Seeing THE LITTLE PRINCE Through My Three-Year-Old’s Eyes
Seeing THE LITTLE PRINCE Through My Three-Year-Old’s Eyes
Reflections from Reba Askari, the Theatre Artistic Director of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine — and a mother of a 3-year-old.
I recently watched a dress rehearsal of THE LITTLE PRINCE with my three-year-old daughter curled beside me. I’ve read and loved this story for years but sitting with her made me experience it in an entirely new way.
The Little Prince (Tyler Costigan) and the Rose (Genevieve Breitbach).
I was struck by how deeply she entered the emotional landscape of the story. We often talk about THE LITTLE PRINCE as a philosophical work. The play at CMTM stays true to the original story, and does not shy away from depth, truth, loss, love...and my three-year-old? She was along for the ride!
She was hooked right from the beginning, looking at the drawings of the elephant getting eaten by a boa constrictor with sweet curiosity, watching the ensemble of actors build a plane with their arms and crash it. But she really locked in when the rose appeared. Something about the costume and the high drama, the familiar language of longing and love-- it pulled her right in. She felt the Rose’s vulnerability instantly. “I understand her,” she said. “I want to talk to her and make her feel better.” Later, “Mama,” she whispered, “She’s cold! I’ll give her my jacket! Can I give her my jacket?”
When the Little Prince found himself far from the Rose he loves, she quietly declared, “I could be his flower.”
THE LITTLE PRINCE trusts the innate wisdom of children. The story acknowledges that children move through the world with curiosity and clarity, often understanding truths that adults overlook.
Watching the play with her made me think about our everyday mornings—the meltdowns over wearing shoes or pants, the fierce emotional logic that feels so big inside a small body. The Prince’s longing for his Rose mirrors that single, urgent, focused need that young children can feel. It asks us, as adults, to honor a child’s vantage point rather than dismiss it.
The cast of THE LITTLE PRINCE.
This play is truly a meditation on parenting.
“It is such a secret place,” Saint-Exupéry writes, “the land of tears.”
Childhood is brief, and its emotional world is tender and intense. How do we meet children where they are? How do we connect with them in moments when everything feels so fragile and fleeting?
And then there’s the ending—the Little Prince “going home.” Children take this at face value. He’s going to see his Rose! As adults, we understand the deeper layers: change, loss, transition, grief. The play offers a gentle way to talk about these big topics while grounding them in love and connection.
It feels especially poignant during the holiday season—a time when families gather, memories are made, and we’re reminded again that “what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
At its heart, THE LITTLE PRINCE invites us to understand what truly matters. And in watching my daughter watch this story, I was reminded that children often know the answer long before we do.
Discussion Prompts for Families — for after you see the show!
Puppet design by Elliot Nye.
“Which character did you feel closest to, and why?”
This helps kids name emotions and discuss empathy.“The Rose sometimes acted proud, but she was really scared and lonely. Have you ever felt two feelings at the same time?”
This supports emotional literacy and the idea that behavior often hides deeper feelings.“The Little Prince loves his Rose even though she isn’t perfect. What does it mean to care for someone?”
A gentle way to talk about love and relationships.“When the Prince travels, he learns something from every planet he visits. What lesson do you think was most important?”
Encourages the value of curiosity.“The Fox teaches the Prince about friendship. What do you think makes a good friend?”
Helps kids to interpret the Fox’s famous line about ‘taming’ and connection.“The story talks about seeing with your heart, not just your eyes. What do you think that means?”
An entry point for discussing intuition, kindness, and paying attention to what’s invisible but important.“At the end, the Prince goes home to his Rose. How did that make you feel? What do you think ‘home’ means to him?”
Gives children space to express emotions around change, parting, and belonging.“Was there a moment in the play that reminded you of something in your life?”
Builds personal connection and helps them process big ideas through familiar experiences.