Tonight with your 5 to 8 year old
The prompt
“What's something you used to be scared of but you're not scared of anymore?”
What to listen for
If they can name it easily and sound proud, they clearly recognize their own growth, which builds real confidence that fears don't have to last forever.
If they struggle to think of one, gently remind them of something you remember, like the dark or a loud noise, sometimes they need the reminder to feel the pride.
If they say "I don't know," that's fine, not every kid tracks their own fears changing, and this can plant the idea for next time.
What this tells you
Noticing their own fear turning into confidence shows they're starting to trust that hard feelings really do get easier with time.