Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Who's a friend you made somewhere you really didn't expect to make one?”
What to listen for
Stories like this often reveal a kid who's more open and curious about people than they get credit for, noticing that connections can come from anywhere is a healthy, flexible way to see the world.
Listen for how they describe the moment they connected, a shared laugh, a shared interest, helping each other, since that detail shows what actually draws them to people.
If they say all their friends came from predictable places (school, family friends), that's fine too, you might ask if there's anywhere they wish they could meet new people.
What this tells you
This shows how open they are to connection outside their usual, expected circles.