Mustard Seed Chinese

🔒 Privacy Policy

Mustard Seed Chinese ("the App") is developed by Spiritual Growth Garden. This privacy policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your information. We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of all users, including children.

👤 Information We Collect

Account Information (optional): When you sign in with Apple, we store the anonymous user identifier provided by Apple to link your learning data and family membership. We may also receive your display name and email address if you choose to share them. We never access your Apple ID password.

Learning Progress: Lesson completion, quiz scores, Bible highlights, notes, check-in streaks, and daily character practice records.

Child Profiles: First name and avatar emoji chosen by the parent for each child profile. Each child's progress is stored separately.

Family Sharing: If you create or join a family household, your display name and household membership are stored on the server and visible to other household members.

Preferences: App settings such as language preference and notification choices.

📱 Local Data Storage

All progress and preferences are stored on your device first. Children can learn even without an internet connection.

☁️ Backend Sync

When backend mode is on (the default), progress, Bible highlights, notes, and family sharing data sync securely to our servers for multi-device access. All data is transmitted via encrypted HTTPS using a union-merge strategy so no data is ever lost. You can turn this off anytime in Settings.

✓ Only progress, highlights, notes, check-in data, and family membership (including display name) is synced — never voice data

 Apple Sign-In

When using Sign in with Apple, we store the anonymous user identifier provided by Apple to link your learning data and family membership. After joining a family, your display name will be visible to other household members. We never access your Apple ID password. Apple Sign-In is entirely optional — the app works fully in "Device Only" mode without any login.

🏠 Family Sharing

The optional Family Sharing feature allows multiple devices to share child profiles and learning progress within a household. To use this feature:

• A parent creates a household and generates a 6-digit invite code (expires in 60 seconds).
• Another parent enters the code to request joining; the household owner must approve.
• Once joined, child profiles and learning progress sync across all household devices.
• The household owner can remove members at any time. Removed members are notified and retain their own children's data.
• Leaving a household removes your membership data from the server.

All family management is accessible only through Parental Controls (behind a two-step verification gate).

🎤 Microphone & Speech Recognition

Read-along and memorization features use Apple Speech Framework to evaluate pronunciation. Voice data is processed entirely on your device and is never sent to our servers. When the device does not support local recognition, Apple's own speech recognition service is used as a fallback (covered by Apple's privacy policy).

✓ Voice data is never sent to our servers — processed on-device or via Apple's service only

🔌 Offline Mode

If you prefer no data sent to servers, enable Offline Mode in Settings. Everything runs locally with no network communication.

👁‍🗨 No Tracking, No Ads

We use no third-party trackers, collect no analytics, and show no ads. The app contains no third-party SDKs — only Apple first-party frameworks. This app is designed for learning, not data collection.

👶 Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Mustard Seed Chinese is designed for use by children and intended for the Kids Category on the App Store. We take children's privacy seriously:

• We do not track children's activity across apps or websites.
• We do not show advertisements of any kind.
• We do not share any data with third parties.
• We do not use any third-party analytics or advertising SDKs.
• We do not collect more information than is necessary for the app to function.
• Voice recordings are processed on the device. No voice data is sent to our servers.
• External links and account management are only accessible behind a parental verification gate.
• Parents can review and delete all data at any time through Parental Controls.

🗑 Data Deletion

You can delete all server data anytime through Parental Controls inside the app. You can also delete your account entirely, which removes all server-side data and signs you out. Leaving a family automatically removes your membership data. Local data can be cleared by deleting the app from your device.

If you need help, contact us at spiritualgrowthgarden@gmail.com.

📣 Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.