Each person names three things from the day that were good — the smaller and more specific, the better. The parent goes first with something real and ordinary; the child follows. No comments on each other's list, no ranking, just naming. The ritual takes five minutes and closes the day on something true rather than on friction or tiredness.

How to do it

1"Three things from today that were okay or good. I'll go first." Lights low, child in bed.
2Make yours specific and ordinary — not 'you made me proud,' but 'I had good coffee and the rain was nice.'
3Child's turn. Three things. You listen without adding anything.
4End it: 'Good. That was today.' Then let silence do the rest.

Variations

If they say "I can't think of any": don't wait them out — go again yourself with something smaller and more specific, then leave space. No pressure to produce three on command.
"Good. That was today" plus silence is the whole ending — resist adding anything else once you've said it.

💡 Parent tip

Keep your own examples real, not relentlessly positive. 'My three things: coffee this morning, the meeting was shorter than I expected, dinner.' Ordinary things are more credible than highlights. This is a closing ritual that builds over repeated nights — if they're actively upset right now, use a physical reset like the Squeeze Hug or Blanket Press instead.

What your child develops

Positive memory consolidation — sleep consolidates what was reviewed just before it; ending on good material shapes what gets processed
Gratitude as practice — a daily structure for noticing positive things builds the habit without requiring the word 'gratitude'
Shared ritual — parent disclosure ('my three things') builds connection through reciprocity, not just instruction