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What is UNICEF Kid Power?
UNICEF Kid Power gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power App or Band, kids go on missions to learn about new cultures and earn points. Points unlock funding from partners, parents and fans, and funds are used by UNICEF to deliver lifesaving packets of therapeutic food to severely malnourished children around the world. The more kids move, the more points they earn, the more lives they save.

Who is responsible for Kid Power?
UNICEF Kid Power is a program of the UNICEF USA, and is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Star Wars: Force for Change and Target, as well as local supporters, parents and fans.

For more than sixty years, the UNICEF USA has put children first, engaging kids in the U.S. to help kids around the world by Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF. Built for a new generation of global citizens, UNICEF Kid Power uses the world’s first Wearable-for-Good® to get kids moving by tapping into their inherent desire to help their peers.

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first and help save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children, providing them with immunizations, education, medicine, emergency relief and clean water. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States.

How can kids, families and schools participate in Kid Power?
Families can join the UNICEF Kid Power Team by purchasing a UNICEF Kid Power Band—available online, and at Target.com and in-store—and downloading the free UNICEF Kid Power App.

How to contact us

  • Message us through the UNICEF Kid Power App
    • Login to your UNICEF Kid Power account, select ‘More’, ‘Help’, then ‘Send us a Message’.
  • Chat or send us a message from our website.
    • Click on the blue “Help” widget in the bottom righthand corner of this page.
    • Check out The Guide to get the inside scoop (on UNICEF Kid Power Support anyway ;-).
  • Email us at hello@unicefkidpower.org

What screens does my Kid Power Band have?

  • Clock
  • Steps
  • Kid Power Points earned
  • Mission Progress (only shows if you are on a Mission; designated by an airplane)
  • Kid Power user name (or the device ID if the Band is not registered)

Is the Kid Power Band water-resistant or waterproof?
The Bands are water resistant, so good in the rain or when washing hands. The Band is not waterproof and may not function after extensive exposure to water for long periods of time, like when swimming or showering.

What information does the Kid Power Band measure?
The Kid Power Band measures a wearer’s physical activity (steps and movement) using the Band’s pedometer and accelerometer. The Band does not track a wearer’s location, and does not have access to any location data or personal information.

How often does the Kid Power Band refresh my steps and points?
The Kid Power Band measures your daily activity and refreshes every day at midnight. The Band has a memory of 30 days, so all of your Kid Power Points and steps from the past 30 days are recorded when you sync the Band with the Kid Power App.

Where are the buttons?
The Kid Power Band has a touch-sensitive display. There are no physical buttons! Just tap the screen while wearing the Kid Power Band to move between the screens.

How do I find the registration code on my Kid Power Band?
If you have not synced your Kid Power Band on the app yet, tap on the screen four times to see your device ID. If you have already synced the Band to the app press the screen with your username for 3 seconds, and then release to see the device ID.

How do I turn my Kid Power Band on?
Kid Power Bands are packaged in ‘hibernation’ mode to save battery. Once you charge your Band, it will power on.

How do I charge my Kid Power Band?
Charge your Kid Power Band with the included USB adapter.

  • Align the prongs on the rectangular end of the USB adapter with the holes in the back side of the Kid Power Band. It will snap into place.
  • Insert the USB plug into a USB port. (USB ports are commonly found in computers and TVs. You can also use a USB power adapter to connect the Band directly to an electrical socket.)

How often should I charge my Kid Power Band?
We recommend charging your Kid Power Band at least once per week for 1-2 hours. A battery icon will appear on the clock screen when the battery is low.

Is the Kid Power App required to use the Kid Power Band?
The UNICEF Kid Power Band measures activity, steps and points, but the UNICEF Kid Power App is necessary to convert activity to impact. The App is where points earned by kids getting active can unlock therapeutic food packets to save lives.

What is the UNICEF Kid Power Band?
The UNICEF Kid Power Band is the world’s first WEARABLE-FOR-GOOD®, giving kids the power to get active and save lives. The Band is a durable, child-friendly fitness band. It is part pedometer, part accelerometer, measuring both steps and movement.

The Bands are one-size-fits-all, and come with an adjustable wrist strap that allows for a comfortable, secure fit.

The Bands are currently available in four colors: UNICEF blue, Kid Power orange, Star Wars: Force for Change black, green andStar Wars: Force for Change 40th Anniversary Limited Edition gray.

Who designed the Kid Power Band?
UNICEF USA partnered with renowned San Francisco-based design studio Ammunition on the industrial design and packaging of the UNICEF Kid Power Band. Founded in 2007 by industrial designer Robert Brunner, Ammunition is dedicated to bringing products and services that matter to market. In 2015, Fast Company named the studio the world’s “Most Innovative Company in Design”.

What is the Kid Power Band made of?
The UNICEF Kid Power Band features an electronic module and a wrist strap. The module has an OLED display enclosed in ABS plastic, and the strap is made of TPU plastic.

Is the Kid Power Band battery operated?
The UNICEF Kid Power Band has a rechargeable battery, and every Band comes with a USB charger.

Who makes the Kid Power Band?
The UNICEF Kid Power Band is a product of  UNICEF USA.

Where can I purchase the Kid Power Band? How much does it cost?
Families in the U.S.A. can participate by purchasing a UNICEF Kid Power Band online, and at Target.com and in-store.

The retail price for the Bands is $39.99.

The UNICEF Kid Power App is included with the purchase of the Band and can be downloaded from the App Store™ or Google Play™. The first Kid Power Mission is included with the App free of charge, and additional Missions can be purchased from the App Store™ and on Google Play™ for $3.99 each.

For eligible schools that apply online and are selected to participate in the UNICEF Kid Power School Program, the program—including Bands for students—is fully funded, made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Star Wars: Force for Change and Target, and local supporters across the country.

What is different about the Star Wars: Force for Change Kid Power Bands?
The Star Wars: Force for Change Kid Power Bands feature the Star Wars: Force for Change logo, come in black, green and gray, and are the same price as the regular bands.

What makes the Kid Power Band the world’s first WEARABLE-FOR-GOOD®?
UNICEF Kid Power is the first wearable device to permanently connect activity (getting active and earning points) to impact (unlocking therapeutic food packets and saving lives)—not as a time-bound promotion or special offer, but integrated into every aspect of the product design and experience. The Kid Power platform is also defining a new way for kids to interact with technology while promoting activity and minimizing screen-time.

How is this Band different from other fitness bands?
By tapping into their inherent desire to help their peers instead of relying on other incentives and rewards, UNICEF Kid Power is departing from the approach taken by other kids’ fitness bands and wearable devices. Kid Power gives kids the power to save lives while also nurturing their curiosity to learn about new cultures and addressing their need to connect with peers, delivering an experience that can sustain kids’ attention and engagement over time.

How can I unlink a Band?

You can unlink and move a band to a different account by doing the following:

  1. Log into the account the band is currently associated with and go to “More” in the lower right-hand corner of the main screen, and then select “Profile” at the top of the list. You should then see a button at the top-right that says “Unlink Band.” Confirm that you do want to unlink your band.
  2. Then, log into the account you want to move this band to (using their username and password), go to its “Passport” page (main screen) and select the “Link Band” button.

Can the Kid Power App be used without a smartphone or tablet?
The Kid Power App requires an iPhone 5, iPad 3rd generation or iPad 5th generation and newer, or an Android 4.3 and higher smartphone or tablet.

What is the UNICEF Kid Power App?
The UNICEF Kid Power App is where users sync their Bands or mobile device to convert their activity into impact. The App allows kids to track their progress, go on Missions to learn about new cultures and boost their impact, connect with other participating users, receive rewards and surprise content, and get updates on the global achievements of the UNICEF Kid Power Team.

The App is designed to resemble a global passport, with a travel log for mission-related content including digital postcards and passport stamps. The UNICEF Kid Power App is free and can be downloaded from the App Store™ or Google Play™.

What are the minimum mobile device requirements to use Kid Power?
The Kid Power App requires iPhone 5, iPad 3rd generation or iPod touch 5th generation and newer, or Android 4.3 and higher, and Bluetooth 4.0 or higher.

How do I send a Cheer?
Tap on a friend’s profile to view their Passport, then tap the Cheer button. Tap on a Cheer to send it. Users can receive all Cheers whether they have unlocked them or not.

Can I use a Cheer as my profile icon?
No, but like custom Cheers, future Missions may include special profile icons!

How do I unlock more Cheers?
Cheers are unlocked by getting active and trying new missions; who knows where the next one will pop-up from – we think that’s half the fun! Compete with your friends to see who gets new ones first!

I’m having trouble syncing my Phone

  1. Confirm that you are logged into the account associated with your device when you try and sync.
    • It will say the username of the Band you are syncing on the Passport page.
    • While you can see family accounts from an adult account, you will need to log into the family accounts, using their usernames and passwords, in order to sync them with their bands.
  2. Assuming that you were logged into the band’s account, though, it might be a bluetooth issue. Could you please try the following?
    • Make sure the band is charged and within 10 feet of the device (phone/tablet) where you are syncing.
    • Make sure your phone and app have any pending updates applied.
    • Restart your phone and then try to sync as that should usually solve it.
    • It also definitely helps to make sure you have the latest version of the app updates, as well as your phone’s latest operating system.

While we hope the above solves your problem, if it does not could you please send us your logs and the usernames in question? This will allow our developers to see what is happening behind the scenes. To do so please go to “More” at bottom right of your screen, select “Help,” and then “Send us a Message.” When prompted about logs make sure to hit “Include.”

What is the role of the UNICEF Kid Power Spokesperson and UNICEF Kid Power Champions?
GRAMMY®-winning Recording Artist P!nk will serve as the National Spokesperson for UNICEF Kid Power to educate the public about children who are malnourished around the world.

UNICEF Kid Power Champions include sports and entertainment stars who present Kid Power Missions for UNICEF Kid Power, challenge kids to get active and celebrate the impact achieved by the Kid Power Team. Current UNICEF Kid Power Champions include UNICEF Ambassador, Olympic Gold Medalist and professional basketball player Tyson Chandler, Olympic Gold Medalist and professional soccer player Alex Morgan, professional baseball player and Home Run champion David Ortiz, Olympic Gold Medalist and professional basketball player Maya Moore, Olympic Gold Medalist and ice dancer Meryl Davis and Paralympic Judo competitor Dartanyon Crockett.

What happens outside of Missions?
If you have Kid Power Band  and you are not on a Mission, UNICEF Kid Power Team members are in Training Mode, where they can continue to get active with their Kid Power Band, earn points and unlock therapeutic food packets, but at a slower rate. When in Training Mode, 25 points unlock one packet of therapeutic food (when on a Mission, 10 points unlock one therapeutic food packet). Team Members with a Band also receive updates of their progress and messages from around the world, and unlock badges for achieving activity and impact goals.

Team members who don’t have a Band do not have access to Training Mode and therefore must purchase more Missions to unlock their activity.

What are Kid Power Missions?
Kid Power Missions are virtual, goal-based journeys experienced via the Kid Power App, where kids learn about the countries they’re impacting, which are the destinations for the therapeutic food packets they’re unlocking.

Each Mission is presented by a sports or entertainment star—a UNICEF Kid Power Champion—and a regular kid, include exclusive content, digital rewards and video messages. All Mission content will be saved in a travel log in the App, to be viewed by kids and shared by parents.

Global Mission with Alex Morgan and the new Star Wars: Force for Change Kid Power Mission are included with the App free of charge, and additional Missions can be purchased from the App Store™ and on Google Play™ for $3.99 each.

How do I block someone from following me?
Tap “Friends” at the bottom of your Kid Power app, then tap the user you’d like to block. While viewing their Passport, tap “Block” in the upper-right of the screen to block them.

How do I unblock someone?
Tap “Friends” at the bottom of your Kid Power app, then tap “Followers” toward the top of the screen. If you’ve blocked someone, they’ll be listed under the “Blocked” menu at the bottom of your list of Followers. Tap “Blocked”, then tap “Unblock” next to the user you’d like to unblock.

How can I friend someone?
To friend someone, you must know their username. Tap “Friends” at the bottom of your Kid Power app, then tap “Follow Someone”. In the search field, type the username of the person you’d like to friend (it needs to be exact and complete, but it’s not case-sensitive). Tap “Go”.

if following doesn’t work, please double-check the username you’re searching for and retry.

Is parental permission required for using the Kid Power App?
Using the UNICEF Kid Power App requires creating an account. Team members 13 years or older are permitted to create their own account using the Kid Power App. An age verified parent account (18 years or older) is required to create a child account for team members under 13. An age verified parent account (18 years or older) is required for in-app purchases of missions. Age verification is completed by entering credit card information, which is not saved or charged by the Kid Power App.

Is the Kid Power App COPPA Compliant?
The UNICEF Kid Power App is compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). No personally identifiable information is collected from children under 13 years of age, and children can use the Kid Power App without adult supervision. All data related to physical activity (e.g. of # steps) is synced with the app anonymously. Kid Power Bands are registered with a first name or nickname, so account data does not include any personal information. For more information, please read our Terms & Privacy Policy.

Why is location permission required for the Android app?
The Kid Power app never accesses your location at any time. So why do we ask for it?

Starting with Marshmallow, the Android operating system requires that location permissions are enabled in order to perform a Bluetooth scan. Because this is necessary to sync your Kid Power Band, we need to ask for location permission in the app. For more information, see the Android developer documentation.

Where does funding to convert points to therapeutic food packets come from?
For families participating in UNICEF Kid Power, funds available to UNICEF USA for the conversion of points to therapeutic food packets include $10 from the purchase of each UNICEF Kid Power Band* and other contributions to UNICEF USA from supporters of the UNICEF Kid Power program. Funds that are not used for the conversion of points to therapeutic food packets will be used to support the UNICEF USA’s mission and programs at the organization’s discretion.

For schools participating in UNICEF Kid Power, funds available to the UNICEF USA for the conversion of points to therapeutic food packets come from contributions from supporters of the UNICEF Kid Power School Program.

*The Kid Power program is administered by UNICEF USA, and is not administered by Target. The more kids move, the more Kid Power points they earn. Kid Power points are converted to funding by UNICEF USA partners, parents and fans, which UNICEF uses to deliver lifesaving packets of therapeutic food to severely malnourished children. Target is a proud sponsor of the Kid Power program. UNICEF USA does not endorse any brand or product. Donation is not tax deductible for guests.

How are Kid Power Points converted to therapeutic food packets?
Points earned by getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power Band will be converted to therapeutic food packets via the UNICEF Kid Power App, with funding from the UNICEF USA. UNICEF USA will contribute funds to UNICEF to be used for the purchase and delivery of therapeutic food packets to children in need. Points will be converted to therapeutic food packets for a period of one year from the time of first use of the UNICEF Kid Power App or while funds are available.

How many Kid Power Points does it take to unlock a therapeutic food packet?
For kids participating with their families, when on a Kid Power Mission, 10 points unlock one therapeutic food packet. When not on a Mission—in training mode—25 points unlock one packet of therapeutic food.

For kids participating with their schools 10 points unlock one therapeutic food packet.

How is a Kid Power Point measured?
By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power Band, the more kids move, the more points they earn. One point is equal to approximately 2,400 steps. UNICEF Kid Power promotes a daily goal of five points, which requires 12,000 steps and is equivalent to the daily activity goal recommended by the National Institutes of Health.

Where will UNICEF deliver the therapeutic food packets unlocked?
When families and schools participating in UNICEF Kid Power get active and earn points, they are increasing the global supply of therapeutic food by unlocking funds that UNICEF can use to procure and deliver therapeutic food packets to children in need.

Countries and communities receiving therapeutic food packets are determined by UNICEF, based on the magnitude and urgency of need for therapeutic food, and local capacity to implement and scale-up programs combating severe acute malnutrition. Therapeutic food packets that are unlocked during a country-specific mission will be delivered to that country.

Why is UNICEF Kid Power focused on increasing kids’ physical activity?
In the United States, one in four children are physically inactive, according to Designed to Move’s 2014 report on the state of physical activity. The relatively small number of children who get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity is a major public health concern, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Schools initiative; in the last 15 years, walking and biking to school have decreased by at least 50%, and correspondingly children spend a majority of their time participating in sedentary activities.

UNICEF Kid Power increases kids’ physical activity by tapping into their inherent desire to help their peers. Kids are empowered to get active knowing that they’re saving lives.

What are therapeutic food packets?
Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food packets (sometimes referred to as RUTF packets or therapeutic food packets) contain a specially-designed protein and vitamin-rich peanut paste, allowing children who are severely malnourished to be treated successfully in their communities.

The average course of lifesaving treatment for a severely malnourished child consists of 150 therapeutic food packets over the course of 30 days.

What is Severe Acute Malnutrition?
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), the most extreme form of malnutrition, is a life-threatening condition that affects 16 million children worldwide and requires urgent treatment, including therapeutic food packets, programs to manage SAM at the community level, as well as malnutrition prevention programs.

Why is UNICEF Kid Power focused on ending global malnutrition?
Globally, 16 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (2015 UNICEF-WHO Joint Estimates). Due to funding, political commitment and capacity challenges in many different country contexts, only 3.21 million children with severe acute malnutrition are reached with lifesaving therapeutic food packets and care (of which UNICEF supports 3.05). UNICEF Kid Power’s immediate focus is to eliminate the funding gap, which is one key factor in preventing the delivery of therapeutic food packets to every child who needs it.

What impact has UNICEF Kid Power had to date?
In total, UNICEF Kid Power Team Members have unlocked 6.4 million lifesaving therapeutic good packets to kids in need around the world!

Every 150 therapeutic food packets unlocked through the points earned by UNICEF Kid Power Team member’s results in a full course of lifesaving treatment for a severely malnourished child. With UNICEF Kid Power, the more kids move, the more points they earn, the more lives they save.

During spring 2016, the UNICEF Kid Power Team expanded to include more than 61,000 students in over 2600 classrooms across 13 Kid Power Cities, These kids earned over 3 million Kid Power Points and unlocked approximately 293,000 therapeutic food packets.

In March 2015, more than 11,300 kids in Boston, Dallas and New York joined the UNICEF Kid Power Team and took enough steps to walk around the world more than 23 times. These kids earned enough Kid Power Points to unlock 188,850 therapeutic food packets, enough to save the lives of 1,259 children.

October 2014, after several classroom pilots of the UNICEF Kid Power School Program, Kid Power was introduced to schools across the city of Sacramento, and over 800 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students were able to experience the power of getting active and saving lives.

 

What is the UNICEF Kid Power School Program?

To learn more, visit the What is Kid Power Page.

How does the App for Apple Watch work?

The App for Apple Watch uses the Apple HealthKit to track your steps and unlock lifesaving nutrition.  The UNICEF Kid Power App for Apple Watch has been designed with a sleek and simple-to-use format.

Which fitness trackers are compatible with BYOD?

At this time the Kid Power Band, Apple Watch and Jawbone are compatible with the UNICEF Kid Power App.

What is BYOD?

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is our latest way for people to connect with UNICEF Kid Power.  It’s simple, all you need is your smartphone and the UNICEF Kid Power App.  By syncing your phone’s step counter to the App, you’ll be able to start unlocking lifesaving nutrition.  

How do you activate BYOD?  

When you download the UNICEF Kid Power App, you’ll be given the choice to count your steps with “A Kid Power Band” or “The Health App.”  Simply, select “The Health App” and allow the UKP App access to your Health App to begin counting your steps.

How do I transfer my steps to lifesaving nutrition?

With BYOD your Kid Power App will sync to your fitness tracker automatically, making it easier than ever to make your steps count.

How much does BYOD cost?

Syncing your own device is free!

Kid Power is here to help!

We believe that physical activity in students leads to lifelong increases in mental and social emotional health. That’s why we offer free, fun, and engaging videos that get kids up and moving!

From dance routines to sports drills, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. With the power of physical activity and a built-in “give back” component on the platform, we feel confident that kids will want to continue coming back to Get Active and Save Lives!

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