Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“What's a nice way you could tell a grown-up 'not right now' if you needed a minute?”
What to listen for
If they can come up with a polite phrase on their own ("can I have a minute, please" or "I need a little break"), that's a great sign they're starting to feel like their own limits are allowed to exist, even with adults. If they struggle, that's completely normal, most kids assume grown-ups' requests always come first, so this is a great skill to build together tonight.
Notice if they seem worried that saying this would get them in trouble, if so, reassure them clearly that asking for a minute respectfully is always allowed in your house.
If they say "I don't know," offer a simple phrase together and practice saying it out loud like a game.
What this tells you
Whether they can imagine politely pausing a grown-up shows how much they currently believe their own limits are allowed to count.