Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Is there something going on in your friend group lately that you haven't really mentioned to us?”
What to listen for
If they open up even a little, it means they feel like this is a safe question and not a trap, that you're genuinely curious, not fishing for something to worry about or correct.
If they say "kind of, but it's complicated" and stop there, that's still a real answer, they're telling you it exists and it matters, even if they're not ready to unpack it tonight.
A quick "no, nothing" might be completely true, or it might mean the topic feels too raw or too private right now, either way, the fact that you asked without an agenda is what sticks.
What this tells you
How much they share here shows how much they trust you to hear about their world without jumping in and taking it over.