Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old

The prompt

“What's something you think people should always ask before doing at our house, like touching stuff or coming into a room?”

What to listen for

If they mention their own belongings or space, that's them asserting a real need for respect and ownership over what's theirs, which is healthy to honor.

If they mention someone else's stuff too, like a sibling's toys, that shows they're starting to apply fairness beyond just their own wants.

If they say nothing needs asking, gently bring up a specific example, like knocking on a closed door, to see if that changes their answer.

What this tells you

What they want people to ask first shows where they most need to feel their own space and things are respected.