Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Why do you think it matters to include the new kid at school, even if it feels awkward at first?”
What to listen for
If they mention imagining how the new kid feels, that empathy shows a real, growing understanding that everyone deserves to belong somewhere.
If they mention a time they felt new or left out themselves, that's a valuable, personal connection worth exploring gently, it shows where their empathy is coming from.
If they say it doesn't matter, gently ask how they'd feel on their first day somewhere with nobody to sit with.
What this tells you
Their answer shows how much they already understand that everyone, including someone new, deserves to feel like they belong.