Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Who is someone who always makes you feel welcome, no matter what?”

What to listen for

If they name someone specific and can describe what that person does that makes them feel that way, they're building a clear sense of what real welcome feels like, which becomes the standard they'll look for in future relationships.

If they hesitate to name anyone outside the family, ask if that person could be someone at home, sometimes the answer is closer than they think to say out loud.

If they say "I don't know," ask about the last time they walked into a room and felt instantly at ease.

What this tells you

Their answer shows you who's actually giving them the feeling of belonging they need, which may or may not be who you'd expect.