Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Have you ever been kind to someone even after they weren't kind to you first? What happened?”

What to listen for

If they can describe a real moment, they're developing their own sense of right and wrong that isn't just about getting even, that's a strong, quiet kind of character forming.

If they say no, or that they'd never do that, don't correct them, ask why, since their reasoning will tell you more than the answer itself.

A vague or reluctant answer might mean they're still stinging from a specific moment, leave room for them to circle back to the person who wasn't kind to them.

What this tells you

This tells you whether they're starting to choose their values on purpose, rather than just reacting to how others treat them.