Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you invented a brand new game completely from scratch, what would it be called and how would you win?”
What to listen for
Notice how winning works in their invented game, if everyone can win somehow, or the rules are generous, that reflects a wish for togetherness even in competition. If winning is strict and exclusive, that's totally normal too, especially if they've been enjoying feeling triumphant lately.
If the game involves teams or partners rather than solo competition, that's a small hint they're currently craving cooperative play more than solitary achievement.
If they say "I don't know," ask what their favorite existing game is, and what one thing they'd change about it, that's often the seed of a whole new invention.
What this tells you
How winning works in their invented game shows whether they're currently drawn more to solo triumph or shared success.