Questions from parents interested
in the Accountable Kids program.
 Q:
What do I need to get started?
A: The Accountable Kids basic program
consists of a book and kit. The book provides essential parenting
principles and step-by-step guidelines to implement the program. The kit
includes a progress board and over 80 different cards, tickets, and
passes. We recommend purchasing one book per home and one kit per
child. You can purchase these items individually or as part of a package.
Q: What is the
recommended age for the Accountable Kids program?
A: The program is designed for kids ages
three to fourteen; however it can be used for younger or older children.
In fact many parents have purchased the kit for themselves to show their
children the benefits of the Accountable Kids program.
 Q:
After I place my order, how long will it take for my package to be sent?
A: Orders are typically processed and shipped
within 2-5 business days. Customers who provide an e-mail address during the
ordering process will receive a UPS tracking number when the order has been
shipped. Customizing the kits with your child’s name will not extend the
shipping time.
Q: What is included in the kit?
A: The Accountable Kids kit includes a natural
wood Progress Board, 50 Reminder Cards, 3 blank Reminder Cards, 10 Tickets, 10
Bonus Bucks, 3 Special Date Cards, 4 Best Behavior Cards, and 2 Privilege
Passes, and 2 sticker sheets.
Q: Why do I need a kit for each child?
A: The Accountable Kids board and cards is like a hands-on day planner for your child. There is something magical about having an individual place for your child to take responsibility for chores, positive behaviors, special dates, and money management. Individual progress board and cards help shift responsibility from the parent to the child.
Q: Where do you suggest hanging the Progress
Boards?
A: Hang your child’s Progress Board in an area
that will be seen throughout the day. The family room, kitchen, and hallway are
all excellent locations. Avoid hanging the board in your child’s room. If the
program is out of sight…it is out of mind. If you have more than one kit hang
them all in one area.
 Q: My
child is only two years old. How do I know when to start using this program?
A: Learning the different stages of development
can be beneficial for all parents. The entire AK program can be started when a
child begins to associate actions with consequences. This usually occurs
somewhere around three years of age. Parents can utilize parts of the program
at a younger age if they want to focus on specific age related attributes or
learn more about the development of their child. The AK program is presented in
four steps. Each step introduces a new phase until the entire program is
incorporated. Young children may stay on the first step for several months. The
next step is introduced once a child understands and demonstrates the concepts
of the current step.
Q: Is the Accountable Kids program specific to any
religion?
A: Although the Accountable Kids program is not specific to any religion, it does provide cards for families to incorporate their individual beliefs. Each set of Reminder Cards has a church, scripture, and prayer card that you can use for your child's daily routine. You can choose to use these cards if it meets the needs of your family. The Accountable Kids program is based on the principle of the law of the harvest; you reap what you sow. The AK program allows your child to experience this principle on a continuing basis through choices and consequences.
 Q:
Can I use this program for my teenager?
A: It is much easier to implement the AK program when your child is young, but the principles presented in the book are universal to all ages. Many teenagers are amenable to starting the program due to the empowerment it provides. Talk to your teenager and see if they are interested in using the components in the AK kit or if they would rather create agreements and contracts using the forms in the back of the book. We even have some parents who purchase a kit for themselves to show their kids that everyone has responsibilities in the home. Parents using the program have commented that it is just a hand-on day-planner that is fun and interactive.
Q: Is Accountable Kids just for troubled kids?
A: No. The AK program works with all kids.
Parents do learn ways to eliminate negative behaviors, but the focus is on
encouraging positive behaviors, strengthening relationships, and learning
important life skills.
Q: We live in a busy household and our schedule
changes from day to day. How can I use a structured program when it is
necessary to continually direct my child during an unpredictable day?
A: The AK program provides a way for you to stop
dictating every task your child performs. You learn to release control and
teach your child to be responsible for his actions and consequences. The AK
program does not give you more control over your child, but rather gives your
child the ability to make appropriate decisions in order to better control
himself. Your child learns to take control of his own life. This program will
save you time as your child becomes more accountable and no longer requires
your constant direction.
Q: My child has special needs, and I am not
certain this program will work for her.
A: This program is easily tailored for a child
with special needs. Use the program as outlined for the first four steps.
Observe how your child adapts to the program, and then customize it to work
with her individual needs.
Q: Does your program offer a way to discipline a
child?
A: Yes. The Accountable Kids discipline program
provides an avenue to impose negative consequences firmly and compassionately
without physical contact or losing control. Parents learn to discipline a child
in a manner that is respectful, yet effective. Children learn that negative
behaviors result in negative consequences and positive behaviors result in
positive consequences. This shifts the responsibility from the parent to the
child. A major goal of this program is to change a child’s idea of discipline
into self-discipline.
 Q:
My child is always arguing with me. How do I change her behavior?
A: This is a common problem for parents. The
purpose of the AK program is to create an environment where a child learns to
make choices and become accountable for those choices. After the program has
been established in your home, your child should know exactly what is expected
and appropriate on a daily basis. Arguing at this point becomes manipulation.
Each time you allow your child to argue, you are encouraging this behavior in
the future. Establish firm consequences for such actions, and then be
consistent and unwavering. If rules need to be changed, the Family Forum is a
good place to talk about it. This way, you are discussing ideas rather than
specific problems.
Q: I have several children, but only one child is
giving me problems. Can I use the AK program for just one child?
A: Unless your child is too young to use the AK
program, include all children. This program is not just for children with
problems. It can be beneficial and enjoyable for all children, regardless of
their specific needs.
Q: My children fight all the time. How can I get
them to get along?
A: Start by taking Tickets every time your
children fight. It is possible to change behavior, but it is not easy nor
immediate. Effective discipline teaches your child that negative behaviors have
negative consequences for them. It is therefore important to teach character
traits that develop internal values and integrity.
Q: Isn't this just another chore chart program?
Our family has done a chore chart program in the past. The program worked for a
few months, but then my children got tired of it.
A: Many parents have been unsuccessful using
chore charts, however the AK program is much more than a basic charting system.
The AK program presents a program with depth, growth potential, and flexibility
that will work with you today and in the future. Most chore charts focus
entirely on getting a child to complete chores. The Accountable Kids program
implements components in a specific manner that encourages children to display
desirable behaviors and eliminate negative behaviors. A specific reinforcement
process is used to produce long-term benefits. This program develops work
ethics as well as character. It is unique in that it teaches parents and
children to become accountable for their actions today and in the future.
Questions from parents using the Accountable Kids program.
 Q:
The Tickets were very effective in the beginning, but as my children progressed
in the program we found they did not lose or use them as much. Their
negative behaviors have decreased and they have learned to self monitor their
ticketed activities. Is there another way to use the
Tickets?
A: Yes. Tickets are initially used to
reinforce the basic of the Accountable Kids program, but the concept can be
simplified as a child becomes more accountable. Hang Ticket on the board and
explain to your child that as long as the ticket is facing forward ticketed
activities can be enjoyed. The card remains face forward as long as morning,
afternoon, and evening chores are completed. If chores are not completed
or if a negative behavior comes up the ticket can be turned backwards.
The child can not enjoy Ticketed activities until the next time period.
This can simplify the program for older kids and help transition the child from
the board and cards to a day-timer, contracts, and agreements.
Q: I am worried that the cards will get ruined by my son. Should I laminate the cards?
A: We do not recommend laminating the cards. This process is costly, makes the cards bend slightly so they do not stay on the board as well, and it is difficult to find the right hole punch so they will hang on the board again. The cards have a special protective coating to help them last, but if they become lost or damaged you can purchase an entire replacement set through our web site or receive individual cards by calling the main office. Most parents who choose to laminate their cards wish they wouldn't have kept them in the original condition.
 Q:
We have been using the Accountable Kid system in our home for the last year. It is working great, but I am still not sure how to use the Privilege Pass. What is the difference between the Privilege Pass and the Tickets?
A: Tickets are earned by completing basic chores and can be lost as a consequence for displaying negative behaviors where the Privilege Pass is earned for displaying a specific positive behavior within a predetermined time frame. The Privilege Pass is a special type of Ticket that is earned once a day and used to enjoy an extra special privilege that a normal ticket does not afford. Typically the Privilege Pass is used to focus on a behavior that occurs once a day, but if you decide to use the Privilege Pass to focus on something that happens throughout the day such as whining, fighting, or arguing we suggest selecting a small time frame within the day to work on that behavior. You want your child to know when the pass has been earned so a void vague parameters when setting up the requirements. The Privilege Pass is a great tool that empowers kids to focus on replacing negative behaviors with positive character traits. You may find that you do not use this tool all of the time, but only when you want to focus on something specific.
 Q:
The Tickets were very effective in the beginning, but as my children progressed in the program we found they did not lose or use them as much. Their negative behaviors have decreased and they have learned to self monitor their ticketed activities. Is there another way to use the Tickets?
A: Yes. Tickets are initially used to reinforce the basic of the Accountable Kids program, but the concept can be simplified as a child becomes more accountable. Hang one Ticket on the board and explain to your child that as long as the ticket is facing forward ticketed activities can be enjoyed. The card remains face forward as long as morning, afternoon, and evening chores are completed. If chores are not completed or if a negative behavior comes up the ticket can be turned backwards. The child can not enjoy Ticketed activities until the next time period. This can simplify the program for older kids and help transition the child from the board and cards to a day-timer, contracts, and agreements.
Q: What do you do when the child doesn't seem to care when tickets are taken away, or has all of their tickets taken away and continues to misbehave. We have been on stage 1 for a few months now and have not been able to progress through to the next stages. We have started using a ticket system with her preschool teacher, and she has shown some improvement there, but she just really doesn't care if she loses tickets. I know she is still young and she is just testing us, but I can't seem to find a consequence that will work with her.
A: The Accountable Kids program works best when all four steps are incorporated. Each step introduces new tools to help teach accountability, positive discipline, and life skills. You child does not need to be doing the first step perfectly to move onto the next level. So the first thing we would advise is to begin introducing the next three steps of the program. Bring in one new step each week.
As you are implementing the next three steps we recommend doing two things. First reevaluate the consequence received if your daughter does not have a ticket to take away. This consequence may change from week to week. You want it to be impact your child and be something that is not favorable. It may be time-out in an isolated area, loosing one privilege in particular.. etc. Typically when you have all four steps in place you will rarely need to resort to the back-up consequence.
Second, you want to increase the perceived value of her tickets. This does not mean that you give your child more. You just want your daughter to feel the benefits of earning a ticket. You can even set up "learning" opportunities by setting up a ticketed activity and allow your child to miss out when she has not earned her ticket. This is often a difficult experience for the parent as well as the child, but it helps reinforce the idea that basic chores must be completed before basic privileges can be enjoyed.
Q: My children fight all the time. How can I get them to stop arguing?
A: There are several ways to help eliminate arguing. Some parents have found it helpful to take a ticket every time fighting occurs. Children quickly learn that negative behaviors take away the basic privileges they enjoy. It is possible to change behavior, but it is not easy, nor immediate. Be patient and consistent.
If only one child is causing the problem other parents have found success by having the offending child give a ticket to their brother or sister. If both kids are in the wrong they both loose a ticket. This helps develop the self control to "turn the other check" and not repay a negative act with another negative action.
You can also use the Best Behavior card to acknowledge positive behavior. If you see your children getting along, doing acts of service, or being kind even when someone else is not kind to them, show your child that you appreciate this action with a Best Behavior card. If you have one child that is doing what you have asked and another is not, put your time and attention towards the behavior you want to continue. Your kids will begin to see that they get more attention doing positive behaviors than negative.
Q: I would like to share Accountable Kids with others. What is the best way to do this?
A: We have designed several incentive programs that are easy, fun, and profitable. Select the program that works best for you by visiting our Opportunities Page. We offer discounts for group orders, rebates for blogging about Accountable Kids, and coupon codes for instant savings.
Q: I would like to communicate with other parents who are using the Accountable Kids program. Do you have any resources that connect parents?
A: Yes. You can interact with other parents though the Accountable Kids blog. This is a great place to read stories, be inspired, and laugh a little. Hope to see you there! You can also stay updated through our Face Book Group. We love to hear from other parents. Your stories help us to continue to grow in a way that makes us all better parents.
Q: We travel quite a bit. How can we use the Accountable Kids program when we are not at home?
A: Accountable Kids now offers a To Go Kit that is great for traveling on vacations, visiting grandparents, or if your child resides in two households. Many homeschool parents are also using the school subject cards with the To Go Kits to help kids become self directed in their learning.
Q: I would like to review the Accountable Kids program on my blog. How do I go about doing this?
A: You can receive 50% off your order if you review Accountable Kids and post it to your blog. To learn more about reviewing Accountable Kids visit our review page.
Q: My family has reached a bit of a stale mate. I love the program and it worked well for about a year or so. Then last summer we slacked off and it's never been the same since. What is the best way to get started again?
A: We would suggest coming together in a family meeting to recommit to working together as a team. Get your kids involved in setting up the basic chores, extra chores, and setting rules and consequences. If your kids are not helping out or completing their chores, it may be because there is not really a consequence for this. Kids tend to take the path of least resistance. You may need to readjust the jobs and responsibilities so that it matches your family. the Accountable Kids program is designed to grow with your family so if its not working, make changes.
Q: My kids aren't using their tickets so they always have plenty of tickets for privileges. When I take a ticket for negative behavior it doesn't seem to affect my kids because they allot of tickets hanging on their board.
A: You may try having the tickets expire at midnight so kids start fresh and full of motivation in the morning. This provides a fresh start everyday.
Q: I have a question about disciplining with Tickets and the Best Behavior card. If we need to discipline and my daughter has already used or lost all her Tickets do we take away the Best Behavior card (if she has one) or use a back up discipline like time out?
A: Accountable Kids suggests using a back up discipline rather than taking away a Best Behavior card. Just because your daughter had a bad moment doesn't take away the good deed that she did to earn her Best Behavior card. :)
Q: What do I do for an older child who has set chores on specific days of the week? For example, sweep and mop kitchen on Mon and Fri, dust on Tues, and take the garbage out on Thursday.
A: It is easy to design the program so chores are "day specific" without having to rearrange the board every day. When you set up the cards you can specify when you want the task completed by writing the day on the back or front of the card. Teach your children that this system will help remind themselves when things need to be done. If the job is not required for that day, you child can simply skip it and turn the card over to the Finished Peg.
To submit your own question, click here.
All questions will be answered directly to the provided e-mail. Selected questions will be used in the monthly newsletter.
|