Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Was there ever a time you forgave someone even though it was really hard to do?”
What to listen for
If they can recall this and explain what helped them get there, that's a genuinely mature emotional skill for their age, name it clearly, because forgiveness is something even adults struggle with. Listen for whether they forgave because enough time passed, because the person apologized, or because they just decided to let it go, each shows a different (and equally valid) path to peace.
If they say they've never truly forgiven someone or still feel upset about something old, that's valuable information too, it might mean that hurt is still sitting there and could use a gentle, separate conversation later.
If they say "I don't know," ask about a smaller version, like forgiving a sibling for breaking something.
What this tells you
How they describe forgiving someone shows whether old hurts get resolved for them, or tend to linger quietly.