Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“How do you actually feel about your nickname, do you like it, or does it kind of bug you?”
What to listen for
A clear, comfortable answer either way shows they've settled into how they want to be seen and named by the people around them.
If they admit the nickname bugs them but they've never said so, that's an important moment, it tells you they've been quietly tolerating something for the sake of not making a fuss, which is worth changing right away.
If they love it, ask what they like about it, sometimes it's tied to a memory or a person that matters more than the name itself.
What this tells you
This shows you whether your child feels like they have a real say in how they're known and referred to.