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Start Sweating! A Kid's Guide to Being Active

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Start Sweating! A Kid's Guide to Being Active

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The coronavirus is a public health emergency. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can infect animals and people. Some cause mild illness, like the common cold, while others can lead to serious illness. The type causing the current pandemic is new to scientists.

The new coronavirus was first identified in China in December. On February 11, the illness was officially named COVID-19. It spread quickly around the world. Scientists and doctors from many countries are working together to stop the spread and find a cure.

To answer kids' questions about COVID-19, TIME for Kids writer Rebecca Mordechai spoke with Dr. Juan Dumois. He's an infectious-diseases specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, in Florida. Here's what he had to say.
1. The coronavirus causes an illness called COVID-19. What are its symptoms?
Symptoms include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.
2. What should I do if I have these symptoms?
If you're sick, tell a trusted adult. Symptoms can be treated. It may take a few days to a week to feel better.
3. How does the virus spread?
If you're near someone who coughs or sneezes, you can inhale the virus. If they cough or sneeze on a surface, you can pick up the virus by touching it. Avoid getting the virus by washing your hands.
4. How dangerous is the virus to kids?
Children seem to be much less affected than adults. If kids do get sick, they're less likely to have severe symptoms.
5. What can I do to stay healthy?
Before touching your face, wash your hands for 20 seconds-that's "Happy Birthday" two times-with soap and running water, or use hand sanitizer. There are also things you can do to strengthen your immune system. That helps the body fight off infections. Your immune system can be made stronger if you eat a healthy diet. Getting enough sleep is also important.
6. What should I do if I'm feeling anxious about COVID-19?
Don't be shy about talking to a parent, a teacher, or to another trusted adult. Feeling out of control can also make you anxious. But you can have some control by following safety and health guidelines.
7. What are some common myths about the virus?
One myth is that wearing a mask is all you need to protect yourself from COVID-19. Washing your hands properly and frequently is more helpful.
8. What can schools do to protect students?
Schools should make hand sanitizer available. That's really important. Hand sanitizer needs to be rubbed on both hands, and it should take at least 15 seconds to dry. Doorknobs and desks should also be wiped down at least once a day, or ideally after each class.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity. This story appears in the March 20, 2020, print edition of TIME for Kids. It was published online on the afternoon of March 12. It has not been updated.

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The coronavirus is a public health emergency. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can infect animals and people. Some cause mild illness, like the common cold, while others can lead to serious illness. The type causing the current pandemic is new to scientists. The new coronavirus was first identified in China in December.

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In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued bad news: The world tiger population had hit an all-time low. Poaching × poaching CHRIS MINIHANE/GETTY IMAGES the illegal capture or killing of an animal (noun) Poaching could lead to the extinction of the rhinoceros. and habitat loss had taken their toll. In just 10 years, half of the world's tigers had disappeared. Only 3,200 wild tigers remained.

Now there's good news: Tigers may be making a comeback. There are about 4,000 wild tigers worldwide. In July, India announced that its tiger population had reached nearly 3,000. That's a 30% rise in just four years. India now has 70% of the world's wild tigers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is proud of his country's efforts to save tigers. "Once the people of India decide to do something," he says, "there is no force that can prevent them from getting the desired results."

DAVID CALLAN-GETTY IMAGES

Keeping a Promise

India's government passed the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. Tigers were covered under the law. Still, habitat loss was causing them to disappear. By 2006, there were just 1,411 tigers left in India. So the government committed to an even stronger plan.

In 2010, India and 12 other countries made a pledge. They promised to double their tiger populations by 2022. The animal's fate depends on these countries reaching that goal.

Nilanga Jayasinghe works for the WWF. "We have made significant strides in tiger conservation," she told TIME for Kids. "But the threats to tigers remain. All 13 range countries need to work together to secure a future for tigers."

MILE HIGH TRAVELER/GETTY IMAGES

Challenges Ahead

To count India's tigers, wildlife trackers and scientists covered 150,000 square miles of tiger habitat. They used thousands of cameras to record the animal's movements. This data has helped India create areas called reserves × reserve BUCK SHRECK-GETTY IMAGES an area where plants or animals are protected (noun) We visited a grizzly bear reserve. . There, tigers can spread out and hunt. India has about 50 reserves.

Sometimes, tigers wander. That's when trouble starts. The tigers may encounter people or livestock × livestock ASIA_IMAGES-GETTY IMAGES farm animals (noun) Joey's family raises goats and other livestock on the farm. . India's government has been moving villages farther from reserves. This is to protect livestock from hungry tigers. It can also prevent villagers from killing tigers out of fear or for revenge.

COURTESY SHARI RODRIGUEZ

Most people are willing to move. In India, "there is a lot of national pride surrounding tigers," says Shari Rodriguez. She is a wildlife expert at Clemson University, in South Carolina. "We cannot save wildlife without the cooperation of the people."

But challenges remain for tigers all over Asia. They are poached for their skin. Their whiskers and teeth are sold as medicine in China. "They're still in peril," Rodriguez says. She draws hope from India's success: "This is a small, small victory in a long war against extinction."

SOURCES: IUCN RED LIST, PANTHERA

Most of the tiger's historical range is gone. So India and 12 other countries have boosted conservation efforts. India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Russia have increased their tiger populations. The WWF is working to bring tigers back in Cambodia. The cat was declared extinct there in 2016.

Looking for the cover quiz? After you sign in, click on the Resources tab to search Teaching Resources for printable versions of all our quizzes.

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In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued bad news: The world tiger population had hit an all-time low. Poaching and habitat loss had taken their toll. In just 10 years, half of the world's tigers had disappeared. Only 3,200...

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TREVOR SAMSON-IFAW

Thousands of adult African elephants are killed each year. Hunters want their tusks × tusk ROBERTA OLENICK-GETTY IMAGES a very long, large animal tooth that sticks out of an animal's mouth ( ) Walruses have two tusks. . The tusks are used to make jewelry and other items. Many baby elephants are left behind when their mothers are killed.

Elephant calves, or babies, are big. A newborn stands just over three feet tall. It weighs about 220 pounds. Normally, adult elephants feed and care for calves for two years after they are born.

The Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP) gives baby elephants a home. It is at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery, in Zambia, in Africa. Keepers care for the calves. They teach them how to act with other animals, including other elephants.

Then the calves are taken to Kafue National Park. It is also in Zambia. When the calves are ready, they are set free in the wild.

Saying Goodbye

For the elephant keepers, saying goodbye is hard. "We free them and feel happy for them because they will soon go back in the bush × bush STEVE ALLEN-GETTY IMAGES an area of wild, undeveloped land ( noun) Many types of wildlife can be seen in the African bush. ," Oliver Munyama says. He is an EOP keeper. "We will miss them, but that is the way it is supposed to be."

SUPAT SUTTI-GETTY IMAGES

Two of a Kind

Did you know there are two kinds of elephants? One is the African elephant. The other is the Asian elephant. One way to tell the animals apart is by their ears. An African elephant has large ears. An Asian elephant's ears are smaller.

African and Asian elephants are both mammals. Mammals are a group of animals that give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Mammal mothers feed their babies their milk. All mammals have hair or fur. If you look closely, you can see that elephants have a little bit of hair. It is on their heads, chins, and tails.

Think!

Why would it be hard for the elephant keepers to say goodbye?

An Elephant's Body

Study the diagram. It tells about the parts of an African elephant. Then answer the questions.

TUI DE ROY-MINDEN PICTURES/GETTY IMAGES

1. True or false: African elephants have small ears.

2. Which body part do elephants use to carry and lift things?

3. What is one way elephants use their tusks?

4. What do elephants eat?

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A program in Africa saves baby elephants. The animals are cared for until they can live on their own. Thousands of adult African elephants are killed each year. Hunters want their tusks. The tusks are used to make jewelry and...

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Plastic can be found in almost everything. That includes toys, food containers, and car parts. Most plastic can-and should-be recycled.

Instead, it often is thrown away. Much of this plastic trash ends up in the oceans. It gets there mainly from litter on land and overflowing sewers. The rest is dumped directly into the sea.

In response to this problem, the United Nations (U.N.) hosted its first-ever Ocean Conference. That was in June. At the conference, the U.N.'s 193 member nations made a pledge. They agreed to protect the oceans from pollution.

"The sea has a special relationship with all of us," AntÓnio Guterres said in a press release. He is the secretary-general of the U.N. "But the relationship is under threat as never before."

Turning the Tide

Dell, a computer company, is creating laptop packaging from recycled plastic trash that was found in Haiti. Dell estimates the project will prevent 16,000 pounds of plastic from entering oceans.

"We hope to encourage more companies to [confront] a growing environmental issue," Carly Tatum says. She is a Dell spokeswoman.

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In the Netherlands, Boyan Slat has invented a system for ridding the oceans of plastic. It will rely on ocean currents to drive plastic debris into floating barriers. Then the plastic trash can be collected.

"Although it is essential to prevent more plastic from entering the oceans, the plastic that's already trapped in the currents of the oceans will not go away by itself," Jan van Ewijk says. He is a representative of the Ocean Cleanup, Slat's group.

Next year, Slat plans to test his system in a polluted spot in the Pacific Ocean. He predicts the system will clean up 50% of a giant patch of garbage in just five years.

"It is past time that we tackle the plastic problem that [is destroying] our oceans," Erik Solheim says. He is the head of the U.N. Environment Program. "We've stood by too long as the problem has gotten worse."

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Plastic can be found in almost everything. That includes toys, food containers, and car parts. Most plastic can-and should-be recycled. Instead, it often is thrown away. Much of this plastic trash ends up in the oceans. It gets there mainly...

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Around 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic have piled up in a stretch of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California. The area is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. According to a new study from the Ocean Cleanup foundation, the area is twice the size of Texas-or 16 times larger than previously thought.

To make this determination, researchers spent three years searching the seas for floating waste. They retrieved bottle caps, fishing nets, toys, and containers. In all, they gathered an estimated 80,000 tons of litter. That equals 250 pieces of trash for every person on the planet.

In the ocean, plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces over time. Eventually, the remaining waste floating in the Pacific will break down into tiny bits of plastic called microplastics. These particles are smaller than the width of a human hair. They are potentially harmful to fish and to humans. Microplastics have been found in the stomachs of fish for sale at supermarkets.

The Ocean Cleanup is calling on people around the world to stop the inflow of new plastic and to support efforts to remove "the existing mess."

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Around 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic have piled up in a stretch of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California. The area is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. According to a new study from the Ocean Cleanup foundation,...

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A cleanup crew was exploring the shore of a river in Washington, D.C. The water rippled under a blue sky, and grass swayed on the mudflats. But something else caught the group's eye.

Along the shore were heaps of plastic bottles. They had drifted down the river and gotten caught in branches that dipped into the water. The more the group looked, the more bottles they found. They gathered about 500 that day.

"It was just overwhelming," Nancy Wallace, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told TFK. "You didn't have enough room to move because of the piles and piles of bottles."

The world has a plastics problem. Bottles, straws, toothbrushes, toys-all kinds of plastics are piling up in landfills. In fact, landfills contain a large part of the world's 5 billion tons of plastic waste. By 2050, the amount could reach 13 billion tons.

INDRANIL MUKHERJEE-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Much of this trash finds its way into the ocean. Scientists say 165 million tons of plastic debris × debris biodegradable × biodegradable KEITH GETTER/GETTY IMAGES something that has been discarded (noun) After the parade, the street was littered with debris. is floating around out there. In 32 years, plastic in the ocean could outweigh all the fish. And most plastic is not DANIEL ALLEN/GETTY IMAGES capable of being broken down naturally (adjective) My family saves biodegradable waste like food scraps and uses it to fertilize our garden. . So it will remain in the ocean forever. It endangers marine life, and even ends up in the food we eat.

Governments are realizing that recycling may not be enough. They want to eliminate some plastic items altogether. "The problem can seem overwhelming," Wallace says. "But it's a solvable problem."

Plastic Pollution

Plastic litters beaches. Whales get entangled in plastic fishing nets. Birds starve with bellies full of plastic straws and bottle caps.

Another danger is harder to see. Sunlight causes plastic to become brittle. Ocean waves then break it into smaller pieces. Marine animals that eat them are poisoned.

There's also the problem of microbeads × microbead GIANNI DILIBERTO/GETTY IMAGES a tiny plastic sphere (noun) Mira washes her face each night using a soap that contains microbeads. . These tiny bits of plastic are in products like cosmetics and toothpaste. Microbeads get washed down the drain, winding up in rivers and oceans.

ARFA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The Last Straw

Britain has outlawed products containing microbeads. Rwanda has made plastic bags and packaging illegal, except in hospitals. Scotland and Taiwan have banned plastic straws. Several coastal cities in the U.S. have too.

The U.S. alone throws away some 500 million plastic straws a day. That's enough to circle the Earth twice. "Saying no to a plastic straw is an easy way to make a big difference in the world," Diana Lofflin says. She founded StrawFree.org.

After all, she says, our future is at stake. "Do we really want to pass on to the next generation a world that's choked by plastic?"

Chew On This

Here's a tasty way to reduce waste. Bakeys is a company in India. It has made the first-ever spoon you can eat. The edible cutlery (pictured below) is made of millet, rice, and wheat. It comes in flavors like sugar, ginger-garlic, and black pepper, in a paper wrapper. If you throw a spoon away, it decomposes in just a few days.

BI/BARCROFT MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

Harvard University scientist David Edwards has designed an edible packaging material. It is called WikiCell. It protects the food or liquid inside as a peel protects an orange. The see-through skin is made of food particles from chocolate, fruit, seeds, or nuts. It's a delicious replacement for plastic wrap.

Assessment: Click for a printable quiz. Teacher subscribers can find the answer key in this week's Teacher's Guide.

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A cleanup crew was exploring the shore of a river in Washington, D.C. The water rippled under a blue sky, and grass swayed on the mudflats. But something else caught the group's eye. Along the shore were heaps of plastic...

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Skip to main content

New York State has banned single-use plastic bags. The new law went into effect on March 1. New York is one of several states to forbid stores from handing out plastic bags at checkout. California was the first. Many cities and counties in the United States already have similar laws.

Andrew Cuomo is New York's governor. He proposed the ban last year. "For far too long, these bags have blighted × blight BRZOZOWSKA-GETTY IMAGES to damage (verb) Fungus blighted the lemon trees. our environment and clogged our waterways," he said.

Officials say the ban will change people's shopping habits. Until now, New Yorkers used 23 billion plastic bags each year. The bags are harmful to birds and marine × marine GLOBAL_PICS-GETTY IMAGES of or related to the sea (adjective) Dolphins are marine mammals. animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says some communities spend $1 million each year cleaning up litter. Much of it is grocery bags.

Businesses could pay up to $500 each time for breaking the law. Paper bags are allowed. But they may cost shoppers 5¢ each.

New York State leaders say people should keep reusable bags in their car or backpack. Small purchases may not need a bag at all.
Stop and Think! Why might news about a law in one state be of interest to people across the country? Could such a story influence other states to pass a similar law? Why or why not?

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New York State has banned single-use plastic bags. The new law went into effect on March 1. New York is one of several states to forbid stores from handing out plastic bags at checkout. California was the first. Many cities...

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Skip to main content

Earth Day is April 22. But there are ways kids can help the Earth all year long. What will you do to help the planet?

You can turn off the tap.

NICK DAVID-GETTY IMAGES

It's important to conserve water. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. That can save 200 gallons of water each month.

You can plant a tree.

STUART O'SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES

Trees are good for the planet. They create oxygen. They also clean the air we breathe.

You can ride a bike.

MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Cars and trucks pollute the air. Choosing to walk or bike helps keep the air clean. Plus, biking is good exercise!

You can recycle.

ARIEL SKELLEY/GETTY IMAGES

Paper, metal, and plastic can be recycled. They can be made into new items.

You can turn off the lights.

IMGORTHAND/GETTY IMAGES

Electricity lights our houses. It heats our homes. But electricity uses up energy. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. That saves energy. It helps the environment.

You can pick up litter.

OSE LUIS PELAEZ INC/GETTY IMAGES

Not all trash makes it into a garbage bin. It can end up on beaches and playgrounds. Grab a bag and some gloves. Ask an adult to take you on a trash hunt. Mother Nature will thank you!

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Earth Day is April 22. But there are ways kids can help the Earth all year long. What will you do to help the planet? You can turn off the tap. It's important to conserve water. Turn off the faucet...

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A new virus is going around. It's called the coronavirus. People around the world are working together to stop its...

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Rescuers are working to help victims of a powerful earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok.

The earthquake struck Lombok on August 5. It left 131 people dead. That's according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He is the spokesperson for the Indonesia's national disaster agency.

The 7.0 magnitude quake flattened buildings. It also ruptured roads. Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes.

In response, rescuers are building temporary shelters for those left homeless. The government is distributing water, food, and medicine to people in need. Five planes carrying supplies left Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, for Lombok on August 8. The planes will bring food, blankets, and water tankers to affected areas.

Despite these rescue efforts, parts of Lombok are still waiting for help. The international charity Oxfam said drinking water is scarce. That's because weather in Lombok has been extremely dry.

In the western village of Kekait, Zulas Triani said she has only received a single basket with a small amount of food. "Where should we go if we have no house anymore, nowhere to live?" Triani, an elementary school teacher, told the Associated Press. "I don't know how to rebuild on my own. We're all relying on the government to help. I do hope the government can help."

The August 5 temblor was the second in a week to hit Lombok. On July 29, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the island. It weakened buildings, leaving them vulnerable to collapse.

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Rescuers are working to help victims of a powerful earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok. The earthquake struck Lombok on August 5. It left 131 people dead. That's according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He is the spokesperson for the...

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Chelsea Phaire is trying to cheer up the world, one art kit at a time. The 10-year-old is the founder of Chelsea's Charity. Its mission is to deliver art supplies to kids in all 5o states. Chelsea also wants to deliver art kits to kids in other countries. As of July 7, Chelsea's Charity had given away nearly 3,000 kits.

Chelsea lives in Danbury, Connecticut. She was 8 when she thought of the charity. "My mother and I had a conversation [about the fact] that not everyone had access to art," Chelsea told TIME for Kids. "And that made me so sad." But it took her parents some time to get on board with the idea. They wanted her to wait until she was a little older.

CANDACE PHAIRE

Chelsea was able to launch her charity last year. For her 10th birthday, she asked friends to donate art supplies instead of giving her presents. Chelsea has also saved money from birthdays and from helping at her dad's barbershop to buy art supplies for her charity. The art kits she puts together go to kids in homeless shelters and hospitals, and to kids who've been affected by school shootings.

The charity has suffered financially because of the pandemic. Chelsea says, "Instead of personally giving [art kits] out, we had to mail them," which was expensive. But increased attention on her efforts has helped donations boom.

The Power of Art

Chelsea says art has helped her through difficult times: "I use art to express myself and make me feel better when tough things happen." This is why she feels it's so important that everyone should have access to art.

Art is also a great way to release emotions, Chelsea says. "If everyone knows how to channel their negative emotions and thoughts into art, then we can prevent the next big disaster and we could solve world peace," she adds. "You never know unless you try."

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Chelsea Phaire is trying to cheer up the world, one art kit at a time. The 10-year-old is the founder of Chelsea's Charity. Its mission is to deliver art supplies to kids in all 5o states. Chelsea also wants to...

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Handwashing is an easy way to protect against disease, including COVID-19. But how do you wash your hands if you don’t have running water? Lack of running water and soap is a problem for 3 billion people in the world.…

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Handwashing is an easy way to protect against disease, including COVID-19. But how do you wash your hands if you don’t have running water? Lack of running water and soap is a problem for 3 billion people in the world.…

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WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

Andrés owns popular restaurants in the United States. He's also the founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK). That's a nonprofit group. It cooks meals for people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.

"We will make it to everyone who needs food, one way or another," Andrés told TIME for Kids from the Bahamas. At press time, WCK had served about 300,000 meals there.

Chefs in Action

WCK began the disaster-relief phase of its mission in 2016. That's when Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti. It left many people without food.

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

The food served by WCK is fresh and healthy. When possible, it incorporates local ingredients. Recipes are designed to appeal to the tastes of the region.

WCK chefs have shortcuts for cooking large amounts of food quickly. Andrés grew up in Spain. There, cooks use massive pans to make a rice dish called paella. He realized paella pans could be used for all kinds of food. Now WCK cooks use them for everything from pasta to jambalaya. They can cook for 500 people at a time this way.

"When there's a medical emergency, who do you send in? Doctors, of course," says Nate Mook. He is WCK's executive director. "When there's a food emergency, we should send in the people who know food best-and that's chefs."

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

Better Together

WCK has about 25 staff members. But much of its work is done by volunteers. Many are from the affected areas. Twenty thousand volunteers served almost 4 million meals after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, in 2017.

Andrés told TFK about a 10-year-old girl there named Lola. She ran an entire section of the kitchen on her own. "She became a general in my army of volunteers," he says. "She's my hero."

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Clean Cooking

In Haiti, it's common for school meals to be cooked indoors over open fires. This can be dangerous. And it's not healthy for students, teachers, and cooks. They breathe smoke from the flames.

WCK wants to help. The group has built or renovated more than 140 schools in Haiti. In many of them, it has installed gas stoves. It has also installed sinks and water lines. That makes cleanup easier.

Together, this has made schools cleaner and safer for more than 65,000 people.

Looking for the cover quiz? After you sign in, click on the Resources tab to search Teaching Resources for printable versions of all our quizzes.

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In late August, Hurricane Dorian formed over the Atlantic Ocean. The storm hit the Bahamas on September 1. It leveled buildings, flooded neighborhoods, and killed 51 people. Many regions were left without power or water. As soon as the storm...

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Neijae Graham-Henries is one of the world's youngest barbers. At just 7 years old, she completed training last fall at the Junior Barber Academy, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Now Neijae is 8 and cuts hair free of charge at charity events.

Neijae says she didn't think much about hair or styling before she heard of the academy. "I would braid my own hair and my doll's hair," she told TIME for Kids, "but I wasn't really interested in barbering. I thought only boys could do it."

Her mom, Jamie Graham, says she tried to get Neijae's older brother to take the barbering course. When he didn't want to go, Neijae decided to give it a try.

Neijae was the youngest student in her class. She was also the only girl. "I was never intimidated," she says.

During the six-week course, Neijae asked her instructor a lot of questions. "If she needed him to say it in a way that she could understand, she did not hesitate to ask," Graham says. "She's not afraid to use her voice. She's not afraid to stand up, to ask questions." Neijae says she's usually very talkative, but barbering taught her how to focus.

What was the most important thing Neijae learned from the course? "Safety first," she says. "That's always the first thing. Cleaning our tools, that's the second most important thing. I have to protect myself and the client."
New Opportunities
After Neijae finished the course, a video of her went viral. Since then, she has had the opportunity to meet professional barbers and celebrities. She traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to appear on the TV show Pickler & Ben. "I also cut Oprah's dad's hair," Neijae says. (Vernon Winfrey has worked as a barber in the Nashville, Tennessee, area for decades.) But the best part of the trip for Neijae? "The hotel. It was very beautiful."

COURTESY JAMIE GRAHAM

Neijae also gives back to the community. Her barbering instructor, P. Michael Boone, works with a group called Barbers Who Care. He's invited Neijae to attend events with him. She has given free cuts to members of the homeless community, and she has given back-to-school cuts to kids her age.

Due to barbering regulations, Neijae can't charge money for cutting hair or work without a licensed barber present until she's 16. Until then, she plans to continue giving free cuts for charity. Her mom is proud. "It's a blessing," Graham says.

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Neijae Graham-Henries is one of the world's youngest barbers. At just 7 years old, she completed training last fall at the Junior Barber Academy, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Now Neijae is 8 and cuts hair free of charge at charity events....

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Who'll become the Kid of the Year? The answer will be revealed December 5 on an hour-long TV special on...

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7 Reasons to Be Smoke-Free

Most people don't smoke. From yellow teeth to coughing, here are seven reasons why that's a good thing.

Thirdhand Smoke

When people smoke, it creates smoke that you can see (secondhand smoke) and a kind of air pollution that you can't see that's called thirdhand smoke.

Most middle school students don't smoke - only about 1 in 50 does. And most high school students don't smoke either - about 9 in 100 do.

But why do those who smoke ever begin?

There's more than just one answer. Some kids may start smoking just because they're curious. Others may like the idea of doing something dangerous - something grownups don't want them to do. Still others might know lots of people who smoke and they might think it's a way to act or look like an adult.

Fortunately, fewer people are starting smoking than a few years ago. Maybe that's because more and more people have learned that smoking and tobacco use can cause cancer and heart disease.

But sometimes kids can't really think that far into the future to worry about an illness they might not get for many years.

So let's talk about the problems that might affect kids more quickly:

yellow teeth

smelly clothes

more colds and coughs

difficulty keeping up with friends when playing sports

empty wallet - cigarettes and tobacco products are very expensive!

Let's find out more about cigarettes and tobacco.

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What Are Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco?

Tobacco (say: tuh-BA-ko) is a plant that can be smoked in cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. It's the same plant that's in smokeless tobacco, known as dip, chew, snuff, spit, or chewing tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is not lit or inhaled like tobacco in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Instead, smokeless tobacco is put between the lip and gum and sucked on inside the mouth.

Tobacco contains nicotine (say: NIH-kuh-teen), a chemical that causes a tingly or pleasant feeling - but that feeling only lasts for a little while. Nicotine is also addictive (say: uh-DIK-tiv). That means that if you start to use nicotine, your body and mind will become so used to it that you'll need to have it just to feel OK.

Anyone who starts smoking could become addicted to it. If you're addicted to something, it's very hard to stop doing it, even if you want to. Some kids get addicted right away. And adults are often addicted, which is why so many of them have a hard time quitting smoking.

Why Is It So Bad for You?

Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. In fact, each day 1300 people die from smoking alone.

The nicotine and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco cause lots of diseases, like heart problems and some kinds of cancer. If you smoke, you hurt your lungs and heart each time you light up. It also can make it more difficult for blood to move around in the body, so smokers may feel tired and cranky. The longer you smoke, the worse the damage becomes.

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The Other Cost of Smoking

Using tobacco eats up a lot of money, too. A pack of cigarettes costs about $6, on average. That means, even if you buy just one pack a week, you'll spend $312 in a year. Some people smoke a pack a day, which adds up to $2,190! That's a lot of computer games and clothes you could buy instead.

What's It Like?

Usually, people don't like smoking or chewing tobacco at first. Your body is smart, and it knows when it's being poisoned. When people try smoking for the first time, they often cough a lot and feel pain or burning in their throat and lungs. This is your lungs' way of trying to protect you and tell you to keep them smoke free.

Also, many people say that they feel sick to their stomachs or even throw up. If someone accidentally swallows chewing tobacco, they may be sick for hours. Yuck.

What if My Friend Smokes?

If you have friends who smoke or use tobacco, you can help them by encouraging them to quit. Here are some reasons you can mention:

It will hurt their health.

It will make their breath stinky.

It will turn their teeth yellow.

It will give them less endurance when running or playing sports.

It's expensive.

It's illegal to buy cigarettes when you're underage.

If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one to give to a friend who smokes. He or she may be interested in learning more about the dangers of smoking.

But people don't like to hear that they're doing something wrong, so your pal also could be a little angry. If that happens, don't push it too much. In time, your friend may realize you are right.

In the meantime, it could help to talk with a parent or a school counselor if you're worried about your friend. When your friend is ready, a grownup can help him or her quit for good. If your friend decides to quit, lend your support. You might say it's time to kick some butts!

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Everyone says smoking is bad for you. Why? Find out in this article for kids.

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Check out the "what you can do" section under each animal!

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Don't Miss Your Chance To Defend Wildlife From Extinction!

Sign up to get the latest news about imperiled animals and how you can take action to help them survive. You'll also receive our monthly newsletter and exclusive invitations to special events in your community.

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Sign up to get the latest news about imperiled animals and how you can take action to help them survive. You'll also receive our monthly newsletter and exclusive invitations to special events in your community.

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There's a lot of talk these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit.

Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity ( exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.

Some parts of this are up to parents - such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike. But kids can take charge too when it comes to their health.

Here are five rules to live by, if you're a kid who wants to be fit. The trick is to follow these rules most of the time, knowing that some days (like your birthday) might call for cake and ice cream.

1. Eat a Variety of Foods

You may have a favorite food, but the best choice is to eat a variety. If you eat different foods, you're more likely to get the nutrients your body needs. Taste new foods and old ones you haven't tried for a while. Some foods, such as green veggies, may taste better the older you get. Shoot for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day - two fruits and three vegetables.

Here's one combination that might work for you:

at breakfast: ½ cup (about 4 large) strawberries on your cereal

with lunch: 6 baby carrots

for a snack: an apple

with dinner: ½ cup broccoli (about 2 big spears) and 1 cup of salad

2. Drink Water & Milk

When you're really thirsty, cold water is the best thirst-quencher. And there's a reason your school cafeteria offers cartons of milk. Kids need calcium to build strong bones, and milk is a great source of this mineral. How much do kids need? If you are 4 to 8 years old, drink 2½ cups of milk a day, or its equivalent. If you're 9 or older, aim for 3 cups of milk per day, or its equivalent. You can mix it up by having milk and some other calcium-rich dairy foods. Here's one combination:

2 cups (about half a liter) of low-fat or nonfat milk

1 slice cheddar cheese

½ cup (small container) of yogurt

If you want something other than milk or water once in a while, it's OK to have 100% juice. But try to limit juice to no more than 1 serving (6 to 8 ounces) a day. Avoid sugary drinks, like sodas, juice cocktails, and fruit punches. They contain a lot of added sugar. Sugar just adds calories, not important nutrients.

3. Listen to Your Body

What does it feel like to be full? When you're eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Sometimes, people eat too much because they don't notice when they need to stop eating. Eating too much can make you feel uncomfortable and can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

4. Limit Screen Time

What's screen time? It's the amount of time you spend watching TV or DVDs, playing video games (console systems or handheld games), and using a smart phone, tablet, or computer. The more time you spend on these sitting-down activities, the less time you have for active stuff, like basketball, bike riding, and swimming. Try to spend no more than 2 hours a day on screen time, not counting computer use related to school and educational activities.

5. Be Active

One job you have as a kid - and it's a fun one - is that you get to figure out which activities you like best. Not everyone loves baseball or soccer. Maybe your passion is karate, or kickball, or dancing. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly. Find ways to be active every day. You might even write down a list of fun stuff to do, so you can use it when your mom or dad says it's time to stop watching TV or playing computer games!

Speaking of parents, they can be a big help if you want to be a fit kid. For instance, they can stock the house with healthy foods and plan physical activities for the family. Tell your parents about these five steps you want to take and maybe you can teach them a thing or two. If you're a fit kid, why shouldn't you have a fit mom and a fit dad?

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There's a lot of talk these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit. Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity ( exercise), and has a healthy weight.

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Plastic and other materials can be recycled and turned into something else. Recycling helps our planet. Do you recycle at home? At school? Read on to see how recycling works. Keep It Separated Put each material into a different bin....

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Patty Garvey-Darda loves pikas. They are small mammals related to rabbits. "I think they are about the cutest animals alive," she told TIME for Kids. Garvey-Darda is a wildlife biologist. She works for the United States Forest Service. She wants to protect pikas and other creatures from a common threat: . The Federal Highway Administration says more than a million roadway accidents involving animals happen in the U.S. each year. These collisions hurt wildlife and people.

CLIFF GRASSMICK-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA/BOULDER DAILY CAMERA/GETTY IMAGES

One solution to this problem? Wildlife crossings. In the U.S. and around the world, bridges and underpasses are being built to help animals safely cross roads.

Global Solution

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, has some of the most successful wildlife crossings. Completed in 2014, these include 38 underpasses and six overpasses, or bridges. They prevent the park's animals from being hit while crossing the Trans-Canada Highway, which the park. Parks Canada says the crossing system has reduced collisions with wildlife by more than 80%.

JOHN MORRISON-GETTY IMAGES

People study the Banff crossings as a guide for new construction projects, Rob Ament says. He works for the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University. Ament notes Banff's "high quality of design." This includes fencing to direct animals away from roads.

EDUCATION IMAGES/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

Ament is using his expertise on wildlife crossings for a project in Assam, India. One of the state's highways is on the border of Kaziranga National Park. "Animals leave the park to go up a dry hill during season," Ament says. "That means they have to cross the highway." Plans are in the works for a safe pathway beneath it.

Under Construction

Wildlife crossings have been built in several U.S. states, including Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming. In Washington State, Garvey-Darda is part of a major project. She's helping to design a set of about 20 wildlife crossings. "Banff has been the best model for us," she says. Washington's crossings are being built along a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 90 (I-90). That's a long highway. This section of I-90 bisects the Cascade mountain range. It has disrupted the migration of animals in the area.

CHASE GUNNELL-CONSERVATION NORTHWEST

All 20 crossings are expected to be completed by 2029. So far, six underpasses and one overpass have been built. Garvey-Darda says these crossings have made a difference. "We now have close to 5,000 deer and elk going through the undercrossings," she says. "All of these animals were potential accidents."

This spring, Washington locals can plant vegetation on the I-90 overpass. Garvey-Darda says the plants will encourage animals, including her beloved pika, to use the crossings. "It's important to be ," she says, "and not wait until a species is endangered."

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Patty Garvey-Darda loves pikas. They are small mammals related to rabbits. "I think they are about the cutest animals alive," she told TIME for Kids. Garvey-Darda is a wildlife biologist. She works for the United States Forest Service. She wants...

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Most polar bears could disappear by the end of the century. Global warming is to blame. This is according to...

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Click. Click click. Click. Steve Forrest is in Antarctica. He's standing on a rocky cliff. Below him are hundreds of chinstrap penguins.

Forrest is a biologist. He uses a metal clicker to count every penguin he sees. It's not easy. It's snowing. The wind is howling. And the fluffy chicks won't stay still!

CHRISTIAN ASLUND-GREENPEACE

Forrest is part of a team working on a penguin census. The census will help scientists better understand the Antarctic environment.

Over the years, the number of chinstrap penguins in Antarctica has gone down. "Our best guess on why that could be is climate change × climate change census × census PAUL SOUDERS-GETTY IMAGES changes in the Earth's weather patterns (noun) The sea ice that polar bears hunt from is melting due to climate change. ," Noah Strycker says. He's on the JOHNER IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES an official count of a population (noun) According to the last census, 412 people live in the town. team.

Scientists say climate change is making the ocean warmer. This may be hurting krill. Chinstraps eat these tiny shrimplike creatures. But krill are hard to study. So scientists focus on penguins. If penguins aren't doing well, it probably means krill aren't either. "Penguins give us an idea about what is going on in the ocean around us," Forrest says.

CHRISTIAN ASLUND-GREENPEACE

Drone Solution

This year, robotics engineers are helping Forrest with the penguin census. They fly a drone over the penguins. The drone takes pictures. Forrest's team will use the photos as a record of each colony's × colony FLORINTT-GETTY IMAGES a group of the same people, animals, or plants living together (noun) The bees live in a colony. location and size. It will also use the photos to teach computers to spot penguin nests. That way, computers could one day use satellite cameras to count penguins. For now, Forrest and his team will keep on clicking.

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Click. Click click. Click. Steve Forrest is in Antarctica. He's standing on a rocky cliff. Below him are hundreds of chinstrap penguins. Forrest is a biologist. He uses a metal clicker to count every penguin he sees. It's not easy. It's snowing. The wind is howling. And the fluffy chicks won't stay still!

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Skip to main content

Take deep belly breaths. Breathe in through your nose. Exhale through your mouth. Focus on your breath.

Do something kind for others. Helping other people will make you feel good. That's because you are making a change in the world. Plus, you'll gain confidence.

Talk with a friend. Being with people we love makes us feel safe. You might talk with an old friend. You could also make a new one. Either way, being in the person's company will make you feel happier.

Express gratitude. What are you thankful for? Make a list. Who are the special people in your life? Let them know how you feel about them. This will make them feel good, too.

Exercise, eat well, and get good sleep. Taking care of your body is key to feeling good. It promotes mental health.

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Take deep belly breaths. Breathe in through your nose. Exhale through your mouth. Focus on your breath. Do something kind for others. Helping other people will make you feel good. That's because you are making a change in the world....

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In November, Hurricane Eta made landfall in Central America. It caused destruction from Panama to Florida. Two weeks later, Hurricane Iota arrived. It was more powerful. It rained on places that were already flooded. Juan Orlando Hernández is president of Honduras. He called Iota a "bomb" that would leave the region in tatters.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record. Iota was the 30th named storm to brew in the Atlantic since May. It was the 13th to become a full-blown hurricane.

ORLANDO SIERRA-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Scientists say climate change is to blame. They don't know if it's causing more storms. But data seems to show that it's making storms stronger.

James P. Kossin works for the NOAA. He says the increase in greenhouse-gas emissions × greenhouse-gas emissions EDUARD ANDRAS-GETTY IMAGES gases released by automobiles and industry that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and contribute to climate change (noun) Windmills create electricity without producing greenhouse gases. is changing how storms behave. "These storms have a human fingerprint on them," he told TIME for Kids.

JOHAN ORDÓÑEZ-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Storm Science

A hurricane begins in the ocean. It draws its energy from ocean air. The planet's oceans are warming. Warmer water provides a storm with more energy. That means higher winds. It also means heavier rain. (See "Hurricanes 101.")

Increased energy is causing hurricanes to get stronger faster. In August, Laura changed from a tropical storm to a strong hurricane in about a day. It slammed into Texas and Louisiana. Winds reached 150 miles per hour (mph). Laura's storm surge-a wall of ocean water mainly caused by wind-reached 17 feet in places.

JOE RAEDLE-GETTY IMAGES

Hurricanes are also sticking around longer. So they do more damage. Westerly winds constantly blow around the planet. But they are slowing because of rising temperatures. That causes slow-moving storms. Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Texas in 2017. "That storm was devastating because it didn't move," Kossin says. "It just sat there."

Protection Plans

Storms don't affect everyone equally, Dereka Carroll-Smith says. She's a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She analyzes data on communities that are most affected by hurricanes. This helps cities plan ahead.

SCOTT OLSON-GETTY IMAGES

Carroll-Smith says areas with a high number of elderly people who can't easily leave may need one emergency plan. A different plan might be needed where many people live in mobile homes. Recently, evacuations were complicated by the pandemic. Shelters couldn't hold the usual number of people because of social distancing.

"Intense storms are going to be devastating to everyone," Carroll-Smith says, "unless we make preparations now."

According to Kossin, reducing greenhouse gases is the first step. "We can stop making it worse. Then we can [start] adapting to the new climate we're in."

Hurricanes 101

A hurricane is a mass of clouds and thunderstorms. It rotates around an "eye," or center. Think of a hurricane as a giant engine. Warm, moist air is its fuel. There's plenty of that in the Atlantic during hurricane season.

Winds must reach 74 mph before a tropical storm is called a hurricane. Then it is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. The rating depends on wind speed. A Category 5 storm churns at 157 mph or more. It can destroy homes. It can make an area unlivable for weeks or even months.

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In November, Hurricane Eta made landfall in Central America. It caused destruction from Panama to Florida. Two weeks later, Hurricane Iota arrived. It was more powerful. It rained on places that were already flooded. Juan Orlando Hernández is president of...

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When Disaster Strikes, Kids Help Chef Deliver Food Worldwide

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When Disaster Strikes, Kids Help Chef Deliver Food Worldwide

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Save the Planet: Helping Endangered Animals

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Save the Planet: Helping Endangered Animals

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Read Save The Planet: Helping Endangered Animals on Epic

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Read Save The Planet: Helping Endangered Animals on Epic

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Instantly access Save The Planet: Helping Endangered Animals plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

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Win a tablet!

Write a Safety Report

Hey kids! How'd you like a chance to win your very own tablet? All you have to do is tell us what you've learned from our safety book and interactive video. At the end of the year, we'll choose the best letter we get. The winner will receive a brand new tablet! Your letter should include:

How safety information has changed the way you think or feel about the topics discussed

How you plan to use what you've learned to make yourself and others safe

What you liked about the way your instructor presented the safety information to your group

Now remember we receive hundreds of letters from kids all across the country so take your time to make sure your letter gets the attention from our judges.

Please complete the following information in order for us to know how to contact you, in case you win!

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Write a Safety Report Hey kids! How'd you like a chance to win your very own tablet? All you have to do is tell us what you've learned from our safety book and interactive video. At the end of the year, we'll choose the best letter we get.