Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What does 'community' mean to you, beyond just the place we live?”
What to listen for
A layered answer, mentioning people, shared interests, or a sense of belonging, shows they're thinking about connection on their own terms, not just geography. That's them needing to feel like they belong to something bigger than just this house.
If they name something specific, like a team, a group chat, or an online space, take it seriously as real community, even if it's not physical, that distinction matters less to them than it might to you.
If they're unsure, that's a fine, honest answer, this is a big abstract question, and not having a tidy definition doesn't mean anything is missing.
What this tells you
Where they locate community shows you where they currently feel most like they belong, and where that sense of belonging might still be thin.