Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old

The prompt

“If your life right now had a soundtrack, what's the music that actually fits?”

What to listen for

Notice the mood of what they choose more than the genre, is it defiant, dreamy, upbeat, moody? That emotional tone often says more about how they're feeling lately than any direct question about their mood would.

If they get excited explaining why a song fits, follow that thread; it's a low-pressure way for them to talk about identity and feelings through something they already feel ownership over.

If they say their taste changes every week, that's honest and fine, you could ask what's on repeat right now instead of asking for one definitive answer.

What this tells you

Their music choice is often a coded way of telling you how they're feeling and who they're becoming, without having to say it directly.