Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you got to invent a brand new holiday just for our family, what would we call it and how would we celebrate?”
What to listen for
If the celebration involves everyone together, games, food, hugs, they're telling you togetherness itself is what makes them feel like they belong and matter here.
If it involves getting a special role, being celebrated, or getting to choose everything, that might be a signal they want more moments where they feel uniquely important, not just one of the group.
If they say "I don't know," ask what part of a real holiday they'd want to repeat all year, sometimes borrowing from what already exists helps them build the new idea.
What this tells you
The holiday they invent shows what kind of family moments make them feel most secure and cherished.