The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) has announced the release of Christine Donavan's latest book, From Allowance to Independence. Donavan, a parent coach certified through the Parent Coaching Institute, co-authored the book with Certified Financial Planner Dylan Martin. It is now available for purchase.
The book builds on Donavan's earlier work, Let, Lift, & Listen: A Timeless Framework for Effective, Guilt-Free Parenting of all Ages and Stages, applying that same framework to financial education. In her coaching practice, Donavan found that money-related questions frequently arise. She explained, "Often I hear, 'My child is so entitled. How do I teach them to be more grateful and appreciative of what we give them? How and when do I give an allowance? Do I pay for chores? They don't understand money.' Rather than utilize valuable coaching time to teach the basics of money management, I wanted to give parents a simple framework they could use on their own, then continue coaching them through how it applies to their specific family. In short, the book removes the 'teaching' so I can focus on the 'coaching.'"
The book provides parents with a basic framework and an easy-to-follow guide to the mechanics of teaching children—from toddlers to teens—money management, including inspirational ideas such as saving money to do good in the world. It also offers thoughtful ways for parents to achieve clarity on the values they want their children to have about money. Gloria DeGaetano, Founder and CEO of the Parent Coaching Institute, highlighted this values focus: "The focus on values is what I value most about this book. Most other books on this topic stress the material aspect. Not this one. Sure, it teaches kids of all ages how to save, budget and spend wisely, but even more important the book focuses on the why of saving, budgeting, spending, while adding the importance of giving generously. This makes it an extraordinarily useful tool for parents wanting to keep material assets in the context of not only 'How can they help me?' but also 'How can my material assets help others?'"
Donavan noted that the book adds an innovative component to her parent coaching practice. Clients can read the book and bring ideas and questions to coaching sessions, allowing her to stay in the coaching role and focus on helping each parent work through money conversations in their own unique family. This approach aligns with the mission of the Parent Coaching Institute, whose PCI Certified Parent Coaches® address the unique needs of each family. With its strength-based coaching model, PCI is recognized as an innovative leader in family support, attracting highly skilled professionals to its year-long, online Parent Coach Certification® program, offered in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. The program enrolls family support professionals through an application process accepting applications from Dec. 1 to Feb. 1, 2027 for the 2027 Spring Term, which begins at the end of February.
The release of From Allowance to Independence matters because it addresses a common parenting challenge—teaching children financial responsibility—by providing a structured, values-oriented approach that can be used independently or alongside coaching. For families, it offers practical tools to foster gratitude and generosity, potentially reducing entitlement and improving money conversations. For the parent coaching industry, it exemplifies how certified coaches can extend their impact through accessible resources, reinforcing PCI's role as an innovator in family support. As financial literacy remains a critical life skill, this book could help shape a generation's approach to money management, emphasizing both personal responsibility and social good.
