Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Is there a made-up game from when you were little that you still think about sometimes?”

What to listen for

A fond, detailed answer shows they still hold onto their younger imagination fondly, even while working hard these days to seem more grown-up.

If they laugh it off as 'so babyish' before telling you anyway, that's them navigating the tension between wanting to seem mature and still loving something playful, reassure them that's not a contradiction at all.

If they say they don't remember any, that's okay, you can describe one you remember them loving and see if it sparks something.

What this tells you

This shows you that your child's inner world still has room for wonder even as they push toward feeling older.