Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“Is there a meal that just makes home feel like home to you?”
What to listen for
A quick, warm answer shows food is tied to real comfort and belonging for them, that meal is likely doing more emotional work than just being dinner.
If the meal connects to a specific memory or person, that's worth exploring further, the food itself might matter less than who's usually there when it's served.
If nothing comes to mind right away, that's a nice invitation to start building that tradition together rather than a gap to worry about.
What this tells you
This shows you what your child associates with the comfort and safety of home.