Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Was there ever something you quit, and then later decided to try again?”
What to listen for
If they can tell that story with some pride, it shows they're starting to understand that quitting once doesn't mean failing forever, that's a big, quiet confidence builder at this age.
Listen for what made them go back, was it their own decision, or did someone push them? Their own decision means they're developing real internal motivation, which is worth naming out loud to them.
If they haven't had that experience yet, ask what might make them go back to something they quit, the answer shows what actually motivates them to keep going.
What this tells you
This shows whether they're building the belief that they can recover from giving up, rather than seeing quitting as final.