Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old
The prompt
“What's your favorite way to spend a totally rainy, stuck-inside afternoon?”
What to listen for
A quick, specific answer shows they know how to keep themselves content without needing constant entertainment from you or a screen, a good, self-sufficient skill.
If the answer involves someone else in the house, that tells you being stuck inside still feels best when shared, not just tolerated, a nice thing to lean into more often.
If they say they'd just be bored, that's a fine, honest answer, not every kid has a ready-made rainy day ritual, and you could build one together.
What this tells you
This shows you what genuinely comforts and occupies your child when the world outside isn't an option.