Questions and Parenting Tips for 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: Can I purchase the program in stores?
A: Yes. To view the stores that carry Accountable Kids products click here.
 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 Kit is like a palm pilot
for kids. Each child has unique tasks, goals, and responsibilities. The kit
helps customize the program to work on age related attributes that are specific
to your child. The progress board and cards helps 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: The Accountable Kids program is not specific to any religion. The book
and the kit provide a framework for families to incorporate their individual
beliefs. The Accountable Kids program is based on the principle of the law
of the harvest; you reap what you sow. The 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.
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. Can I order replacement cards?
A: Yes. Once you have purchased the AK program,
we do offer replacement cards for your kits. 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 or select individual cards. Please call
the main office for details.
 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 s 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 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 and avoid vague parameters. 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: 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. What should the consequence be? My daughter is a very active, intelligent and manipulative 4 year old. We have been on stage 1 for a few months now. It helps a lot as far as our morning and especially evening routines are concerned. She is supposed to use the tickets to watch tv or videos, or to go to the park, play with playdough, have a playdate, etc. most of the time we are pretty consistent with it, but she is babysat a couple of times a week, and sometimes the grandparents are a little lenient. She has an assortment of stuffed animals she liked to sleep with and we would take away one for 24 hrs for each infraction whenever she was out of tickets, but this no longer seems to be a deterrent and she has gotten used to not sleeping with them. She really doesn't seem to care if we take away privileges /toys. She is very headstrong and often runs away from us in public places. She seems to think it is a game. 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. She almost enjoys handing them over.
We try to discuss it in family home evenings, but we can't seem to get through to her. 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. I'd appreciate any advice/input you have.
A: First begin by introducing step two, three, and four to your child. Bring in one new step each week. Step one of the Ak program is a similar to a basic chore chart. It becomes a complete system when all four steps are implemented. The AK program has different incentives introduced in each step. You may find that the program works better for your child when all four steps are in place. Even if you are struggling with step one, there are advantages to brining in the next 3 steps. You may find other avenues to encourage positive behaviors that are not available in just step one of the program.
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 value of her tickets. This can be accomplished by creating a spontaneous opportunities where she will need a ticket to participate. When the activity has been suggested or planned let her know it will require one ticket to participate. You may even decide to set up a special outing for the next day. When your child misbehaves allow her to give you a ticket. When it is time for the activity, get ready for the event. Before leaving remind your child that she needs to give you a Ticket to go. This can even be reinforced by having her friends or family show up to pick her up for the play date, park outing, etc…. and have her not be able to go. When she remembers she does not have a Ticket remind of the actions that caused a Ticket to be lost. Sometimes a child will learn the more about choices and consequences by having to miss out on an opportunity than just missing out on a normal ticketed activity. Tickets work best when they are valued. Create opportunities for tickets to be valued in your home.
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