humansofnewyork:

“He plays with me.”

The practice is denounced by human rights groups but remains popular in some rural areas, where crowds bet large sums on young boxers. For fighters like 9-year-old Chai Lorlam, the pressure to win is intense.

— As Gamblers Gather, Thailand’s Child Boxers Slug It Out : Parallels

Photo: Morgan Hartley for NPR

Related story: ‘Buffalo Girls’ Fight For Survival In Rural Thailand

The shooting death of a 2-year-old girl by her 5-year-old brother has opened up another debate about gun control. It pits public health advocates — who see little benefit in mixing children and guns — against those who say early training can instill a sense of heritage and a respect for gun safety.

— When It Comes To Guns, How Young Is Too Young?

Two evenings a week, single dad David Barnes drops his young daughters Kayla and Alexis off for a while at The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project in Washington, D.C. There they can frolic with other homeless children, ages 1 to 11, from the nearby D.C. General shelter. Thanks to the project’s volunteers.

On a recent night, Nikki Zumbrun, 22, and Cecilia Volterra, 23, are reading with a couple of the 40-or-so kids. Shade Mallory, 27, likes to hang with the older girls. “We practice dance moves,” she says.

Outside, the unemployed Barnes sits alone — smoking a cigarette, soaking in the quiet.

Linton Weeks via Homeless Kids At Play In Washington, D.C. : Participation Nation

This is our first installment. Now, it’s your turn —> Take Part In (W)E Pluribus Unum

Photo: Courtesy of The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project

What’s Behind A Temper Tantrum? Scientists Deconstruct The Screams

Toddlers outfitted with high-tech wireless recording devices have helped researchers discover that tantrums have a very distinct, predictable pattern. Understanding that tantrums have a rhythm can not only help parents know when to intervene, but also give them a sense of control.

(via What children’s drawings would look like if it were painted realistically)

OurPresidents:

The Department of Education Was Created 32 Years Ago, Today

On Oct.17, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Department of Education Organization Act.  The ED opened officially in May, 1980.

On this education anniversary, it seems fitting to look at some of America’s  classrooms from decades past.  Plus, it wouldn’t be right not to give a big shout out to all the teachers out there.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

More for kids and teachers at the Presidential Libraries

todaysdocument:

It’s International Walk to School Day!

How do (or did) you get to school?

I rode the school bus when I was little and my mom drove me when I was older and thought I was too cool for the bus. What about you? — Tanya Ballard Brown

Three years ago, three-year-old Peng Xinle was kidnapped by child traffickers. His father, Peng Gaofeng, flooded the Chinese version of Twitter with photos and pleas for help. After three years of doing this, he finally found him, and now they’ve been reunited. Photo by NPR’s Louisa Lim. #china #children #happyendings (Taken with instagram)

“I think that children are completely capable of intuiting wisdom as readily as adults are. They just don’t have the verbal ability to put it into words … [but] they get this stuff very quickly. Even the kids who come to the book because it has this giant panda tend to come back because there’s some itch that’s set off — in their minds or their hearts — to re-examine what’s going on.”

- Illustrator Jon J. Muth on creating books for children and respecting their intelligence.