Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Is there anyone younger than you who looks up to you? What do you think they see?”

What to listen for

A thoughtful answer shows they're starting to notice their own influence on others, which builds real, earned confidence rather than confidence from praise alone.

If they seem surprised by the question, that's a great moment to point out a specific younger kid you've noticed watching them, sometimes they need it named before they see it themselves.

If they brush it off as no big deal, ask how it feels to be looked up to, the feeling underneath is often more revealing than the fact itself.

What this tells you

This reveals whether they're beginning to see themselves as someone others can rely on, not just the youngest one in every room.