Having raised a spirited child and working with
gifted children who showed great promise, I have
been encouraged to create a program for young children that would help to answer
the many questions parents have about parenting. I recognize the need for
children to be understood, and to understand themselves. The every day
complications of life are too often in the way of us spending quality time with
our children, and finding simple ways to do that is why Kids Coins were created.
I wanted someone to know what a miracle The Kids
Coins Programs has been in my house. My son was becoming one of those children
you see on talk shows-no kidding! Time-out, loss of privileges, spanking? You
name it--we tried it. Every day turned into this hysterical battle of wills. The
very first day I got the program out and sat down with my two children, they
"got it"! We've been doing it for a little while, and my son came into the
bedroom this morning when he first woke up and said, "Hey, Mom! We're not going
to see Testy today? Just Playful". (I'm Feeling Coins)
We have been so amazed and blessed by this
program. Instead of being a battle of wills, Kids Coins have given my son
control over his actions and emotions and has brought out the best in him.
Philip is a "new man." I was stressed out every day before I started using The
Kids Coins Program. I wish I hadn't been so slow in getting it going. We are
using the program every morning and evening.
Summer and Philip have started doing things like
make beds, pick-up toys, set the table, etc... without my asking because being a
helper without being asked always gets a Gold Coin. They made their beds and
cleaned up the breakfast dishes just so they could come tell me they had been
'special helpers'. They're really getting this whole concept of being
responsible for themselves in a kind and helpful way.
The fight at night is now over because I take 6
coins that apply to winding down the day plus two "I'm Feeling Coins (usually
Friendly and Playful) and tell them they must be Friendly and/or Playful while
we do these last things to earn Goldie at the end of the day.
Both children have
earned all five Gold Coins each day this week. They are now pointing out "I was
a Dancer, today." "I was an Artist today at school"! They LOVE it! The reward
this week is $2 to spend at the Dollar Tree after church on Sunday.
Next week we're going to
the public park to play. My son's pre-school teacher stopped me to tell me that
Philip had been "so changed this week. He must be getting used to things." I
told her about starting Kids Coins and how it removes the battle between parent
and child and places the responsibility solely on the child. I am AMAZED at how
immediate the dynamics with the child change.
Philip was expelled from
Kindergarten 4, mid November, 2005.The Kids Coins Programs have been
reintroduced into the How family.
Kids
Coins provide a fun, engaging way for children to develop internal cues to guide
their decision making process and help them to understand the impact of their
actions while giving adults a common frame of reference to discuss needs
/expectations. Nurturing children into people of integrity is more challenging
today than ever. Kids Coins makes it fun and meets the needs of the growing
demand for quality programs." -Sally Bacchetta, BS Webster, NY -
writer/psychologist/consultant
“Great job on this program! The
Kids Coins Show was our best attended Kids Club events ever! The show was
engaging, entertaining, displayed good values and positive messages. It was
a quality production enjoyed by the children”.
- Peggy Hayes,
Marketing Director-Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi, MI
“The Kids Coins Show teaches children how to be good, have
fun with their feelings and know what they want to be when they grow up. This is
a great show”.
- Metro Parent Magazine, Southfield, MI
“It was a
pleasure to have you on our show. My boys, aged 3 and 6 love Kids Coins! Kids
Coins encourages children to learn new skills and changes their behavior. The
programs give parents that struggle with their children to accomplish tasks
something to motivate them with. Research shows these programs work for
children making them mentally healthier and happier. Children identify
the emotions they are feeling and change their behavior to earn a
Coin. Kids Coins helps busy parents."
Pallas Hupe, Parent 2 Parent Fox 2 News
"Kids Coins is an
excellent program for children! I have been a preschool teacher since 1986, and
I have never seen anything like Kids Coins, or any program that covered so many
area s of child development. The Kids Coins Show was educational and very
entertaining. The children were enthralled with the music and the
program and continue to ask for the materials and songs. This was a
professional production."
Rita Stone, B.S. pre-school teacher, Head Start
“I was very
impressed with the passion Janet showed for children. After attending
The Kids Coins Show, our three children aged 2,3 and 5 really enjoyed singing
along with the fun and motivating music and lyrics and the idea of earning
Coins . The Kids Coins program has great potential to inspire children to do
good things, to dream big and trust God with their lives
Gina Wessel, Music Coordinator Brighton Nazarene Church
"Kids Coins has motivated my
children to better behavior! I have seen dramatic long term improvements. I love
that Kids Coins is so versatile for children with different goals, personalities
and ages. As a pediatric speech language
pathologist, I can say
Kids Coins would be a great tool for OT, PT & Speech therapists or others who work with special needs children. Christine Goll, Fort Myers,
Florida
After running an
in-home daycare for 22 years, I was presented an opportunity to work with
two physically abused children. I had exhausted all known techniques to
get simple tasks completed with a very aggressive and angry three year old.
The disruption caused with the other children took all of my energy and
left little for the rest of the children.
Before Kids Coins were available, I called to
see if I could get a trail program. After receiving the program, we went to
work immediately! Another child aged two years that I had privately
nicknamed "The Wild Child" was in a family with no discipline and lots of
screaming. Both boys loved Kids Coins! Presenting the I Can Do It
Coins gave them a plan to follow, visual reinforcement and a chance to earn
a star. The first afternoon brought amazing results.
Both boys referred to the Coins to see what
was coming next. One Star and Two Star quickly became prized possessions
and they wanted to know when they would get "Goldie". The smile on the three
year olds' face when he was able to tell his mom that he got "Goldie" told me
that I finally found a way to get through to him without all the distrust he
felt for so many other people.
I'm Feeling Coins brought the next big
breakthrough. There were many things in his background that caused anger and
distrust. He never talked about his feelings, just acted on the frustrations
they created. I could not hold his hand without him wanting to hit or rage
verbally. Feeling Coins gave him a visual link to the feeling that was
named on the Coin. After presenting and explaining the Feeling Coins, he
immediately told me that he wanted to pick out his feelings. He picked out
the So Sad Coin and proudly displayed it. I asked him why he had picked
the Coin and he was able to tell me that he didn't know why he was sad.
Each time he picks a Feeling Coin, we are now able to discuss why he picked
that specific Coin. A few weeks later he surprised me and picked the
Lovable Coin. He told me that he picked it because "Goldie loved Him". So
Sad and Testy are his favorite Coins, but not as often. He can now express
many different ways that he feels.
For over a year, Kids Coins has given me a very
good way to deal with problem behavior as well as normal behavior in the
children that I care for. The children love to have their tasks and activities
laid out and can't wait to receive their Gold Coins and "Goldie". The
children love all the songs and are an excellent reinforcement. It is very
encouraging to hear three year old children telling each other to "try
harder" instead of yelling or hitting.
Without Kids Coins, the three year old boy would
have been removed from my program. He is still here and making great
progress.
Sincerely Yours, Susan Gail
Kelly, owner
WeeWalkers Daycare, Milan, MI
Jacob is now 7, Joey is
6, Madison is 4 and Jimmy is 3 Madison picks up The I'm Feeling Coins and talks
about them and even plays school with them and tells her "students" what each
one represents. It's pretty cute and neat to hear her comprehension of each
emotion. Kids Coins helped keep her focused on what "tasks" would be
accomplished that particular day (as sometimes they would change which she would
be aware of because of the chart). She was able to look at the picture coins
and know that she needed to make her bed, etc in order to get her Gold Coins and
at the end of the day would be evaluated on her efforts. It really helped her
to focus and helped me to minimize my control of her responsibilities because
she was then able to take control herself. Once again, thank you for caring
about children- your efforts in this area are much appreciated!
I just wanted to take a minute this morning to thank you for
putting Kids Coins in our hands! From the time we got the music CD and popped it
into the car the kids thought it was fun music so I continued to play it
whenever we drove into town. Not long after, I began to hear Maddie singing the
songs to her babies and then Jacob and Joey were singing along in the card as
well. Jimmy (who is only 18 months old) would kick his feet in his car seat and
clap his hands so I knew this was something that was catching on. Once we got
onto the computer and checked out the Kids Coins website we were just as
excited! The coloring page is perfect for Maddie and the boys play the memory
game together.
I recently put the display in
Maddie's room behind her door and chose a few of the coins that I thought she
could easily master and a few that we needed to work on with her (such as nap
time) and explained how we were going to use it with her. She has loved knowing
that it was her chart and her "duties" and nap time has not been a battle
because she knows she is obeying and earning a gold coin when her afternoon
activities are accomplished (nap time included!!)
I just had to let you
know that I am excited to use this program with my 4 kids (and I'm using it
differently for each child) and that being a child development major and former
kindergarten teacherI pray your idea gets in
the right hands because it could be a real blessing to many families and
organizations that utilize it. Thanks
again!
Missy and Mike Muzjakovich Kingsley, MI
(and Jacob, Joey, Madison and Jimmy, too!!!)
I just wanted to
tell you what a great tool you've created! I have four children under the age of
five who just adore Kids Coins! They look forward every morning to see what I've
planned out for their day. Even though they can't read yet, by looking at the
descriptive and creative pictures, they know exactly what they have to do in order to earn their first gold coin of the day. Kids
Coins has helped us give structure to our day and a consistent routine
that all kids need and thrive on. It has also set up a standard of expectations
of what will happen when they chose not to do their tasks, and gives positive
reinforcement to see that they follow through.
The I'm Playing coins have led to creative play
and the I'm Feeling coins have helped my son with some learning disabilities put
a label on his feelings without the acting out behavior he would have otherwise
used. All of them LOVE the music that goes with Kids Coins and ask to play it
over and over again.
As a special education teacher and
adoptive mom of five young children- (soon to be seven!) THANK YOU!
Sincerely, Kim Green-Brighton, MI
THIS IS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM,
WONDERFUL TOOL AND A GREAT IDEA FOR FAMILIES! I bought The Kids Coins Program at a childcare
seminar. The difference in my kids is great and they are thrilled with
it.
I am using Kids Coins with a
4 year old and 7 year old. My 7 year old son has a caloric personality and he is
a very difficult child to raise. He is very in- dependent. He will not do
anything unless it is his idea. He wants instant gratification and is a
perfectionist. In order for him to do anything I have to give him a dollar.
Kids Coins is the ONLY program I have used that works!
My son knows he gets a star
after he does something and he is proud of him accomplishments. His stars are
his reward and he is satisfied with them. He looks forward to earning them with
pride. I no longer have to give him a dollar or anything else. He has learned
that it is okay to make a mistake. I am going to start a day care center and I
will recommend that all parents in my program use the Kids Coins Program with
their children at home.
Heather Ireland-Brighton, MI
My daughter is three years old.. I am using the Kids Coins
program to help her to learn how to brush her teeth, get dressed, go potty, etc.
I am using three Coins at a time. She receives her stars week to week, according
to her behavior. By the time she is four, she
will be doing all the activities and we will be using all of the Coins. She
loves to hold on to the Coins and play with them! She also dances all around to
the songs! We like
Kids Coins!
Stacy Brice Machesney- Park, Ill.
I learned about Kids Coins from a close friend. My daughers
were excited the moment they saw them! We use Kids Coins as a schedule for our
day and a reward chart. The kids are so motivated by checking to see 'what comes
next" and if they have earned a Gold Coin. It has particularly helped our
morning routine. Kids Coins has definitely been a blessing in our lives and we
happily recommend it to all of our friends!
April Eisele, Colorado
