Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“When you don't have a lot to give, like time or money, what does still being generous look like to you?”
What to listen for
A thoughtful answer about small gestures, listening, showing up, sharing something small, shows they understand generosity as something bigger than material giving, which is a sign of real emotional maturity.
If they mention a specific time they gave something up for someone else even when it was hard, that story is worth appreciating warmly rather than glossing over.
If they say they don't really think about it, that's fine, the question itself may plant something worth revisiting.
What this tells you
How they define generosity under limits shows what they believe about their own capacity to matter to others, even without much to spare.