Why Do Things Seem Scary In The Dark?

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Vermont Public

Nature, Language, Kids & Family, Science

4.4 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2020

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Lots of people are afraid of the dark, including many kids who have shared that fear with us. In today's episode we explore the fear of the dark with Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, the author of the Series of Unfortunate Events books, and a picture book for young kids called The Dark.

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript | Coloring Page

Then we go on a night hike with Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologist Steve Parren, to talk about ways to embrace the darkness. We practice our night vision by not using flashlights and we think about how our other senses can help us navigate. Steve also answers questions about how animals see in the dark and why it sometimes look like animals' eyes are glowing back at us in the darkness.

This episode features coloring pages by Xiaochun Li. Download and print My Flashlight And Me, and Hiding Under The Covers. You can color as you listen!

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is But Why, a podcast for curious kids from Vermont Public Radio.
0:26.6	I'm the host of the show, Jane Lintel.
0:29.5	In this podcast, we take your questions about anything, really anything, and we find interesting
0:34.6	people to help offer you some answers.
0:37.6	Sometimes your questions are easily answered by someone with just the right knowledge.
0:42.4	They are questions with fact-based answers, like why are some eggs brown and some white
0:48.7	or green or blue?
0:50.3	We've tackled that question and the answer is really interesting.
0:53.8	But sometimes your questions don't have precise answers.
0:58.2	There are many answers, or none, even.
1:02.2	Sometimes we need to find people who can offer you advice, or their opinion, or maybe
1:06.5	just a new perspective.
1:08.5	That's the kind of question and topic we're tackling today.
1:12.1	A lot of you have been sending us questions about something that makes you scared.
1:17.1	My name is Scout.
1:18.6	I am eight years old.
1:20.2	I live in air mass two sets.
1:22.8	My question is, why do things seem more scary in the dark?
1:27.2	Even though they are the same things you see when it's light.
1:31.2	Bye.
1:32.2	My name is Logan.
1:34.2	From Jericho, Vermont, I'm five years old.
	...

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