Family and Relationships

• Who is in your family, and what makes your family unique? Opens discussion about family identity, structure, and belonging. Useful for understanding the child's relational context and attachment experiences.Example: A child might say, 'I live with my mom and my grandma, and we're unique because we all love cooking together on Sunday mornings.'
• How does your family show they care about each other? Explores love languages and relational patterns within the family system. Can reveal both strengths and unmet relational needs.Example: A child might share, 'My dad always packs a note in my lunchbox,' or 'My sister helps me with homework even when she's busy.'
• Do you have friends who feel like family? What makes them special? Assesses the quality of peer relationships and the child's ability to form close bonds outside the family unit.Example: A child might say, 'My friend Jayden feels like a brother because we look out for each other at school and he always makes me laugh when I'm upset.'
• What is a favorite tradition or memory you share with someone close to you? Encourages positive reminiscence, which is associated with greater relationship satisfaction and emotional well-being (Bryant & Veroff, 2021).Example: A child might share, 'Every year on my birthday, my grandpa and I go fishing at the lake -- it's our special thing.'

Feelings and Emotions

• Name three things that make you feel happy. What do they have in common? Builds emotional vocabulary and helps identify themes in positive emotional triggers, which supports behavioral activation strategies.Example: A child might list playing soccer, building with LEGOs, and drawing, then realize they all involve creating or doing something active with their hands.
• What does your body feel like when you are worried or nervous? Develops interoceptive awareness, a key skill in anxiety management. Children who can detect early physical signals of anxiety are better able to use coping strategies proactively (Craske et al., 2022).Example: A child might say, 'My stomach gets all twisty and my hands feel sweaty before a test at school.'
• How do you usually act when you feel angry? What helps you calm down? Assesses current anger regulation strategies and opens discussion about adaptive versus maladaptive responses.Example: A child might say, 'When I'm mad I usually want to yell, but I've been trying to take deep breaths or go to my room and squeeze my pillow instead.'
• How can you tell when someone else is feeling upset, even if they don't say so? Targets perspective-taking and empathy skills. Recognizing nonverbal emotional cues is foundational to social competence (Eisenberg et al., 2020).Example: A child might notice, 'My friend gets really quiet and looks down at the floor when something is bothering her, even if she says she's fine.'
• What helps you feel better when you are sad? Identifies the child's existing coping repertoire and provides material for building a personalized coping plan.Example: A child might say, 'I like to cuddle with my dog or listen to music in my room -- it helps me feel calm again.'

Interests and the World Around You

• What is your favorite time of year, and why? A low-stakes conversation starter that helps the child practice sharing opinions and providing reasons, building expressive language skills.Example: A child might say, 'I love fall because the leaves change colors, it's not too hot, and Halloween is my favorite holiday.'
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do? Encourages imagination and future-oriented thinking while revealing interests and aspirations.Example: A child might say, 'I'd go to Japan because I want to see the cherry blossoms and try real ramen.'
• What are your favorite things to do outside or with friends? Assesses social engagement and physical activity levels. Low engagement may indicate withdrawal, exclusion, or anhedonia.Example: A child might say, 'I like riding bikes with my neighbor or playing tag at recess with my friends.'
• If you could invent something new, what would it be and how would it help people? Promotes creative thinking and prosocial reasoning. The framing around helping others encourages empathic perspective-taking.Example: A child might say, 'I'd invent a backpack that floats so kids don't have to carry heavy books and their backs won't hurt.'

Kindness and Connection Activities

1. Do a random act of kindness for someone today Prosocial behavior increases positive affect in both the giver and receiver and strengthens social bonds (Layous et al., 2022).Example: Hold the door open for someone, help a classmate pick up dropped papers, or leave a kind sticky note on a family member's mirror.
2. Say something kind or encouraging to someone you care about Practicing verbal appreciation builds communication skills and reinforces positive relationship patterns.Example: Tell a friend, 'You did a great job on your presentation today,' or say to a sibling, 'I'm really glad you're my brother.'
3. Share a talent, skill, or interesting fact about yourself with someone new Self-disclosure at an appropriate level is a key social skill that deepens conversations and builds trust (Collins & Miller, 2020).Example: A child might tell a new classmate, 'I can do a really cool card trick -- want to see?' as a way to start a conversation.
4. Write or draw a message for a friend or family member Expressive writing and art activities support emotional processing and can strengthen relationships, especially for children who find verbal expression challenging.Example: Draw a picture of something fun you did together, or write a short note like, 'Thanks for always being there for me.'