Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“Tell me about a time you said sorry to someone and you really meant it.”
What to listen for
If they can describe the moment and how it felt, that shows real empathy developing, not just saying words to end trouble. Ask what made them realize they needed to say it.
If they mention a sorry that didn't feel genuine at the time, that's a great opening to talk about what makes an apology feel real.
If nothing comes to mind, ask about a time someone said sorry to them and how that felt instead.
What this tells you
This shows you whether apologies are starting to come from real empathy rather than just following a rule.