Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“If you got to throw a parade just for us, what would definitely be in it?”
What to listen for
A big, joyful, inclusive parade (everyone marching, music, all their favorite things mixed together) shows a kid in a celebratory, connected mood who wants everyone involved in their joy.
If the parade centers heavily on themselves (they're the star, everyone's watching them), that's a normal, healthy desire to be celebrated, a nice cue to make sure they get real moments of being celebrated for who they are, not just what they do.
If they can't think of anything, ask what their favorite parts of a party are and build the parade from there.
What this tells you
The parade they imagine often shows whether they're craving shared celebration or a bit more individual spotlight right now.