What is Kudos! for Kids?
Welcome to the world of Kudos! for Kids! The Kudos! for Kids program is an exciting application of correct parenting principles taught by Dr. James J. Jones, and the American Parenting Institute. It focuses on several areas of child development. The Kudos! for Kids program was developed to improve a child's attitude and behavior and to instill in the child values and skills essential for happiness and success in later life.
What are Kudos? Kudos are compliments, recognition and praise for jobs well done. "Kudos, Johnny! Great job!" Kudos are accolades, rewards and favorable comments about a person's efforts, achievements and performances. They are justified praise and honors for great effort and a job well done.
The Kudos! for Kids game has been created to accomplish many wonderful things in your family. A college degree in parenting or child development is not necessary to raise healthy children. Why? Because when you start playing the Kudos! for Kids game, without even realizing it, you will automatically be putting into practice powerful scientific principles which will result in major changes in your own behavior and in the behavior and attitudes of your children.
When you follow the program, wonderful things will begin to happen even when you are unaware of the underlying principles. Once you have the program well underway, you can turn to the "Your Children Will Whistle While They Work!" book and study the laws of human behavior that have caused the amazing results you are getting. This will help you identify the laws and principles you are using so you will be able to apply them more effectively.
This program is for every family with kids. No matter the nationality, religion, race or culture; whether rich or poor, all children need the same basic things. They need unconditional love, acceptance and protection. They need to be taught values and they need to be held accountable by their parents to a reasonable standard of behavior. They need to develop the skills to get along with others and to communicate. Children also need to learn to work and to manage their own time and resources. Ultimately, they need to become independent and prepared to become good parents themselves. Kudos! for Kids will teach you how to parent effectively in love and gentleness, yet also with confidence and firmness.
Kudos! for Kids is an ongoing program that naturally teaches parents how to reward good behavior while extinguishing undesirable behavior. Parents are trained to "catch the kids being good" and thereby become rewarders instead of constant naggers, criticizers and punishers. By reversing the role of the parent from negative to positive, the relationship between the parent and child improves immensely. The Kudos! for Kids game becomes the only way kids can earn privileges and money in the home. Parents need to make sure the game is challenging and fun (it's easy)!
What do parents say about these programs?:
"I believe this is greatest behavioral management tool ever given to parents for training their children. It promotes and teaches essential historical American values such as hard work and self-reliance. Children learn to be honest and respectful of parents and authority, but are still given much freedom in exercising their God given rights of free choice. Our children have also learned how to earn, budget and spend their own money. They have gained valuable experience in managing their own time and resources. Kudos! for Kids! is a fun way to raise your kids."
As a Licensed Marriage, Family, & Child Therapist with a family of 8 children, I am familiar with just about every parenting program and philosophy out there. In fact, I used to TEACH parenting classes! When I attended Jim Jones parenting seminar, I felt like I had finally arrived! All of the good principles came together...and then some! I actually learned something for a change! I have never seen such a comprehensive (and easy) parenting program before! It covers all of
the social and psychological principles that I think are critical to raising responsible children. It is based on a foundation of true concepts that really work! When these principles are coupled together with the wonderful tool called "Kudos! for Kids"... parents have what they need to make parenting fun, creative, and successful. I cannot say enough about this program! It works! If every parent learned and used
this program, society would benefit tremendously, as would it's families! I LOVE THIS PROGRAM; nothing I have seen even compares to it! ... This program has literally changed my life (and my family's). THANK YOU!
"Other parents tell us how well behaved and hard working our six children are. I tell them that we have trained them using the game 'Kudos! for Kids!'. What a change has taken place: Our children are sweet and cooperative at home now. We are truly grateful for this wonderful program. We wouldn't trade our Kudo games for anything."
"We have recommended this wonderful Kudos program to all our friends who have kids. It really works! Our kids actually do come to us now and ask for more work to do around the house. If you had told me a few weeks ago that our kids would be asking for more work, I would have told you it was not possible in our home. I was like the Psycho-mom you talked about in your tapes and our kids were good examples of your teen-age retirement stories. They were so lazy that I had to get mad and threaten them before they would help around the house. There was too much contention and bickering. Our home became so unpleasant that all the joy was gone out of our home. With this program our kids have done a complete 'turn-around'."
"The principles taught in the Kudos game work. When we started to see how much we were enabling our kids to live irresponsible lives, we were shocked. We stoped rescuing and making excuses for their irresponsible behavior. Now the games helps us avoid most problem behaviors before they even gets started. We have learned how to motivate our children so that we have become the rewarders instead of the naggers and punishers we used to be. Thank you so much, you have saved our sanity and brought peace and order back into our home."
"Our kids were getting out of hand and so were we as the parents. They weren't doing as they should and it seemed that my wife and I were becoming more frustrated and angry as the days went by. We lectured and threatened but nothing changed. I can honestly say that things were getting ugly. My wife and I are achievers, we work hard and we expected the same from our children, but they were not only lazy, they were becoming disobedient and insolent. We started with the game not really understanding the principles and a miracle happened. That Kudos! game works and the kids love it. For the first time in years the kids like us ... and we are enjoying our kids again."
"Kudos! for Kids has been a great addition to our family structure. I used to have to nag and beg my kids to do their chores or their homework. Now they have everything done before I get out of bed in the morning. My kids are still young (six and under) and I tailored the game to meet our needs. Kudos! for Kids works great any way you work it."
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Kudos! for Kids
Kudos! for Kids! is a behavior management program, for children aged 4 - 17 years, based upon scientific principles. It is designed to develop specific skills and values in children.
Are your kids driving you nuts? Do you want them to whistle while they work? Then play Kudos! for Kids!
Frequently Asked Questions
Kudos! for Tots!
Even young children want to play the game when they see older siblings being rewarded. Children aged 2 through 4 years can also be taught to understand many of these great principles. The Kudos! for Tots "game" is a simple program which uses the same principles that are used in the Kudos! for Kids program. The principles of working and earning, accountability, stewardship, obedience, service, and so forth can be taught in this simple beginning game for two, three and four year olds.
How do we play Kudos! for Tots?
When the older children begin playing the Kudos! for Kids program, your 2-4 year olds may soon feel left out and really want to have a chart like the big kids. Therefore, we have devised a very simple board for tots.
Your tots get a lanyard and 16 happy faces and 2 sad faces. The board has a box and 4 hooks.
When they are good they get happy faces saying "I am being big," and when they are acting inappropriately they get
sad faces saying, "I forgot to be big." Little kids hate getting sad faces, but you will find them to be a better, gentler, more effective alternative to
other forms of discipline.
When they have earned 3 or 4 happy faces,
mom can reward them from the treat bucket or in other ways. They are given happy faces to hang on their hooks
when they are pleasant and cooperative, pick up their toys and show an effort to be good and help. Use your
imagination. Once in a while you can give them 25 cents Kudo Kash to put in the box on their game board. Then
let them trade it in for treats, etc. so that they begin to attach value to the Kudo Kash.
Special features of Kudos! for Tots
Little kids like to feel big like their older brothers and sisters, so we have included a lanyard for them too.
If they wish, they can carry some happy faces around on the ring and bring them to you to when they are being
really good. Or, you can give them some job card that is appropriate for their age to put on the lanyard ring, such
as picking up toys. Then you can give them a happy face when they finish the task, or 25 cents Kudo Kash to put in their box.
More Answers to Kudos! for Kids Questions...
What does Kudos! for Kids do for parents and their children?
Parents: The Kudos! for Kids program takes angry, punishing parents and converts them into loving, rewarding parents. Guess what? Rewarding parents are happier than parents who are always threatening and punishing. And, kids like parents who reward them, much more than they like parents who nag and punish them.
Children: The Kudos! for Kids program builds skills and values (character) in the child by holding the child
responsible for personal choices and behavior, and by introducing into the child’s life age-appropriate problem
solving and hard work. As the child struggles and begins to internalize the virtues of self-control, responsibility,
integrity, honor, and so forth, noble character and high self-esteem begin to develop.
Why do kids love to be Kudo King (Queen)?
At the end of the day a child can earn a Kudo King card by exhibiting exemplary behavior, attitudes, and efforts
for the entire day. You will never attain perfection, so reward sincere efforts and progress. At bedtime, Mom or Dad
says, "It’s time to give out the Kudo King award!" At that time, everyone gathers and Mom or Dad announces
who is going to be awarded a Kudo King card.
This is the highest award and honor of the day. There are two requirements
to be a Kudo King (or Queen, if you prefer):
- First, all personal work must have been completed that day; and
- Second, extra effort must have been made in the areas of attitude, good citizenship, and behavior.
The children are not competing against each other for this award and will have no one to blame but themselves if they do not earn it. The
Kudo King award can be awarded to all, some, or none of the children depending upon how each child
behaved individually throughout that day. To train children to act positively even when they don’t get the award,
remind them that judging for the next day’s award starts at the moment the current awards are announced. If they
are critical, show a sour face, or are not happy for those who did get the award they are hurting their chances of
becoming a Kudo King the next day. Kudo King should be awarded at the end of the day but can be revoked (for misbehavior)
until the child falls asleep. This possibility of losing the Kudo King card generally has a very sobering effect on a child
and helps to get very active little people to stay in bed. When girls are playing the game they might choose to call this
the Kudo Queen award which is entirely appropriate.
When a child achieves Kudo King, he or she is awarded a Kudo King card and plays the Kudo King game. The Kudo King game consists of the child choosing from a deck of cards, each card bearing an immediate reward. The child chooses a card from a face down deck held by a parent. Before the game is played, parents should pull out those cards that are inappropriate for the child. If the child has no Maid Service cards or Warning or Stop cards pull out those cards that say Return all Maid Service cards etc., because they would have no value to him. Again if a child is six years old the parent presents all cards offering a reward appropriate to that child’s age level. Obviously, the card granting use of the family car for a weekend activity would not be offered to a six year old.
Kudo King cards are valuable and are saved to buy special rewards from the Kudo King Rewards list . The Kudo King Rewards list is a list of fun, inexpensive, special privileges a child can earn.
What is the foundation of success and happiness in life?
Work: Struggle and hard work are the foundation of all success and happiness in life. In the Kudos! for Kids! game, children are personally responsible each day to do several tasks. These tasks or jobs are listed on individual job cards and brought to the parent for a quality check when the work is completed.. Once checked, $1.00 in Kudo Kash is awarded (or whatever is appropriate) and privileges (such as having friends in the house, riding the bike, playing outside, watching TV, playing video games, etc. that have been previously agreed upon) are awarded. Earned Kudo Kash is then stored in the box area labeled ‘Daily Earnings’. When the tasks are done on time or earlier, the child receives a Speedy Card to hang on the hook indicating the tasks were completed by the required time, earning extra Kudo Kash.
How do you improve child behavior?
Reward good behavior and extinguish undesirable behavior. Children are rewarded for behavior that shows they are making an effort to obey, do high quality work, or be good citizens in the home and the community. Your job as parents is to "catch them being good"! Become the rewarder in your child"s life instead of the punisher. Be on the alert constantly and reward (reinforce) good behavior whenever you can. You might decide to give out $.25 Kudo Kash for any obvious effort at good behavior. Show them that you are noticing how they behave. When behaviors or attitudes are inappropriate Caution and Stop cards are needed, but please use these very sparingly and not at all for the first week or two. Train yourself to reward the good behavior and ignore the bad unless it is necessary to correct it. Caution or Stop cards are stored in the Daily Earnings box on the chart along with any Kudo Kash earned that day. Each night all earned Kudo Kash is moved to the Weekly Earnings box and saved until Payday, which is at a specified time and day each week. On Payday, the family gathers and the accounts are balanced for the week. Finally, the kids budget their Kudo Kash by putting it into the proper section of the budget box which has been pre-labeled by subject such as school lunches, savings, clothes, Scouts, church, recreation, etc.
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