Being the kids game show apologist on this board, ill bite on this and say its not too bad an idea. I believe the most ever offered on a kids game show was a 25k scholarship on Pick Your Brain, for special kids weeks im sure it was the 32k on CS YPWs, I believe a good smart kid can and should be challenged to win a large amount. With some precautions
I think that it could be a good idea if done right, I think the kids can take it if they are handled correctly, and without too much cheapening.
1. Like what Eubanks CS did for the YPWs make all winnings up to a certain point go to the kids, the rest go into an annunity when they turn 18. Actually I would make the payouts go like this.
up to 8k, everything goes to the kid.
16-64k 2500 goes to kid rest CD annuity like CS.
125 K level is replaced with a full ride scholarship + 20k Annuity + 5k to the kid.
As the levels go up the amount to the kid is upped to 10k and the full ride stay constant while the ammount in the annuity keeps skyrocketing to the desired level.
2. Phone A Friend is split into an option the traditional phone a friend must be a kid under 18, but also they can bring their parents out as one lifeline to give their advice on a question. So a kid gets 4 lifelines instead of 3, techancally, but can only use 3.
3. Gaurenteed payout of $100 on the first level (aka no leaving with nothing, just the lowest possible payout)
4. The gaurentee points are scaled differently, 1st gaurentee point is at 2k, next at 16k and the 3rd after the full ride is won at 125k to make the fall less steep, but still challenging.
5. Categories are revealed before the question is asked (a la greed) to make the kid's decision to go or not easier.
6. Should the kid enter the final question with any lifelines intact they are automatically used.
7. Easier on the dramatics on a reveal from the host, no hanging the kid out to dry after a final answer is given.
My 2c...Flame on!