Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Who's someone who makes you feel like you really belong?”
What to listen for
If they name someone quickly and warmly, they have at least one relationship where they feel fully accepted, a strong protective factor for their overall confidence.
If they hesitate or need to think hard, that's worth noting gently, it might mean they need more deliberate moments of inclusion built into their week.
If they name a family member, celebrate that openly, it means home is doing exactly what it should for them right now.
What this tells you
This tells you where their sense of belonging is currently anchored, and whether it needs more support elsewhere.