Conversational task

What you'll build

A kid sits down with the Sprout app and gets into a coached chat: a daily journal, an explain-it-back, a quick debate, a language practice session. Sprout asks, listens, reflects, doesn't push past what the kid wants to share. The transcript becomes input for downstream analysis if you want it.

The artifact is a task in the kid app with runMode: "conversation", tuned by the engagement levers in conversationSpec.

Pieces you'll combine

• Task with runMode: "conversation": the kid-facing chat.
• conversationSpec: the lever cluster that shapes the conversation.

Build it

One call, but every field matters. The conversationSpec object is where the personality of the conversation lives.

task.create({
name: "<chat name>",
assignChildIds: ["<kidId>"],
runMode: "conversation",
conversationSpec: {
goalType: "share",         // share | explain | debate | practice
guidance: `<What Sprout should ask about. Be specific.
Topic, sequence, vocabulary cap, tone.
1000 char max.>`,
minResponses: 3,           // anti-bounce floor
effort: "balanced",        // lenient | balanced | strict
grading: "engagement",     // engagement | correctness
dailyTarget: 1             // submissions per day toward completion
},
scheduleSpec: {
taskType: "onetime",
oneTimeDate: "2026-05-24",
startMinutes: 480          // minutes from midnight (480 = 8am)
},
rewardSpec: { gems: 3 }
})
# Returns { taskId }

The levers in conversationSpec:

• goalType: share = reflective journal, explain = Feynman-style teach-back, debate = argue a side, practice = language/social practice.
• guidance: the load-bearing field. Specific topics plus how Sprout should run the chat. Be concrete; vague guidance produces vague conversations.
• minResponses: floor on kid responses before the task can complete. Anti-bounce.
• effort: how hard Sprout pushes for more depth. lenient accepts brief answers; strict probes.
• grading: engagement grades on participation; correctness grades on accuracy (for teach-back).
• dailyTarget: how many submissions count toward completion when run on a cadence.

When to use it

• The kid is reflecting, teaching back, debating, practicing. Anything where they talk and Sprout listens.
• The transcript will feed downstream analysis (Reports and briefs).
• Anti-pattern: a fixed-shape activity. Use Interactive canvas.
• Anti-pattern: a parent-facing brief. Use Reports and briefs.

Tools touched

• task.create, task.update: author and adjust the task.
• task.describe: read the transcript back after completion.

Recommended skills

Drop these into your library to compose with this pattern.

Seen in walkthroughs

Solar system learning loop Chore + photo proof

Related patterns

• Interactive canvas: when the kid should click, not talk.
• Reports and briefs: pair to analyze the transcript and post a card.