Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“What does a really good listener do that most people don't?”

What to listen for

If they can name specific behaviors, not interrupting, asking questions, remembering what you said last time, they're developing real insight into what makes them feel heard, which you can use to be that person for them more consistently.

If they describe someone specific who does this well, ask what it feels like to talk to that person, since the feeling matters more than the technique.

If they say "I don't know," ask them to think about the opposite, someone who's a bad listener, and work backward from there.

What this tells you

Their answer is essentially a guide for how to make them feel truly heard, straight from them.