Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old

The prompt

“If a friendly alien landed in the backyard, what game would you teach it first?”

What to listen for

If they pick something simple and explain the rules carefully, they're showing real pride in being able to teach someone else, which builds a sense of feeling capable and useful.

If they pick a game they made up themselves, that's them wanting their own creativity recognized as something worth sharing with the world, even an imaginary one.

If they say "I don't know," ask "what's the easiest game you know?", starting simple often unlocks bigger imagination after.

What this tells you

The game they'd choose to teach shows what they're proudest of knowing and most eager to pass on to someone new.