Is it valid for a nine-year-old boy to lead his mother in prayer as encouragement for him to pray?

The majority of scholars are of the view that it is invalid for a discerning young boy to lead an adult in an obligatory prayer, but valid in a voluntary prayer. This is because the prayer that is obligatory for an adult is voluntary for a child. In Shafi’i jurisprudence, it is valid for a discerning young boy to lead to an adult in both obligatory and voluntary prayers based on the hadith narrated by Amr ibn Salmah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that he would lead his people in prayer during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was just six or seven years (recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih). This is the view we are inclined to adopt.

Based on the above, there is no objection to a nine-year-old boy leading his mother in prayer, as he is discerning.

And Allah Almighty knows best.