Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Who's the one friend who can always get you laughing, no matter what kind of mood you're in?”

What to listen for

If they light up and tell a specific story, they're showing you where they feel most free to be silly and unguarded, that friendship is a safe zone worth naming out loud with them.

If they hesitate or say 'I don't really have one person like that,' don't rush to fix it. It might mean they're still looking for that easy, no-effort kind of connection, or that they feel funniest alone. Ask what almost made someone come to mind.

A shrug or 'I don't know' is often just them not wanting to overthink it, try mentioning a friend you've noticed them laughing with and see if that opens the door.

What this tells you

This shows you who makes your child feel light and accepted exactly as they are.