Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you were hiding a scavenger hunt clue for your sibling right now, where would you put it and what would it say?”
What to listen for
If they design something thoughtful and fair, a clue their sibling could actually solve, that shows real empathy and care for including someone else in the fun, not just tricking them. If the plan is mostly about making it impossible or about winning, that's typical sibling-dynamic playfulness, not a red flag, just worth a light laugh together.
Notice if they want to do this WITH the sibling versus just FOR them, wanting to team up on it can show they're craving more shared, cooperative moments rather than competitive ones lately.
If they say "I don't know," ask where their own favorite hiding spot in the house is, that's usually the real answer underneath.
What this tells you
How they design a clue for a sibling shows whether they're currently leaning toward including others in their fun or competing with them.