A Question Many Adults Struggle to Answer
How do you explain love to a child? It is a simple question, yet one that often leaves adults unsure where to begin. Love can feel abstract, emotional, and difficult to define. What Is This Thing That Is Called Love by Linda Suda offers a thoughtful answer by using music and storytelling to explore love in ways children can understand and relate to.
Love Shown Through Everyday Experiences
Rather than defining love with rules or lessons, this children’s opera shows love through situations children already know. Friendship, caring for animals, enjoying work, helping others, and feeling connected to nature are all presented as forms of love. This approach helps children see that love is not just about romance. It is something they experience in daily life through actions and relationships.
Curious Characters Ask the Big Questions
One of the most effective elements of What Is This Thing That Is Called Love is the use of curious visitors who are trying to understand human emotions. These characters ask honest questions that mirror the thoughts children may already have. By watching others explore the meaning of love, young audiences feel comfortable thinking about their own feelings without pressure.
Music Helps Feelings Make Sense
Music plays a central role in helping children understand emotions. Songs give structure to feelings that might otherwise feel confusing. Melody and repetition help ideas settle in gently. When children hear or sing about love through music, the message feels calm and reassuring. Music allows emotions to be expressed safely, without needing to explain everything in words.
Theatre Encourages Open Expression
Theatre adds movement and expression to the story. Through acting and performance, children see how emotions are shown through voice and body language. It helps them recognize feelings in others and in themselves. Watching characters express care, kindness, and concern makes these ideas feel real and approachable.
A Safe Space for Conversation
What Is This Thing That Is Called Love by Linda Suda creates space for discussion rather than giving final answers. The story invites children to think, listen, and share their thoughts. Teachers, parents, and caregivers can use the opera as a starting point for meaningful conversations. Because the story is gentle and inclusive, children feel safe asking questions and expressing ideas.
Learning Together Through Performance
As a group performance, the opera encourages teamwork and shared experience. Children learn that emotions are something everyone navigates together. Singing and performing as a group reinforces connection and empathy. This shared effort helps children understand that love is built through cooperation, respect, and understanding.
A Thoughtful Way to Talk About Love
Explaining love to children does not require complicated explanations. Sometimes, showing is more effective than telling. What Is This Thing That Is Called Love offers a clear and caring way to explore emotions through music and storytelling.
For families, educators, and schools looking for a meaningful resource to support emotional learning, this book is well worth reading and sharing with children.
Amazon Book Link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLTQZTLD/
