Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old

The prompt

“Tell me about something you figured out how to fix all by yourself.”

What to listen for

If they can describe the problem and their own solution clearly, that's a strong sign of budding confidence, they're starting to see themselves as capable, not just as someone who needs rescuing. Let them tell the whole story without jumping in to add detail, even if you remember it differently.

If they mention asking for help partway through but still finishing it themselves, that's just as valuable, recognizing when to ask for help IS a skill, not a failure of independence.

If they say "I don't know," offer a specific recent example you noticed yourself, like fixing a toy or solving a puzzle, and let them take the credit and expand on it.

What this tells you

How proudly they tell a fix-it story shows how much they currently trust their own ability to handle problems.