Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“In your dream world, what would family dinner look like every night?”
What to listen for
If they focus on who's there and what you talk about, connection at the table matters more to them than the food itself, even if they mention treats too.
If they add rules like no phones or everyone has to tell a joke, they're really asking for dinner to feel like guaranteed, protected together-time.
If they say "I don't know," ask what's missing from dinner right now that they wish was different.
What this tells you
Their dream version of dinner shows what would make them feel most secure and connected during the one part of the day the whole family shares.