This is a question parents rarely anticipate, unlike the question of how babies are born. Their love is so instinctive and natural that they don't necessarily think about teaching it to their children, who sometimes mistake their cousins for their "girlfriends" and develop little Oedipus complexes. Here are a few suggestions for approaching the subject openly and honestly.<\/p>\n
When children constantly ask "why," you expect every question except this one. Sometimes, in a burst of curiosity, your little ones will pose a tricky question and catch you completely off guard. When they ask , "What is love?"<\/em> , you're speechless, as if it were a completely new term. You're almost tempted to grab a dictionary or ask chatGPT for help.<\/p>\n How can you remain objective and neutral in your definition of love, a feeling that seems to you both so obvious and so indescribable? It's almost as tricky as explaining how babies are made. The cabbage and stork analogy doesn't work here. Love is a nuanced concept and can't be summed up in a single word. Which certainly doesn't help matters.<\/p>\n For a child, love is something they acquire but not always understand. It's a feeling, an experience, but rarely a clear concept. They feel they love their parents, their favorite toy, or their best friend, without necessarily understanding what differentiates these bonds. Love is ingrained in them; it simply hasn't reached "maturity." In fact, without realizing it, children demonstrate this every day: by cuddling their parents, by arranging a bouquet with flowers from the garden for their grandmother, by sharing their slice of homemade cake with their favorite friend.<\/p>\n That's why grand philosophical discourses are useless. It's better to start with concrete situations: "You know when you're happy to give a hug? That's a way of showing love."<\/em> Or: "When you care deeply about someone and want them to be happy, that's love."<\/em><\/p>\n Obviously, you're not going to launch into very detailed explanations with a toddler who can barely string five words together and has only just learned to read. A young child primarily needs simple and reassuring points of reference: love is what you feel in hugs, smiles, and shared moments.<\/p>\n Avoid hasty deductions and premature questions like "Is he your boyfriend?"<\/em> , which only confuse the child. Yes, their little brains can't take everything in at once. "You mustn't rush language, meaning don't project preconceived notions, don't say things like, 'He's in love, she's in love!' when the child is young and experiencing this incredible emotional<\/a> complexity,"<\/em> warns Sonia Chaine<\/a> , author of the children's book "Love, I Understand Everything."<\/p>\n As your child grows, you can delve deeper into the subject and refine your teachings by exploring love in more detail. This is when you explain to your child that they cannot love their sister the way the prince loves Cinderella, or the way Mom loves Dad. If you feel uneasy about this topic, visit the library, which is full of insightful and illustrated books on the subject. One such book is "Histoire pour Mieux Aimer" (Stories to Love Better), which is a skillful and accessible explanation of the 5 love languages.<\/p>\n Unlike the mysterious origin of babies, which requires only a single, definitive explanation, love is so multifaceted that it unfolds in several chapters, from the most innocent to the most mature. A child might say , "I'm in love with Mommy"<\/em> or "I'm going to marry my classmate."<\/em> And that's perfectly normal. Rather than harshly correcting them, it's better to use words and gentle guidance<\/a> . "What you're feeling is a very strong love, but it's not the same as the love between two lovers."<\/em><\/p>\n Distinguishing between familial, friendly, and romantic love helps avoid confusion while validating a child's emotions. We don't deny what they feel, we simply help them understand it. This way, the child knows they cannot flirt with their teacher or charm a family member.<\/p>\n As you probably know, children learn by imitation. They absorb real images more easily than words. They are also keen observers. If your child has seen you stick your tongue out twice while doing a crossword puzzle, they'll likely copy the gesture. It's the same with love and how you demonstrate it in your daily life. The way you express affection, manage conflicts, or show respect is a true silent lesson.<\/p>\n The idea isn't to put on a show, or to reenact "Love Actually" in your living room, but rather to reflect before acting and, above all, to remember the presence of these spectators, who are ultimately just your "duplicates." A tender gesture, attentive listening, a peaceful argument\u2026 all of this shapes their vision of love. They understand, without us needing to say it, that love isn't limited to words but is lived every day.<\/p>\n Even though love is built through experiences and remains "innocent" until adolescence, it is also shaped through parents and the insight they provide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is a question parents rarely anticipate, unlike the question of how babies are born. Their love is...","protected":false},"author":8340,"featured_media":437072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-437069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vie-de-maman"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/expliquer-amour-enfant-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/expliquer-amour-enfant-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/expliquer-amour-enfant.jpg","author":{"name":"\u00c9milie Laurent","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/cropped-2f5d8c00d5d5c27f8ce4d9b3f9015467-96x96.png"},"categories":[{"term_id":6139,"name":"Parenting","slug":"vie-de-maman","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6311,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n Keep exploring: all our psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","parent":6138,"count":705,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6139,"category_count":705,"category_description":" The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n Keep exploring: all our psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","cat_name":"Parenting","category_nicename":"vie-de-maman","category_parent":6138}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=437069"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":437320,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437069\/revisions\/437320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=437069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=437069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=437069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} Adapt the explanations according to the child's age.<\/h2>\n
Name the different types of love without mixing them up<\/h2>\n
Set a good example every day without any drama.<\/h2>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n
Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n
Where to start<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n
What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n
How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n
Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n
Where to start<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n
What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n
How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n