Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Show me the silliest walk you can invent for going down the hallway right now.”
What to listen for
A kid who leaps up and immediately performs something wild and committed is usually feeling safe enough to be goofy and take up space without worrying what anyone thinks. That's a great sign, it means home currently feels like a place where they can be a little ridiculous.
A kid who hesitates, checks your face first, or does something small and quick might be more unsure whether it's really okay to be silly right now, or might just be shy in the moment, both are normal, just worth noticing over time.
If they say "I don't know how," do a silly walk yourself first. Most kids just need permission and a model, not a real block.
What this tells you
How freely they play right in front of you shows how safe they feel being fully themselves, not just their polished self.