Real tools. Real thinking.
Built for the way kids learn.
The SOLVED method isn't a curriculum add-on or a worksheet to file away. It's a structured problem-solving process rooted in the same frameworks used by engineers, quality professionals, and reliability experts — rebuilt from the ground up for kids ages 10–14.
Field-tested in industry. Redesigned for kids.
For decades, industries like automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing have relied on structured problem-solving frameworks to find root causes and build lasting fixes. DMAIC. PDCA. 5 Whys. Fishbone diagrams. These aren't theoretical — they're the tools that keep planes flying and production lines running.
Randy D. Tison, Ph.D. spent 20+ years applying these frameworks professionally. He then asked a simple question: what if we taught kids these tools before they needed them — at home, at school, in life?
"A kid who has a process doesn't freeze. They start."
"Every problem has a cause. Once you know how to find it, you can fix almost anything."
Structure builds confidence.
Kids who struggle with problems don't usually lack intelligence — they lack a process. Without one, they freeze, give up, or wait for an adult to fix it. That pattern hardens over time into avoidance, self-doubt, and learned helplessness.
The SOLVED method gives them something to reach for. A repeatable process: observe, dig, map, plan, test, improve. Once a kid has worked through it once on something real, they have it. Not just for school — for life.
That's the confidence parents are looking for. And it's what teachers can actually build on.
This isn't a feelings journal. It's a method book.
This is NOT
- A self-help book with vague advice
- A workbook full of word searches and filler
- A coping strategy for managing feelings
- A one-size-fits-all solution
- Content that talks down to kids
This IS
- A structured, repeatable problem-solving process
- Real tools used in professional industries
- Hands-on exercises applied to real-life problems
- A skill set that transfers across every subject and situation
- Content that respects the intelligence of 10–14 year olds
Six steps. One process. Built to repeat.
Each letter in SOLVED is a step. Each step has a tool. The whole process is designed to be worked — not just read. Here's a glimpse of the first three.
State the Problem Right
Most people solve the wrong problem. This step teaches kids to define what's actually happening — not just what feels wrong.
Observe: Get the Facts
Gather data before jumping to solutions. When does it happen? How often? What changes? Data beats guessing every time.
Locate the Root Cause
Dig past the symptom using structured tools — 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, and cause mapping. Find the thorn, not just the pain.
Vanquish, Evaluate & Defend
Build the fix, test whether it worked, and lock in the improvement so the problem stays solved — not just managed.
All six steps — with guided exercises — are in the book.
Each step includes real-world examples, hands-on worksheets, and guided reflection questions designed for independent use or adult-led coaching.
The tools kids actually use.
Every tool in SOLVED is drawn from professional practice. Each one is introduced with context, modeled with examples, and applied through guided exercises.
5 Whys — used in L
Ask "why" five times to move past the surface symptom and reach the root cause. Simple, powerful, and immediately applicable to any problem a kid faces.
Fishbone Diagram — used in L
Map every possible cause across key categories — people, process, environment, materials. Teaches kids to think in systems, not just in sequences.
PDCA Cycle — used in V & E
Plan → Do → Check → Act. The classic improvement loop, simplified for independent use. Teaches kids that a first fix is a hypothesis, not a conclusion.
DMAIC Framework — spans all six steps
Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. The professional backbone behind the SOLVED method — adapted into a guided process kids can follow start to finish.
SMART Goals — used in D
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Teaches kids to turn a vague intention into a trackable commitment — a skill that compounds over a lifetime.
Data Collection — used in O
Before you can fix a problem, you have to measure it. Kids learn how to gather facts, spot patterns, and separate noise from signal — just like professionals do.
For parents
You've watched your kid freeze when something goes wrong — at school, with friends, in activities. SOLVED gives them a process to reach for instead of shutting down.
The Parent & Teacher Companion walks you through how to coach the method without doing it for them. Your job is to sponsor the process, not solve the problem.
For teachers & educators
SOLVED maps directly to critical thinking, project-based learning, and SEL frameworks already in your classroom. The tools are standards-adjacent without being curriculum-dependent.
The Companion gives you facilitation guidance, discussion questions, and a pathway to sponsor student-led projects using the full SOLVED process.
The method is in the book.
The book is ready now.
SOLVED: The Kid's Guide to Fixing Anything That's Broken, Late, Lost, or Failing. PDF delivered instantly.