Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“What does being a really good friend actually mean to you?”
What to listen for
Answers about kindness, sharing, or including others show they're building a real internal compass for relationships. Ask them for an example of a friend who does that.
If their answer is more about what friends do for them ('they give me stuff'), that's normal at this age, friendship is still developing both ways.
If they mention a specific friend who isn't being that way, listen closely; there might be something going on worth a gentle follow-up.
What this tells you
Their definition of a good friend shows you what they value most in the people they choose to be close to.