Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“If you had to pick a totally different name for yourself, just for fun, what would it be and why?”

What to listen for

A playful answer with a clear reason, sounds cool, means something, feels more "them", is a fun window into how they want to be seen; no need to read too much into it, just enjoy it with them.

If they pick a name tied to a character or figure they admire, that admiration is worth asking a follow-up about, lightly, they need to feel their influences are interesting to you, not scrutinized.

If they say their real name is fine, that's a good answer too, contentment with who they are doesn't need fixing.

What this tells you

The name they'd choose for themselves hints at the image or identity they're quietly drawn to right now.