Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Why does it feel so bad when someone cheats at a game, even a small one?”
What to listen for
If they talk about trust or things not being fair anymore, they're building a real sense of right and wrong that goes beyond just wanting to win.
If they mention a specific time someone cheated on them, let them vent it out, that memory matters and naming it helps them let go of it.
If they say cheating is fine sometimes, gently ask how it would feel if it happened to them, without making it a lecture.
What this tells you
Their answer shows how much they value fairness as something that should hold steady, even when winning is tempting.