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Kids Can...

Protect the Environment!

...Being a living part of the Earth, we cannot harm any part of her without also harming ourselves

We must all see ourselves as part of this Earth, not as an enemy from the outside who tries to impose his will on it.

-- Lame Deer,
Native American healer & teacher

Welcome to the Earth's Kids Environmental Activism page! This is the place to learn more about our environment and it's various habitats. This is also where you can learn how to take action to make the world a better place for all the creatures we share this Earth with!

When the first astronauts traveled out into space they were struck by an amazing vision: planet Earth, sitting like a blue and green jewel in the blackness of space. An extraordinary place of life, and the only planet we know of that definitely has life, and in such abundance.

And the more scientists learn about life on Earth, the more they realize that that connect, each to the other. Food webs, climate cycles, ocean currents, animal migrations, carbon/oxygen exchange and so on. Earth is wrapped in a delicate web of environmental systems

We are now aware that changes in any one of these systems can have a huge impact.

Similarly, other changes underway, such as human beings cutting down forests to harvest wood and clear new farmland destroys wild animal habitats, and in many cases the animals themselves. It even drives many native peoples from the land. It often creates top soil erosion and destroys the forest watershed that provides clean drinking water to cities downstream. And it slows the exchange of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Which in turn causes global temperatures to rise.

Too much carbon dioxide leads to temperature changes... which leads to krill die offs in the ocean.. which leads to the decline of fish populations that feed on krill...which leads to the ocean birds and mammals (penguins, whales, seals, etc.) that feed on fish struggling for food -- competing even more with human beings who are also finding the supply of fish dropping to dangerous lows. So low that not enough baby fish will be born and grow to maturity to supply the creatures that depend on them.

Hopefully that wouldn't be the case. Certainly planet Earth has been through some pretty major changes over the millenniums and although many species of creatures have become extinct, life on Earth has continued on, in some form or another. And new species always develop and multiply. So far at least. But as scientists look to some of the other worlds in our solar system, including moons of some of the larger planets, they wonder: did life thrive there once upon a time... until some terrible change or error happened that threw the delicate balance too far off? Could this happen to our own planet? Could Scientists worry too that if all these systems get too off balance, nature may not be able to set things right again -- ever. we make this happen through careless harm to nature?

Even if changes that catastrophic could not happen-- that is, even if we could trust Earth to always find her balance again -- we know now that big enough changes are underway on our planet right now that we humans have to change our ways of doing things,,, if we don't want to be one of those species that goes extinct. Or, at the very least, if we want to cope effectively with the changes in weather patterns, crop growth, rainfall, pollution levels, global warming, and the depletion of our fisheries. So that we have enough food and water, clean air to breathe, and safe places to live.

But if it all seems overwhelming, consider this: right now we have more technological know how than we have ever had before. And we have more ability for scientists, inventors, activists, and world leaders to communicate with one another, all over the world, than ever before. We are able to spread the word about problems, share ideas, work together, pressure our leaders for change more effectively than any other generation in history.

Yes, the problem is big. But the group we have assembled to work on it is big too. And guess what? YOU are part of that group. You, your friends and family, even your teachers and kids at school. So do your part. Learn. Spread the word. Email your government leaders. Share your ideas and your concerns. Together we can make it happen. One step at a time.

Take Action To Help the Environment!

Oceans & Marine Life

Learn more about fish, whales, coral reefs, seals, dolphins and other creatures - and what you can do to help preserve our fisheries and keep our oceans healthy.

Global Warming

What's going on with Climate Change, and what we can all do. Learn more about this critical environmental issue. Contains a summary, recent news, common myths and how to debunk them, useful articles, plus links for teachers, kids, and anyone else willing to learn more. Find out how to email the President!

Kids Can Help the Animals!

Take action for the animals, learn how!

Making Every Day Earth Day

Lots of ideas for simple and easy ways to make a more positive impact on the Earth!

Walking In Their Footsteps...

Will human beings and many other species on Earth go the way of the dinosaurs (that is, become extinct)? Not if we make some necessary changes! Find out what you can do to help!

Volunteer In Your Community

There's plenty you can do to help right in your own community!

Use the Power of Information Technology .

Learn what you can do to spread the word about critical problems -- and their solutions!

The Endangered Species Program
Sponsored by the US Fish & Wildlife Service

This is the place to get the straight skinny on just what qualifies an animal to be on the endangered species list, which animals are already on the list, and what is being done to help them. Great source for news about the challenges and progress going on in the Fish & Wildlife Service.

Be sure to check out their information for kids and for teachers.

As a side note, did you know you can even volunteer your time at your local wildlife preserve? If they don't have any other jobs open right now, I'll bet they can always use help getting their newsletters and other materials folded and mailed. (One Earth's Kids junior staff member volunteers her time with the Fish & Wildlife Service on a regular basis. They are nice people and helping them help the animals always puts a smile on her face.)

National Wildlife Federation

The quickest way to take action for the environment. This site features news in the world of wildlife conservation and environmental issues, and highlights specific actions you can take -- right now -- to help with wetlands preservation, ending government funded harm to the environment, and urging government to take positive action on behalf of wildlife. Be sure to check out their including their excellent cool stuff for kids action tips. (Be sure to check out Garden for Wildlife.

World Wildlife Fund for Nature

Another top level site with news about events going on around the globe that impact the future of our natural world. It also features great information on how you can help -- through campaigns, wise shopping, donations, and educating others. And if you needed one more reason to visit their site, their url is wwf.panda.org!

Green Squad

The Green Squad teaches kids about the relationship between their schools and environmental and health issues. The site is designed primarily for students in fifth through eighth grade, but also offers information for younger and older students as well as parents and teachers.

The Green Squad is a project of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council

Kids F.A.C.E.

The Kids For A Clean Environment homepage. Learn all about this take-action environmental group that was started by a 9 year old girl.... and now numbers more than 300,000 members! Fill out the on-line membership application and receive information about what YOU can do. While your there, you can read the latest Kids F.A.C.E. News.

Roots & Shoots Sponsored by the Jane Goodall institute

The mission of this program is "to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for the environment, animals and the human community. All Roots & Shoots members, from pre-K to university, demonstrate their care and concern for living things through service projects in their communities."

For more information about how you can get involved, visit their web page, read up on what Roots & Shoots are doing in your area or how you can help start a local chapter yourself. There are also ideas for things that you can do all on your own such as to grown native plants, build bird houses, and pick up trash.

Defend It!

Part of KidsPlanet.Org, this page has great ideas for helping wildlife! Learn about writing letters, fundraising and more! From Defenders of Wildlife. Be sure to visit their Wild Life Action Center for importantnews and current actions and campaigns!

Support Sustaiable Farming

Through Heifer International you can actually help people around the world stop and even reverse deforestation by donating money for HI to give them trees and seedlings.

Tree People

Find out how one caring, determined kid decided to stop the destruction of trees caused by Los Angeles pollution. The organization he began, now called Tree People, has planted over 2 million tree in Southern California. Find out how you can help!

Food Web Links

The Web of Life

A great online illustrated story for kids. Read one page at a time -- remember to click the "Next" at the top of each page to read the next story.

Antarctic Whales -- Food Chain

Baleen whales, leopard seals, penguins, phytoplankton -- see how it all fits together.

Food Chains & Webs

Take a look at the energy pyramid. See how food chains work in different biomes. Plus... create your own food web!

Chain Reaction

Play the food chain game! Learn about bioaccumulation.

The Living Sea -- Predator and Prey

A fun activity to help kids see the connections that make up an ocean food web.

TOP

Changing Food Webs

In any ecosystem, there are many different life forms that depend on each other. For example, in a forest, the deer and the rabbits eat the grasses and other plants (which depend on water, sunlight, good soil). Wolves or other large predators prey upon the deer and rabbits. And scavenger animals and certain insects feed upon the remains.

Meanwhile the plants depend on the predators to keep the number of plant eating animals from growing too large (and thereby eating up the plant material faster than it can grow and replace itself). The droppings (poop) of both predators and plant eaters nourish the soil on which the plants depend. And the urine of of these animals is a source of important nutrients for certain insects, such as butterflies.

When we disrupt an ecosystem (forest, pond, grasslands, desert, ocean, etc.), we disrupt the food webs that various creatures depend on to live. Pollution, habitat destruction (cutting down trees, building houses, etc.), and over-fishing are all examples of actions that disrupt ecosystems and food webs. The results of such disruption can be extinction -- amazing plants and animals disappear. When they go, they take part of the wonder and majesty of our world with them. The complexity and beauty of Earth is diminished.

We have no way of knowing how much diversity can be eliminated (how many kinds of creatures can be destroyed) before the living world is in danger of disappearing forever.

But scientists do know that there have been times when great changes have occurred upon the Earth that have led to the destruction of vast numbers of species. The end of the Age of Dinosaurs was only one example of this cataclysmic destruction! There have actually been many others!

So we must wonder, if there had not been any tiny shrew like creatures at the end of the Dinosaur Age, what would the Earth be like today? This is an important question because scientists also tell us that it was from these small creatures that all the mammals alive on Earth today evolved -- including human beings!

What would the world be like today, if these small creatures had already gone extinct -- before the dinosaurs died out?

What small creatures exist today, that could some day change the entire future of life on Earth?

What's For Dinner? About Eating Low On The Food Chain...

Always remember that deciding what to eat is a very personal matter -- one that you should talk over with your family and your family's doctor. This is because taking care of your body is a very important responsibility -- one you will have for the rest of your life!

But there is another body that supports us all as we go through life, and that is the Earth herself. Because we want the Earth to be in good health, able to support us, it's important to think about how what we eat affects the environment of the Earth.

Currently, most of us with access to a computer also have access to a lot of meat. If you study food webs or food chains, you already know that eating meat is eating high on the food web energy system. In short, each animal we eat must itself eat a LOT of plant food to create and maintain the flesh that we eat as burgers, meat balls, hot dogs, lunch meat, and etc.

The Problem

You might be surprised to learn that, on modern factory farms, these "food" animals are actually being fed (plant) food that could be fed to humans. Lots of grain like corn and wheat as well as legumes (like soy beans) are fed to cows, pigs, and chickens. This is food that could have fed human beings -- a lot of them!

In fact, a lot more human beings could be well fed if we just fed the grain and legumes to humans -- instead of first feeding it to animals and then eating the animals. This is because each animal burns up a lot of the food energy in the grain and legumes (to fuel it's movement, breathing, and other life processes) before turning some of it into the meat that gets eaten.

In addition most people in the world can't even afford to buy this meat. Meat simply costs more money than plant food. This is because it costs a lot of money to feed, house, and care for the animal for the year or two before it is "harvested" for food. All this expense, plus the farmer or rancher's own need to earn a living, adds up to a big price tag. A price tag that many poor people, especially in third world countries, cannot afford.

Unfortunately, when a lot of plant food that could be eaten by humans is fed to animals, that plant food becomes more scarce and more valuable, and therefore more expensive! This means that plant food too becomes harder to afford. Which translates into hungry people.

( Learn more about the causes of world hunger and what can be done about it.)

The Solution

Now don't worry, no one's suggesting we starve the animals! Naturally we must continue to feed those animals we already have. However, if we could stop raising more and more animals every year -- and feeding more and more of the grain and legumes to them -- and instead feed the tons of extra corn, soy beans, and other foods to human beings.

We wouldn't even have to stop eating meat all together -- just cut back. This way, the plant food that the Earth can provide will go farther and be more easily capable of feeding all the children of the world. This means that poor children, in the U.S. and in other lands, will never face a time when there is not enough grain or beans to go around.

What's more, it means that right now people could stop burning down the rainforest to create new pastures to raise more and more herds of cattle (to provide more and more hamburgers and pot roasts). And leave the habitat intact for those animals who already live there.

Furthermore, if we did not need to grown so much extra food each year, to feed to growing numbers of farm animals, it would save our soil. Soil can actually get used up -- or more exactly, the minerals and other nutrients that plants depend on can get used up. This makes it so that plants do not grow, or if they do grow, they don't produce very large fruits, vegetables, or grain seeds.

For this reason, many farmers feel they have to use chemicals in order to get their plants to grow and to produce a big harvest. This would be fine except many of these chemical fertilizers produce harmful waste products.

Conclusion

Clearly, over-using the soil can lead to serious problems. Limiting the amount of food crops we must grow each year (by needing to feed fewer animals destined for the dinner table), means that...

Less of our existing farm land will become depleted due to over-use, making it able to continue being used for many generations to come.

Fewer harmful waste products (from fertilizers used on depleted land) will be seeping into our ground and water, poisoning wild life and people.

Nutritious plant food will be more available for human consumption, making it easier for the world's poor and starving to be fed.

By having more of our meals plant-food-based, rather than meat-based, each of us can do our part to limit damage to our farmlands, halt the destruction of natural habitats and the extinction of wildlife species, and to defuse food scarcity issues that help fuel world hunger.

Just by changing what we eat for dinner, we can have a profound impact on the environment.

Afterword...

Thank you for taking the time to read this article! We hope you'll think over what's been said here, gather more information, and talk it over with people you know.

Remember that each of us has the responsibility to educate ourselves and to use our best judgment. This applies not only to saving the environment however, but to taking care of our own bodies.

Please do not make a change to your diet (such as reducing or eliminating meat consumption) without first learning how to get all the protein and nutrients you need from plant food sources!

READ ALSO:

Dinosaurs -- Great info, links, books, and educational toys about these favorite prehistoric creatures.

-- Lots of links, books, and equipment to help kids learn astronomy, physics, chemistry, and more. E.K. Science

-- Learn how your body works, and how to keep it healthy!Your Body

Grow A Garden -- Learn important principles in Earth Science by preparing the soil, sprouting seeds, growing plants to bloom or fruition, and coping with pests.

Oceans & Marine Life

-- E.K. Zoological Science Wild Animals

Science News -- Today's top science headlines and news, plus online science magazines.

Web Stats

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Kids Can... Protect the Environment! ...Being a living part of the Earth, we cannot harm any part of her without also harming ourselves We must all see ourselves as part of this Earth, not as an enemy from the outside who tries to impose his will on it.

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BRIDGEWATER - Showing a little extra love and care for our planet on Earth Day, a group of over 50 volunteers from the Bridgewater Chinese American Association (BCAA) spent Sunday afternoon picking up garbage in Kids Street Park and Bridgewater municipal soccer field.

Equipped with large garbage bags, grabbers and gloves, 28 children and 23 parents from 20 families of Bridgewater worked in teams, walked their way back and forth in the park and sports field, grabbing anything that didn't fit with the natural scenery.
READ: Scientists, educators mark Earth Day with NJ March for Science READ: Middlesex students create recycled art for Earth Day READ: Gardener State: Arbor Day - Plantings on purpose
"We want to help the earth until it's like before us. And the only way to do it is step by step, bottle by bottle," said Sharon Lin, a fifth-grader at Eisenhower Intermediate School.

"I love Bridgewater and I want to do this to make it more beautiful!" said Victoria Wang, a second-grader from Van Holten School.

"My mom wants me here because she said it is important!" said 5-year-old Katie Cui.

BCAA President Henry Wang, whose team organized the event, said, "Kids are learning so much from this event. They get excited about nature and find that taking care of the environment is something all of us could do and should do. We all love Bridgewater and we want to build a better community together!"

He also thanked the Bridgewater Township Health Department's strong support.

All volunteers feel proud of participating in protecting, preserving our nature and creating a better and cleaner neighborhood. And the hope of the volunteers is that we all can become more environmentally aware and make every day Earth Day.

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Earth Day inspires families to clean up Bridgewater Kids Street Park

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BRIDGEWATER - Showing a little extra love and care for our planet on Earth Day, a group of over 50 volunteers from the Bridgewater Chinese American Association (BCAA) spent Sunday afternoon picking up garbage in Kids Street Park and Bridgewater municipal soccer field.

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Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again. Bullying often includes:

Teasing

Talking about hurting someone

Spreading rumors

Leaving kids out on purpose

Attacking someone by hitting them or yelling at them

Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails. It includes posting rumors on sites like Facebook, sharing embarrassing pictures or videos, and making fake profiles or websites.

Kids Who are Bullied

Kids who are bullied can feel like they are:

Kids who are bullied have a hard time standing up for themselves. They think the kid who bullies them is more powerful than they are. Bullying can make them:

Sad, lonely, or nervous

Feel sick

Have problems at school

Bully other kids

Kids Who Bully Others

Kids bully others for many reasons, they may:

Want to copy their friends

Think bullying will help them fit in

Think they are better than the kid they are bullying

Bullying is never ok. Those who bully use power to hurt people. Power does not always mean bigger or stronger. Power can also mean popular or smart. Or, the kid doing the bullying may know a secret about the kid being bullied.

Kids who bully can have other problems, too, even when they get older, like using alcohol and drugs, getting into fights, and dropping out of school.

Kids Who See Bullying

When kids see bullying, they may not know what to do. They may feel depressed or worried. They may be absent from school because they don't feel safe. They may join in or stay silent so they won't get bullied themselves. They may stand up to the bully. But the best thing to do is get an adult who will stop the bullying on the spot.

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Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again. Bullying often includes: Teasing Talking about hurting someone Spreading rumors Leaving kids out on purpose Attacking someone by hitting them or yelling at them Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails.

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What is a Bully?

Freddie and the Bully, Layla, age 6

T a k e B a c k t he P l a y g r o u n d !

A web page for kids who want to know a little more about what bullying really is and how we can stop it.

A bully is a person who purposely tries to hurt others by:

· Making them feel uncomfortable.
· Hurting them by kicking, hitting, pushing, tripping, etc.
· Name-calling.
· Spreading nasty rumors.

The bully hurts the other person over and over.

The person being bullied feels that he or she can do nothing to stop it:

· He or she might feel smaller or weaker than the bully.
· He or she might feel outnumbered by the bully and the bully's friends.
· He or she might feel there is no help:
· No one to talk to.
· No one is standing up for him or her.
· He or she often feels very sad, but does not know how to change the situation.

Bullies can be BOYS or GIRLS!!

Who do bullies pick on?

· Often, bullies are bigger kids, so they pick on:
· Kids they feel are smaller.
· Kids they think won't stand up to them.
· Kids that have few friends to stand up for them.

Why do bullies do what they do?

· Sometimes they think that they will win or get what they want.
· Sometimes they want to impress or entertain their friends.
· Sometimes they enjoy feeling power over someone because sometimes they are being bullied by someone else!
· Sometimes they do not even realize that they are hurting the other person.

What to do if someone is bullying you:

· Tell someone you trust about it. If it is easier for you, write that person a note instead!! (People you might want to tell are: parents, teachers, the principal, playground safeties, or older friends).
· If the person you told cannot help you or does not do anything, find someone else! Never keep being bullied a secret!
· Try not to let the bully see you are upset. (Bullies are looking for signs that you are upset and they may do it more).
· Avoid areas where the bully feels comfortable picking on you (for example, places where teachers cannot see you - such as corners of the playground, lonely corridors, and behind large furniture in the classroom.
· Try to surround yourself with friends and people who will stand up for you.

What to do if you see someone who is being bullied:

· Get friends together and TALK to the bully. Let the bullies in your school know that bullying is not accepted at your school.
· Don't cheer the bully on or stand around to watch. (The bully might like the attention, and pick on the kid even more).
· If you see someone being bullied, find someone to help stop it. (Get another friend, a teacher, a playground safety, a principal).
· Be nice to, include, and get to know the people who are being bullied: You may find they are similar to you!!
· Try to make friends with the bully too- show them other ways to interact with others. (They don't need to bully others to be accepted or cool).

What would you do?

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What is a Bully? Freddie and the Bully, Layla, age 6 T a k e B a c k t he P l a y g r o u n d ! A web page for kids who want to know a little more about what bullying really is and how we can stop it.

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Bullying is a big problem. It can make kids feel hurt, scared, sick, lonely, embarrassed, and sad. Bullies might hit, kick, or push to hurt people, or use words to call names, tease, or scare them.

A bully might say mean things about someone, grab a kid's stuff, make fun of someone, or leave a kid out of the group on purpose.

Some bullies threaten people or try to make them do things they don't want to do.

Bullying Is a Big Deal

Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. Most kids say they have been bullied or teased. Being bullied can make kids feel really bad, and the stress of dealing with it can make them feel sick.

Bullying can make kids not want to play outside or go to school. It's hard to keep your mind on schoolwork when you're worried about how you're going to deal with the bully near your locker.

Bullying bothers everyone - and not just the kids who are getting picked on. Bullying can make school a place of fear and can lead to violence and more stress for everyone.

Why Do Bullies Act That Way?

Some bullies are looking for attention. They might think bullying is a way to be popular or to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves feel more important. When they pick on someone else, it can make them feel big and powerful.

Some bullies come from families where everyone is angry and shouting all the time. They may think that being angry, calling names, and pushing people around is a normal way to act. Some bullies are copying what they've seen someone else do. Some have been bullied themselves.

Sometimes bullies know that what they're doing or saying hurts other people. But other bullies may not really know how hurtful their actions can be. Most bullies don't understand or care about the feelings of others.

Bullies often pick on someone they think they can have power over. They might pick on kids who get upset easily or who have trouble sticking up for themselves. Getting a big reaction out of someone can make bullies feel like they have the power they want. Sometimes bullies pick on someone who is smarter than they are or different from them in some way. Sometimes bullies just pick on a kid for no reason at all.

Bullying: How to Handle It

So now you know that bullying is a big problem that affects a lot of kids, but what do you do if someone is bullying you? Our advice falls into two categories: preventing a run-in with the bully, and what to do if you end up face-to-face with the bully.

Preventing a Run-In With a Bully

Don't give the bully a chance. As much as you can, avoid the bully. You can't go into hiding or skip class, of course. But if you can take a different route and avoid the mean kid, do so.

Stand tall and be brave. When you're scared of another person, you're probably not feeling your bravest. But sometimes just acting brave is enough to stop a bully. How does a brave person look and act? Stand tall and you'll send the message: "Don't mess with me." It's easier to feel brave when you feel good about yourself. See the next tip!

Feel good about you. Nobody's perfect, but what can you do to look and feel your best? Maybe you'd like to be more fit. If so, maybe you'll decide to get more exercise, watch less TV, and eat healthier snacks. Or maybe you feel you look best when you shower in the morning before school. If so, you could decide to get up a little earlier so you can be clean and refreshed for the school day.

Get a buddy (and be a buddy). Two is better than one if you're trying to avoid being bullied. Make a plan to walk with a friend or two on the way to school, recess, lunch, or wherever you think you might meet the bully. Offer to do the same if a friend is having bully trouble. Get involved if you see bullying going on in your school - tell an adult, stick up for the kid being bullied, and tell the bully to stop.

If The Bully Says or Does Something to You

Ignore the bully. If you can, try your best to ignore the bully's threats. Pretend you don't hear them and walk away quickly to a place of safety. Bullies want a big reaction to their teasing and meanness. Acting as if you don't notice and don't care is like giving no reaction at all, and this just might stop a bully's behavior.

Stand up for yourself. Pretend to feel really brave and confident. Tell the bully "No! Stop it!" in a loud voice. Then walk away, or run if you have to. Kids also can stand up for each other by telling a bully to stop teasing or scaring someone else, and then walking away together. If a bully wants you to do something that you don't want to do, say "no!" and walk away. If you do what a bully says to do, the mean kid is more likely to keep bullying you. Bullies tend to pick on kids who don't stick up for themselves.

Don't bully back. Don't hit, kick, or push back to deal with someone bullying you or your friends. Fighting back just satisfies a bully and it's dangerous, too, because someone could get hurt. You're also likely to get in trouble. It's best to stay with others, stay safe, and get help from an adult.

Don't show your feelings. Plan ahead. How can you stop yourself from getting angry or showing you're upset? Try distracting yourself (counting backwards from 100, spelling the word 'turtle' backwards, etc.) to keep your mind occupied until you are out of the situation and somewhere safe where you can show your feelings.

Tell an adult. If you are being bullied, it's very important to tell an adult. Find someone you trust and talk about what is happening to you. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom helpers at school can all help to stop bullying. Sometimes bullies stop as soon as a teacher finds out because they're afraid that they will be punished by parents. This is not tattling on someone who has done something small - bullying is wrong and it helps if everyone who gets bullied or sees someone being bullied speaks up.

What Happens to Bullies?

In the end, most bullies wind up in trouble. If they keep acting mean and hurtful, sooner or later they may have only a few friends left - usually other kids who are just like them. The power they wanted slips away fast. Other kids move on and leave bullies behind.

Some kids who bully blame others. But every kid has a choice about how to act. Some kids who bully realize that they don't get the respect they want by threatening others. They may have thought that bullying would make them popular, but they soon find out that other kids just think of them as trouble-making losers.

The good news is that kids who are bullies can learn to change their behavior. Teachers, counselors, and parents can help. So can watching kids who treat others fairly and with respect. Bullies can change if they learn to use their power in positive ways. In the end, whether bullies decide to change their ways is up to them. Some bullies turn into great kids. Others never learn.

But no one needs to put up with a bully's behavior. If you or someone you know is bothered by a bully, talk to someone you trust. Everyone has the right to feel safe, and being bullied makes people feel unsafe. Tell someone about it and keep telling until something is done.

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No one likes a bully. Find out how to handle them in this article for kids.

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Learn What To Do

Are you being bullied? Do you see bullying at your school? There are things you can do to keep yourself and the kids you know safe from bullying.
More Information

Get The Facts

Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again. Bullying often includes:

Teasing

Talking about hurting someone

Spreading rumors

Leaving kids out on purpose

Attacking someone by hitting them or yelling at them

Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails. It includes posting rumors on sites like Facebook, sharing embarrassing pictures or videos, and making fake profiles or websites.

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Are you being bullied? Do you see bullying at your school? There are things you can do to keep yourself and the kids you know safe from bullying. More Information Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again.

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Simple Acts For Teaching Children Kindness | Highlights

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If you want your kids to be happy, teaching them to give to others is a great way to help get them there. Here are ways for parents to teach kindness.

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Sesame Street: Try a Little Kindness (with Tori Kelly)

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions

Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. The unconditional love of a pet can do more than keep you company. Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with their emotional and social skills.

An estimated 68% of U.S. households have a pet. But who benefits from an animal? And which type of pet brings health benefits?

Over the past 10 years, NIH has partnered with the Mars Corporation's WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition to answer questions like these by funding research studies.

Scientists are looking at what the potential physical and mental health benefits are for different animals-from fish to guinea pigs to dogs and cats.

Possible Health Effects

Research on human-animal interactions is still relatively new. Some studies have shown positive health effects, but the results have been mixed.

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.

The NIH/Mars Partnership is funding a range of studies focused on the relationships we have with animals. For example, researchers are looking into how animals might influence child development. They're studying animal interactions with kids who have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other conditions.

"There's not one answer about how a pet can help somebody with a specific condition," explains Dr. Layla Esposito, who oversees NIH's Human-Animal Interaction Research Program. "Is your goal to increase physical activity? Then you might benefit from owning a dog. You have to walk a dog several times a day and you're going to increase physical activity. If your goal is reducing stress, sometimes watching fish swim can result in a feeling of calmness. So there's no one type fits all."

NIH is funding large-scale surveys to find out the range of pets people live with and how their relationships with their pets relate to health.

"We're trying to tap into the subjective quality of the relationship with the animal-that part of the bond that people feel with animals-and how that translates into some of the health benefits," explains Dr. James Griffin, a child development expert at NIH.

Animals Helping People

Animals can serve as a source of comfort and support. Therapy dogs are especially good at this. They're sometimes brought into hospitals or nursing homes to help reduce patients' stress and anxiety.

"Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving," says Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. "Their attention is focused on the person all the time."

Berger works with people who have cancer and terminal illnesses. She teaches them about mindfulness to help decrease stress and manage pain.

"The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness," Berger says. "All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately."

Researchers are studying the safety of bringing animals into hospital settings because animals may expose people to more germs. A current study is looking at the safety of bringing dogs to visit children with cancer, Esposito says. Scientists will be testing the children's hands to see if there are dangerous levels of germs transferred from the dog after the visit.

Dogs may also aid in the classroom. One study found that dogs can help children with ADHD focus their attention. Researchers enrolled two groups of children diagnosed with ADHD into 12-week group therapy sessions. The first group of kids read to a therapy dog once a week for 30 minutes. The second group read to puppets that looked like dogs.

Kids who read to the real animals showed better social skills and more sharing, cooperation, and volunteering. They also had fewer behavioral problems.

Another study found that children with autism spectrum disorder were calmer while playing with guinea pigs in the classroom. When the children spent 10 minutes in a supervised group playtime with guinea pigs, their anxiety levels dropped. The children also had better social interactions and were more engaged with their peers. The researchers suggest that the animals offered unconditional acceptance, making them a calm comfort to the children.

"Animals can become a way of building a bridge for those social interactions," Griffin says. He adds that researchers are trying to better understand these effects and who they might help.

Animals may help you in other unexpected ways. A recent study showed that caring for fish helped teens with diabetes better manage their disease. Researchers had a group of teens with type 1 diabetes care for a pet fish twice a day by feeding and checking water levels. The caretaking routine also included changing the tank water each week. This was paired with the children reviewing their blood glucose (blood sugar) logs with parents.

Researchers tracked how consistently these teens checked their blood glucose. Compared with teens who weren't given a fish to care for, fish-keeping teens were more disciplined about checking their own blood glucose levels, which is essential for maintaining their health.

While pets may bring a wide range of health benefits, an animal may not work for everyone. Recent studies suggest that early exposure to pets may help protect young children from developing allergies and asthma. But for people who are allergic to certain animals, having pets in the home can do more harm than good.

Helping Each Other

Pets also bring new responsibilities. Knowing how to care for and feed an animal is part of owning a pet. NIH/Mars funds studies looking into the effects of human-animal interactions for both the pet and the person.

Remember that animals can feel stressed and fatigued, too. It's important for kids to be able to recognize signs of stress in their pet and know when not to approach. Animal bites can cause serious harm.

"Dog bite prevention is certainly an issue parents need to consider, especially for young children who don't always know the boundaries of what's appropriate to do with a dog," Esposito explains.

Researchers will continue to explore the many health effects of having a pet. "We're trying to find out what's working, what's not working, and what's safe-for both the humans and the animals," Esposito says.

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Scientists are looking at how different types of pets can affect your mental and physical health.

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FUNDRAISING IDEAS

Organize a bake sale. Make animal-shaped sugar cookies. Be sure your kids tell their customers about the threats to these animals, and donate the earnings to help save them.

Set up a lemonade stand and donate the money you earn. Be sure to tell your neighbors about endangered animals.

Host an endangered species themed party. Send out invitations and ask guests to dress up like their favorite endangered species. Party favors could include a themed cake and goodie bags with fun facts about the animals. This makes for a fun-filled birthday or Halloween party. Ask the guests to skip the gifts and instead give the money they would have spent to support threatened animals.

Set up an animal photo booth. Ask for donations to take a picture with a big plush version of an endangered animal. Photo booths could be set up at sporting events or even at your next school dance!

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Mission Animal Rescue is a worldwide effort that not only educates about our most endangered species, but also teaches how to rescue them! We've got activities to help you raise awareness about endangered species to make the planet a better place. The activities can be tailored to support endangered species in general or a specific type of animal.

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10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species - Endangered Species Coalition

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1. Learn about endangered species in your area. Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they...

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What Is An Endangered Species? | Kids Discover Online

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Important Animals That Humans Cannot Live Without

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Mom and dad - they're two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day and, over your lifetime, they're likely to influence you more than anyone else you will meet. So if your dad worships, say, the Philadelphia Eagles, you're likely to grow up being a big fan of that football team. And if your mom loves to read, you just might grow up carrying a book wherever you go, just like she does.

But parents do a lot more than just pass along their hobbies. Moms and dads need to care for their kids from the minute they're born. It's a parent's job to love and guide kids - and most parents will do this as long as they live, even when the "kids" are grown up and have children of their own. That means you have many years ahead to share with your mom and dad.

Here are five ways you can stay close, get along, and build a strong relationship:

1. Spend time together. It might be easy to be physically in the same place as your mom or dad (like at home - it's where you all live, after all.) But how much time do you spend just enjoying each other's company? Instead of playing a computer game or watching TV, maybe ask your mom and dad to play with you. Go outside together, try a board game, or read a book out loud. If your parents are divorced, make the most of the time you do spend together. In between, talk on the phone (or video chat) and email each other to stay in touch.

2. Share your feelings and ask for help. Many kids say they'd like their parents to help them when they're upset. But your mom or dad might not know that you're having a problem. Tell a parent if you're sad or struggling with something. If you don't usually do this, it can feel funny at first.Try it and you'll be glad you did.

3. Be kind. Little things might mean a lot to your mom or dad. You can brighten a parent's day with a hug, a card, or a joke. It's also lovely when a kid offers to help fold the laundry or cleans up his or her room without being asked. And if you try not to fight with yourbrothers or sisters, your parents might be so thrilled they'll do a silly dance around the kitchen!

4. Show you care. Some families are always kissing, hugging, and saying "I love you." Other families aren't as lovey-dovey. But it's important to show that you care for each other. In addition to kisses and hugs, kids and parents show their love by respecting each other, and being caring, polite, and thoughtful.

5. Do your best at whatever you do. You don't have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you're turning into such a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know they're doing a good job.

Date reviewed: April 2015

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Mom and dad - they're two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day and, over your lifetime, they're likely to influence you more than anyone else you will meet.

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