What Children Know About Love That We Often Forget
Learning from children, unlearning as adults.
Among the many things we love discussing with children are simple yet profound life questions.
What is your life lesson?
What is important to you as a person?
What problems in the world would you like to solve?
If you could ask a question to God, what would it be?
Oftentimes, we are left in wonder at the simplicity of their responses. Their answers never navigate the lanes of diplomacy or shake hands with bias. They don’t take sides—because, in their world, everyone is on the same team.
In December 2021, we found ourselves in the village of Babati, Tanzania, engaging with primary school students through playful activities designed to nurture critical skills like reflection, curiosity, and thoughtful questioning.
During one of our sessions, we asked them a question: What is love? Their responses reflected the depth of their observations, the range of their emotions, and the richness of their inner wisdom.
Love is all about giving hope to others, consistently. – Debora Deogratias, 13
True love is to help people without making them feel isolated. – Rehema Joseph, 13
Love is the lens through which one can feel seen. – Genovefa Philpo, 12
Love is the condition in which you love yourself and accept the love of the people for you. Otherwise, you don't know your value and the value of those around you. – Esta Nicodemi, 12
There are two kinds of love: Accountability and Equality. Without having either, no relationship is complete. – Deboara Michaeli Miako, 13
Each of their answers left us in awe. Children carry profound wisdom—one we often overlook. After all, wisdom is usually thought of as something that comes with age, something reserved for those who have endured life’s hardships or spent years in deep reflection. We picture a wise person as someone weathered by time, not a child playing in the afternoon sun.
But children are always watching, listening, and making sense of the world in their own way. Their experiences, though different from ours, are no less rich. Maybe it’s time we paid closer attention.
Let this be a gentle nudge to borrow from their wisdom. Sit with them. Reflect together. Tell them what’s on your mind. You might be surprised by what they have to say. By sharing thoughts and questions, adults learn to unlearn, children grow in confidence, and together, they find new ways to navigate life with curiosity, kindness, and wonder.
If there is a child that you know and whose wisdom you would like to share, please share their lesson here!
May we all listen a little closer,
Team FUEL.