Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you got to plan a perfect Saturday for just the two of us, what would we do from morning to night?”
What to listen for
Notice whether their plan is packed with activities or full of quiet, simple moments (pancakes, cuddling, a walk), that split tells you whether they're currently craving excitement or closeness with you specifically. Either is a great sign of wanting time together; the flavor just varies.
If they include other family members in "our" day, that's worth a gentle note, you asked for just the two of you, so if they still pull others in, it may mean group togetherness feels safer or more familiar to them than one-on-one time, which is worth offering more of gently.
If they say "I don't know," ask what they'd want to eat first thing in the morning, starting small often unlocks the rest of the day.
What this tells you
Their dream day with just you shows exactly what kind of together-time, quiet or adventurous, currently fills them up most.