Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Let's invent a brand-new creature voice for tonight's story, what would it sound like?”
What to listen for
An enthusiastic, silly voice shows a kid who feels playful and uninhibited with you right now, treasure that openness and play along fully rather than rushing past it.
If they're shy about trying a voice, offer to go first and be a little ridiculous yourself, modeling silliness often gives permission for them to loosen up too.
If they invent a character with a personality (brave, sneaky, gentle), notice what traits they give it, kids often slip their own feelings into the characters they create.
What this tells you
How freely they play with silliness tonight shows how safe and light they currently feel in your company.