Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Tell me about a time you felt proud of a friend, like something they did made you go 'yes, that's my friend!'”
What to listen for
If they describe cheering someone on or noticing a friend's win, that generosity shows they feel secure enough to celebrate others instead of only comparing themselves.
If they struggle to think of one, gently ask what a friend did recently that was cool or kind, since younger kids sometimes need a nudge to separate their own feelings from someone else's moment.
If they say "I don't know," that's fine, just share a time you felt proud of a friend to model what that feels like.
What this tells you
Feeling proud of someone else without needing the spotlight shows they feel secure enough in their own place to root for others.