Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Is there something you're good at that took a long time before you even noticed it yourself?”

What to listen for

If they can name it and describe the moment it clicked that they were actually good at it, that's a sign they're learning to trust their own read on themselves rather than only waiting for outside praise.

If they can't think of one but others clearly see a talent in them, gently name what you've noticed and ask if that surprises them.

If they say "I don't know," ask what a friend or teacher has said they're good at, and see if that rings true to them.

What this tells you

Their answer shows whether their self-image is catching up with reality, or still lagging behind what others already see.