Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you and a friend were in a big disagreement, what would you want a grown-up to do to help, and what would you want them to NOT do?”
What to listen for
If they want the adult to just listen or help both sides talk, they're showing they want to feel heard and respected as capable of solving things, not just told what to do.
If they want the adult to decide who's right or step in fast, they might be craving more structure and reassurance that someone bigger will keep things fair when it feels too big to handle alone.
If they say "I don't know," ask about a real disagreement from school or the park this week to ground the question.
What this tells you
This shows you exactly how much control versus support they want from you when things get hard with friends.