Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Is there something about you right now that you really hope never changes, even when you're all grown up?”
What to listen for
If they name something about how they act, being silly, kind, curious, they're telling you what part of themselves feels most like "the real them," and that they want that part protected and valued.
If they name a relationship, like always being close to a sibling or you, that's them expressing how much they need connection to feel like part of who they are, not just something around them.
If they say "I don't know," tell them what you hope never changes about them, it often unlocks their own answer.
What this tells you
Whatever they name is close to the core of who they believe themselves to be.