Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“What's a job you think would actually be really fun that most people never even think about?”

What to listen for

A creative, specific answer shows they're thinking beyond the usual 'doctor, teacher, athlete' script and trusting their own curiosity about what could be interesting work.

If they get animated explaining why it'd be fun, that enthusiasm is worth mirroring back, it tells you what kind of work (hands-on, social, quiet, creative) actually appeals to them at a gut level.

If they default to a common answer, ask what they'd pick if that job didn't exist, sometimes the more surprising answer is one step behind the first one.

What this tells you

This shows you what kind of work would actually feel meaningful to your child, beyond the obvious options.