Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“When you get really angry, what does it feel like happening inside your body?”
What to listen for
A specific physical description (hot face, tight fists, fast heart) shows real growing awareness of their own anger signals, which is a huge skill for managing it later. Validate the feeling completely.
If they can't describe it, offer some options (hot, tight, shaky) to help them find words for it.
If they say they never get angry, gently note that everyone does sometimes, and it's okay to admit it.
What this tells you
How well they can describe their anger shows you how equipped they are to notice it early, before it takes over.