Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If we started a brand new family tradition this year, what would you want it to be?”
What to listen for
If they suggest something involving everyone together, they're telling you they want more guaranteed, repeated moments of togetherness to look forward to.
If they invent something a little silly or unusual, that's them wanting the family's traditions to reflect real joy and personality, not just the expected stuff.
If they say "I don't know," ask about a tradition from a friend's family they thought sounded fun, as a starting point.
What this tells you
The tradition they'd choose to start shows what kind of togetherness they most want the family to promise to repeat.