Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Was there ever a time at school you felt left out, what happened?”
What to listen for
If they can share the memory openly, even if it's a small moment, that's a strong sign they trust you with the tender stuff, not just the happy stuff, thank them for telling you, out loud. Listen closely for whether it was about not being invited into a game, not being picked, or not being included in a conversation, each points to a slightly different sting.
If they brush it off or say it was no big deal but their voice or face says otherwise, gently let it sit rather than pushing, sometimes just naming "that sounds like it stung a little" opens the door more than a direct question would.
If they say "I don't know" or "never," that's fine, don't manufacture a problem. Just let them know you're always around if that ever happens.
What this tells you
How they talk about being left out shows how much they currently trust that their hard feelings are safe to bring home.