Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Tell me about something you taught a younger kid this week, even something small.”
What to listen for
If they describe teaching with patience or pride, that shows they're starting to feel capable, like someone others can learn from, which builds real confidence.
If they mention it being fun to be the teacher for once, that role reversal is a great sign they enjoy feeling trusted and looked up to.
If they can't think of a time, ask what they'd want to teach a younger kid if they had the chance tomorrow.
What this tells you
Teaching someone younger shows they're starting to see themselves as capable and worth looking up to.