Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Was there ever a moment you realized you could actually trust your own judgment about something?”

What to listen for

If they can name a clear moment, that's a wonderful sign of a growing, confident sense of self, they're starting to trust their own read on people and situations, not just relying on being told what to think.

Listen for whether the moment involved going against someone else's opinion (a friend, an adult), trusting themselves despite outside pressure is an especially strong marker of real inner confidence.

If nothing comes to mind, ask about a recent decision where they went with their gut, even a small one still counts and still shows the same instinct at work.

What this tells you

This shows how much confidence they're building in their own instincts and judgment, separate from what others think.