Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Do you think the way we handle allowance is actually fair?”

What to listen for

A direct, reasoned answer shows they're thinking about money and fairness in a grown-up way, and trust you'll actually hear them out rather than shut the topic down.

If they propose a specific change (tied to chores, or a different amount), take it seriously as a starting point for negotiation, that's them practicing real-world advocacy for themselves.

If they say it's fine but seem unsure, ask what a friend's allowance situation looks like, comparisons to peers often surface opinions kids didn't realize they had.

What this tells you

This shows you how your child is starting to think about money, fairness, and having a stake in the rules that affect them.