Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Did you make a mistake this week that actually taught you something? What was it?”
What to listen for
If they can name the mistake and the lesson without shame in their voice, they're building a healthy relationship with failure, seeing it as information, not a verdict on who they are.
If they get defensive or minimize it ("it wasn't my fault"), they might still be learning that mistakes are safe to admit around you, respond with warmth, not more correction, to reinforce that safety.
If they say "I don't know," you can offer a small mistake of your own from this week first, modeling makes it easier for them to open up next time.
What this tells you
This shows whether mistakes feel like safe learning moments to them, or something to hide and fear.