Mom-created Youngsville-based company sells its games, reward charts nationwide

Jennifer Edmundson, a mom of three and psychiatric nurse, and Jennifer Kent, a mom of one with a background in laboratory technology, got to know each other in a neighborhood playgroup when their kids were just babies. And two years later, as their children entered their toddler years, the idea for Kenson Kids was born.

Posted 12:00 a.m. Jul 2, 2018 — Updated 7:24 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Like plenty of businesses, Youngsville-based Kenson Kids happened kind of by accident.

I'll let Jen K. tell the rest of the story about how their work to make life a bit easier for kids and parents with a line of chore and reward charts and games came to be in this Q&A:

Go Ask Mom: How did Kenson Kids get its start?

Jennifer Kent: When her twins were about two years old, Jen E. decided to create a chore/behavior chart for her kids. Pretty soon, neighbors and friends began asking Jen to make charts for their children too.

Jen and I had started making jewelry together to sell at local craft fairs and events. It enabled us to make extra money and stay home with our kids. We started making some of Jen’s homemade charts and selling those too. They sold so well that we decided to start making them instead of the jewelry and, over the next few years, it evolved from a handmade product into what you see today.

GAM: What kind of products do you offer?

JK: We started with the “I Can Do It” reward chart and grew our line of charts based on individual needs or requests from parents and special needs groups. We have products to help with potty training, toothbrushing, chores, behaviors, and a line of classroom charts. This year, we are excited to have launched our first game designed to get kids moving.

All of our products are created to help parents and teachers bring out the best in kids!

It’s worth noting that all of the parts of our charts are made in the USA and, as a pay-it-forward gesture, we use stay-at-home moms to assemble our products at home, allowing them to stay home a little longer and still make extra money for their families.

GAM: How can reward charts be helpful for kids – and parents? How have they worked in your homes?

JK: Our charts are so much more than a reward system. The “I Can Do It!” reward chart, for example, is a visual reminder for kids as to what they are expected to do. It can be a mixture of chores and behaviors parents want to see improved. The chart is also a visual reminder to parents to consistently monitor the tasks they have chosen. At the end of the day, kids want to earn their stars and they want to hear their parents say, “Well done, you did a great job not whining today!” Positive reinforcement encourages kids to continue doing the things they have been praised for and work harder to achieve things they still need to improve on. It’s all about building habits early and reinforcing them consistently.

Even with her nursing background, Jen E. found it difficult to say no to her own kids. The reward chart helped her stay consistent. My son was diagnosed with ADHD, and our charts, especially the On Track! System helped him stay more organized and added the structure he needed to succeed.

GAM: How can they help children with autism or ADHD?

JK: All children thrive on structure and routine, but for autistic children, behavior problems can be minimized or even eliminated altogether, when the children know what to expect. Using a tool like the Daily Checklist can help prepare children for what’s coming next, which ultimately improves their behavior.

The chore cards that are included with these products utilize colorful pictures to illustrate each task. These cards aid in understanding and communication, which is of vital significance to parents of an autistic child. All of the charts work with most autism picture programs.

ADHD can make completing mundane tasks more difficult, but external rewards have been shown to motivate kids with ADHD and consequently improve their behavior. For children with ADHD, who may have become accustomed to being reprimanded at school and at home, positive reinforcement of good behavior in the form of rewards and praise can bring out the best in these kids.

GAM: What does the future hold for your business?

JK: Currently over 130 stores around the country sell our products, from local retailers such as Stone’s Education and Toys to stores with a national footprint such as Learning Express and Lowes Foods. We also recently began selling on Target.com, which has been very exciting for us.

In terms of the products we offer, we plan to continue to grow our line of games to promote fitness and other healthy habits in kids. As always, we will continue to respond to the needs of parents, as well as early childhood educators.

Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday.

Suggest A Correction