Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Was there a time you told the truth even though you knew it was going to be hard?”
What to listen for
If they tell the story with some pride, that means being honest with you has actually paid off for them before, a huge, quiet win for your relationship.
If they describe how scared they were beforehand but did it anyway, name that courage specifically, kids often don't realize that honesty under pressure is its own kind of bravery.
If they can't think of a time, that's okay, ask what would make it easier to tell you something hard, which gives you useful information without putting them on the spot.
What this tells you
This shows you whether your child has learned that telling you the truth, even when it's hard, is worth it.