enter their birthday instead of just their age, and Playwise will automatically update their age over time!

Yes, you can update your email in Settings > Account > Email. You'll need to verify your new email address before the change takes effect.

Absolutely. We take privacy seriously: We collect only what's necessary to make Playwise work, we never sell your data to third parties, we never show ads (so no ad tracking), children's data is handled with extra care, and all data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

We collect minimal information about children: age or birthday (to provide age-appropriate activities), first name (optional, for personalization), and interests (optional, to improve recommendations). We don't collect photos, location data from children, or any personally identifiable information beyond what's needed for the app to function. We comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) requirements.

Yes, every activity in Playwise is reviewed for safety: age-appropriate materials and tools, clear supervision guidance, warnings for activities requiring adult help, and no activities involving dangerous materials for younger age groups. Always supervise young children during activities, especially those involving scissors, cooking, or outdoor play.

Yes, you can request complete account deletion: 1) Go to Settings > Account > Delete Account, 2) Confirm your decision, 3) Your account and all associated data will be permanently deleted within 30 days. Alternatively, email support@playwise.kids with your deletion request. Note that account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.