Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“What's a physical trick or move you're trying to get good at right now?”
What to listen for
If they describe something specific and show real determination, even through failed attempts, they're building confidence in their own body and effort, they need you to notice the trying, not just the landing.
If they seem embarrassed or say they've given up on it, they might need permission to be bad at something in front of people without it meaning anything about them.
If they say "I don't know," ask about something physical they've done recently, a bike trick, a dance move, a sports skill, to jog it loose.
What this tells you
Their answer reveals how comfortable they are being a beginner at something in front of others.