Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If two friends had a huge argument, what would you tell them to do to fix it?”
What to listen for
If their advice involves talking it out, apologizing, or taking turns explaining feelings, that shows they already have real tools for repair, even if they don't always use them for themselves yet. If their advice is more about one side just giving in, that's worth a gentle follow-up: "does that feel fair to both of them?"
Notice if they mention time apart before talking ("give them a minute to calm down first"), that's a surprisingly mature insight about not solving things mid-heat.
If they say "I don't know," ask about a time THEY made up with a friend after a big fight, and work from that real memory instead.
What this tells you
The repair advice they give for other kids often reveals the tools they wish someone had given them for their own conflicts.