Tonight with your 9 to 12 year old

The prompt

“Has there been a time staying loyal to a friend cost you something, even a little?”

What to listen for

If they describe sticking by someone despite the cost, they're forming a real sense of what loyalty means to them, not just repeating a rule, that's values taking root.

If they say they're not sure or it's complicated, that's honest and worth exploring gently, since loyalty can genuinely be confusing when it clashes with what's fair or easy.

If they can't think of an example, ask about a friend instead of themselves, sometimes it's easier to talk about someone else's loyalty first.

What this tells you

This shows you how they're defining loyalty for themselves and what they're willing to give up for people they care about.