Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“What makes you feel the most alive, like really, fully switched on?”
What to listen for
Whatever they name, a sport, a performance, a specific place, being with certain people, points straight at what actually energizes them, which is worth protecting time for even when life gets busy.
Listen for whether the feeling comes from doing something or from being around someone; that distinction tells you whether activity or connection is currently the bigger source of their joy.
If they can't immediately think of anything, that's worth paying attention to gently, it might mean they need more novelty or excitement built into their days.
What this tells you
This points directly at what currently makes them feel most fully themselves and energized.