Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Tell me about a time you said something even though it felt risky to speak up.”
What to listen for
If they can describe the moment clearly, what they said, how their stomach felt, they're showing you they already know what it costs to use their voice, and they need you to notice that courage out loud.
If the story ends badly, like nobody listened or they got in trouble for it, be careful not to rush to fix it; what they need most right now is to hear that speaking up was still the right call, even when it didn't go smoothly.
If they can't think of a time, ask about a moment they wanted to say something but didn't, that near-miss is just as telling.
What this tells you
This shows you how safe they currently feel using their voice when it actually matters.