DEAR KACIE

DearKACIE

ROTTEN APPLES

“My seven-year-old destroyed her iPad after she got angry with a game she was playing. She threw the tablet at the wall. Should we make her pay for a new one from her allowance? My husband says she’s learned her lesson and we shouldn’t expect a seven-year-old to pay for a new iPad. I’m not so sure and think she could use a lesson in nice things and saving up money.”

I don’t like parenting questions. You’re the parent and what you say goes. But you did reach out for advice and I have some.

Ummm ... how much is the kid’s allowance? It’s going to take her years to pay for an iPad. At seven, it’s probably less important to teach her about money and earning nice things. The bigger lesson here is learning how to control her temper and not throw things against the wall—expensive or not.

It’s good you didn’t immediately cave and buy her a new tablet. She should understand that what she did is unacceptable. She should experience a little bit of time without the tablet as a consequence. It’s also fine if you don’t replace the tablet at all. That’s up to you, as her parents.

If you have any questions you’d like Kacie to answer, submit them to contact@simplykcmag.com.