Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Has laughing with someone ever turned a genuinely bad day into a good one? Tell me about it.”

What to listen for

If they can point to a specific person, that person is likely someone who makes them feel safe enough to be fully themselves, which matters more than any single funny moment. Notice if it's a parent, sibling, or friend, knowing who currently plays that role for them tells you a lot about where their sense of relief comes from.

If they describe the 'bad day' too, listen gently for what made it bad in the first place, sometimes this question opens a side door into something they hadn't planned on sharing.

If they can't think of an example, ask about the last time they really laughed at all, no matter the context.

What this tells you

This shows you who currently has the power to lift their mood, which tells you where a big piece of their emotional support is coming from.