Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old

The prompt

“What's the one thing that makes our family's holidays feel special to you?”

What to listen for

If they name a tradition, food, or activity, holidays feel anchored and predictable to them, a strong sense of "this is how we do things" that gives them comfort.

If they name a person or a feeling ("everyone's laughing," "grandma's here") more than a thing, it tells you the people and togetherness matter more to them than the events themselves, worth protecting that time above the logistics.

If they say they don't know or mention something surprising like being bored, that's useful too, it might be a nudge to ask what they'd actually enjoy more.

What this tells you

This shows what part of "family" actually creates their sense of belonging during big shared moments.