Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What's the last thing that made you laugh so hard you actually cried?”
What to listen for
An enthusiastic retelling means they're happy to relive a great moment with you, and that kind of shared laughter is pure connection, let them tell the whole ridiculous story even if it takes a while.
If it involves a friend or inside joke you don't get, don't ask them to explain the humor fully, just enjoy their joy secondhand, it doesn't have to make sense to you.
If they can't remember one right away, that's worth a soft mental note, long stretches without real laughter might mean things have felt heavier than usual lately.
What this tells you
This story shows you where real, easy joy currently lives in their life, and whether laughter has been part of their days lately or in short supply.