Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“What actually makes a day feel like a good day to you?”

What to listen for

If their answer centers on people, low-key moments, or small wins rather than big events, that tells you what genuinely fills them up day to day, and they need more of exactly that, not necessarily bigger outings.

If their answer is entirely about getting things (screen time, treats, prizes), that's worth gently expanding on, ask what else was happening on the best day they can remember.

If they say "I don't know," ask them to describe yesterday and rate it, then ask what would have made it better.

What this tells you

Their answer is a direct list of the ingredients that actually make them feel good, which is worth remembering and repeating.