Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Is there a song that instantly puts you in a good mood no matter what?”
What to listen for
If they answer immediately and maybe even play it for you, it means they're comfortable sharing a piece of their inner world without overthinking how it'll be received.
If the song surprises you, resist commenting on the genre or lyrics, the point is the feeling it gives them, not your opinion of their taste.
If they hesitate to share it, it might feel a little exposing; you can just let it be enough that they named it exists.
What this tells you
This tells you a small, reliable source of joy they carry around with them, and how open they are to sharing it with you.