Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What's the difference for you between something feeling fun and something feeling like just another task?”
What to listen for
If they point to things like choice, low pressure, or being with the right people, they're identifying what genuine engagement feels like for them, which helps them protect their own joy on purpose.
If they say almost everything feels like a task lately, take that seriously and gently, it may be a sign they're overloaded and need permission to do less, not more encouragement to push through.
A simple, quick answer like "fun is when I'm not thinking about it" is a complete and useful answer on its own.
What this tells you
What tips something from task into fun shows you what conditions they currently need to actually feel alive doing something.