Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Tell me about a mistake you made recently that actually taught you something useful.”
What to listen for
If they can name the mistake and the lesson without shame, that's a wonderful sign they feel safe enough to be imperfect around you. Praise the reflection, not just the fix.
If they get embarrassed or defensive, go gently, reassure them mistakes are just part of learning, and maybe share one of your own first.
If they can't think of one, offer a small mistake you noticed and ask what they'd do differently next time.
What this tells you
How easily they talk about mistakes shows you how safe they feel being imperfect in front of you.