About Us

Kids Across Parents Down (KAPD) is the unique, collaborative family crossword that brings kids and parents together for fun, learning and laughter.  Launched to critical acclaim in The Washington Post, the weekly activity – which featured across clues for kids and down clues for parents – immediately captivated millions families and within just a few months became the nation’s top syndicated family crossword and a treasured family tradition. 

Next, noting that families craved the activity more than just once a week, a major publisher answered the call with a series of activity books and restaurants found that the solving experience was the perfect way for families to enjoy the time spent waiting for their meals. 

Always seeking novel and fun learning tools, teachers welcomed KAPD into their classrooms, grabbing puzzles found in newspapers, magazines, kids’ menus an online partners such as Scholastic.com. 

KAPD even received a presidential nod when Pres. Obama’s inaugural committee included the family puzzles in the gift bags distributed at The Children’s Ball.

Long before Jan Buckner Walker became an

award-winning author and nationally syndicated creator,

she was a “word nerd” – a fan of letters, words and any

puzzle that allowed her to play with them. As she grew

older, attended law school and entered the corporate

practice of law, she often resorted to puzzles to help her

unwind.

One day, it occurred to her that the solitary diversion

known as a crossword puzzle, with its distinctly separate

across and down fields, was ideally suited for two-person

play. Obsessed with this understanding, she originated a,

new genre in the puzzling world – the collaborative family

crossword – which has profoundly changed the face of the

age-old American pastime. Her unique recipe for

entertainment includes imagination, education and a dash

of corniness as she creates inclusive content that

celebrates and affirms kids, parents and teachers of all

cultures and backgrounds.

Having plunged into her passion, she learned the art of

weaving words, created the first Kids Across Parents Down

puzzle and, naturally, pitched it to her hometown

newspaper, The Washington Post. Within weeks, the

puzzle was the anchor feature on its Sunday kids’ page

and quickly gained popularity in the Los Angeles Times,

Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Daily News and

newspapers in every major market.

Blessed to do the work she loves in her suburban Chicago home, Jan has enjoyed building what is, in every respect a family company. Relying on her parents (both experienced educators) for creative inspiration and educational focus, she also partners with her finance-focused husband Reggie to helm their puzzling business and continue to deliver hours of family fun.