Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“If you could have any pet in the future, no limits at all, what would you pick and why?”
What to listen for
If they describe a whole imagined life with this pet, a name, a personality, a routine, that's their inner world showing itself freely, and they need genuine curiosity from you, not just a quick laugh and moving on.
If they pick something practical like a dog, that still counts; ask what kind of relationship they picture having with it.
If they say "I don't know," offer a silly option yourself first to loosen things up.
What this tells you
This shows you a piece of the private, imaginative world they're building when they're not performing for anyone.