Why Friendship Must Be Valued and Nurtured

Friendship is one of the most important forms of human connection. A true friend offers trust, encouragement, understanding, and companionship. Yet friendship does not remain strong without care. Like any meaningful relationship, it must be valued, protected, and nurtured over time.

Children often form friendships naturally through school, play, shared interests, and daily experiences. These early relationships help them learn how to listen, cooperate, forgive, and support others. Friendship teaches that people do not always think or behave in the same way, but they can still respect one another and build a strong bond.

Trust is at the heart of every lasting friendship. Children need to know that a friend will keep a promise, offer help, and remain kind during difficult moments. Trust grows through consistent actions. It can be strengthened by honesty and damaged by careless words, exclusion, or broken promises. Teaching children to understand this helps them become more thoughtful in the way they treat others.

Friendship also requires attention. It is easy to assume that a close friend will always be there, but relationships can weaken when they are ignored. A simple conversation, shared activity, kind message, or thoughtful gesture can show someone that their presence matters. These small actions help a friendship remain strong.

Linda Suda’s children’s opera What Is This Thing That Is Called Love? explores friendship as one of the many ways love appears in everyday life. Visitors from another planet come to Earth in search of something missing from their highly advanced world. As they watch the performance, they discover that love is not limited to romance. It can be found in friendship, loyalty, compassion, work, care for animals, respect for nature, and concern for others.

Within the story, the characters explain that deep friendships are rare and must be cultivated. This message is especially valuable for children because it presents friendship as something active. A good relationship is not maintained by chance. It grows when people make time for one another, communicate honestly, and show care through their choices.

The opera also encourages children to accept differences. Friendship does not require people to look alike, speak alike, or share every opinion. It asks them to recognise the value within another person. This lesson can help children become more welcoming, patient, and open minded.

Through music, humour, dialogue, and performance, children can explore these ideas in a way that feels natural and memorable. They can see how misunderstandings arise, how trust is built, and why kindness matters.

What Is This Thing That Is Called Love? gives schools, families, and theatre groups an engaging way to discuss friendship and emotional growth. It reminds young audiences that genuine friendship is a gift, but it is also a responsibility. When friendship is valued and nurtured, it can bring comfort, confidence, and lasting joy.

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