In the bustling streets of Florence, Italy, during the early 1400s, a young boy named Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici was about to change history. Giovanni was not born into a family of great wealth or royal blood. His father, Averardo de’ Medici, was a merchant, and his mother, Jacopa Spini, was a middle-class woman. They lived in a small house, but it was filled with love and laughter.

Giovanni was a curious child, always eager to learn about the world around him. He often wandered the markets of Florence, listening to traders and merchants as they haggled over goods. From silks and spices to artworks and armor, Florence was a city thriving with trade, thanks to its location in the heart of Italy.

When he was just a teenager, Giovanni’s father took him on a business trip to Rome. It was there that Giovanni’s saw his first bank. When people needed to move money to a far away place, they could give their money to the bank who would give them a letter with a number showing the amount. Then they could travel to the faraway place and use the letter to get their money. This was much safer than trying to move large amounts of money  by wagon or on their horse – especially since the roads at that time could be very dangerous. Thieves were known to stop people and take their money. Banks could also be used to keep your money safe and to buy things in faraway places. This not only made trading easier but also safer. Giovanni saw all of this going on and was fascinating.

Returning to Florence, Giovanni decided to start his own bank. With a small amount of money saved up and a loan from a family friend, Giovanni set up a tiny banking in the local market. It was just a simple table in the market where people would come to him to trust him with their money. He was friendly and wise, offering to keep people’s money safe and help them transfer money to different cities without risk.

Banks and banking seem like a simple ideas now, but it was very new at the time and Giovanni wanted to be the one who had the biggest, most trusted, and wealthy bank.

Giovanni’s reputation grew. People trusted him because he was fair and kind. His bank began to grow. He also made money on trade. Trade is when you buy items and then sell them for more. He did this all over Europe along with helping people move and save their money. 

But beyond banking, Giovanni wanted to do more than just make money; he wanted to help Florence, the city he loved. He started lending money to artists so they could buy materials to create beautiful paintings, sculptures, and other crafts. This was the time of the Renaissance when artists were trying new styles and painting more realistically than before. 

The Medici Bank, as it was now known, became the largest bank in Europe!  Giovanni had branches of his bank in many major cities, including Rome, Venice, and even distant London. His success allowed him to support not just his family but also the city’s artists, architects, and thinkers. Florence blossomed into a center of the Renaissance, a golden age of art and science in part thanks to the money spent by Giovanni.

One of Giovanni’s proudest moments was praying for the construction of the famous dome of the Florence Cathedral. He hired Filippo Brunelleschi, a genius architect who proposed a daring design. Many were skeptical that such a grand dome could be built, but Giovanni believed in Brunelleschi’s vision. The completion of the dome was a marvel and remains one of the architectural wonders of the world.

Giovanni also believed in giving back to his community. He supported the construction of hospitals, schools, and libraries. Thanks to him, many young Florentines received education and health care, which were rare in those times for anyone but the rich.

As Giovanni grew older, he trained his sons, Cosimo and Lorenzo, to take over the bank. He taught them everything he knew, not just about banking, but also about being wise leaders and generous supporters of art and culture. Giovanni knew that wealth was not just about gold and silver; it was about making the city better for everyone.

Cosimo, Giovanni’s oldest son, was a quick learner, but he loved art more than banking like his father. He loved to stroll through the workshops of sculptors and painters, watching them turn blank canvases and rough stones into breathtaking art.

As Cosimo grew into a teenager, Florence was blossoming into the center of the Renaissance. It was during these years that Cosimo developed a vision for his city. He saw Florence not just as a center of commerce but as a shining light of culture and learning.

When Cosimo took over the Medici Bank from his father, he was ready to use his wealth to transform Florence. He believed that beauty and knowledge were as valuable as gold and silver. He started investing in art and buildings even more than his father. He became a “patron” of the arts, which means he paid to have them created.

Cosimo’s love for architecture led him to pay for the construction of the San Marco monastery in Florence. He invited architects to design a building that would reflect the elegance and spiritual depth of the city. The finished building was a peaceful place that became a home for scholars and artists. 

He also established the Platonic Academy, a school where philosophers gathered to discuss ideas. With Cosimo as the patron, this academy became a center for learning in Europe, attracting scholars from all over the continent. It was here that the works of Plato and other ancient philosophers were studied and preserved.

But life in Florence wasn’t easy for Cosimo. Even though he gave a lot to the city, he also used his money to control some of the leaders. Many people believed he and his family had too much power over Florence and their use of their wealth to run the city was unfair. One of the competing families, the Albizzi, found enough people to go against them that Cosimo had to leave the city for a time. He was devastated to leave the city he loved. The Albizzi didn’t run Florence as well and eventually the people asked Cosimo to come back. 

Back in Florence, Cosimo paid for the construction of public libraries, making knowledge accessible to more than just the elite. He also paid for public projects like aqueducts, which carried clean water through the city. These projects improved daily life in Florence, making it one of the most advanced cities of its time.

Like his father, Cosimo taught his children the value of art, culture, and community. When Cosimo passed away, Pietro took over the Medici Bank and leadership of Florence. We’re not going to spend as much time learning about Pietro but he did carry on his family’s legacy of running the bank and keeping the finances in order. Cosimo’s rule had been very expensive from all of his spending on art and architecture and Pietro was able to focus on the banking again and increase the family’s wealth.

His son, Lorenzo, grew up surrounded by scholars, artists, and poets. From a very young age, he was taught not only about banking and politics but also the value of art and knowledge. Lorenzo had a powerful personality and was very intelligent like his father and grandfather, with a natural ability to lead and inspire those around him. 

In 1469, he was barely 20 years-old when his father passed away and he was left in charge of the family bank. He paid for great art like his grandfathers, Cosimo and Giovanni, but with even greater enthusiasm. He surrounded himself with poets and scholars, too, who helped him turn Florence into the intellectual and artistic capitol of Europe.

One of the most famous artists and inventors of the Renaissance was Leonardo da Vinci. Lorenzo was a patron to Leonardo and Michelangelo, two of the most famous artists in history. He became known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent” for all of his different qualities.

He was also a very skilled politician. This means he knew how to work with leaders in the government. Often the way he worked with leaders was unfair, because he used his money to pay for who was in power and how they voted. He was like a king of Florence, but he did it in a secret way by using his money to make things go his way.

At the time, many of the different cities in what is now Italy competed for power. Cities such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples and Genoa. Because all of these cities were competing for power, Lorenzo’s reign as leader of Florence was not without its challenges. In 1478, someone tried to assassinate him during church in the Duomo of Florence. Lorenzo survived, but the attack left scars that would affect his leadership and the safety of his family.

As Lorenzo grew older, running Florence became harder and harder. The bank wasn’t as powerful as when his father was in charge and his building projects and art became too expensive for their family to pay for. He died in 1492, yet, the world has Lorenzo and his father and grandfather to thank for much of the beautiful artwork and buildings you can still visit in Florence today.

The Medici Family, through its generations, showed both the good and ill that come with great power. They were patrons of the arts and education, and helped keep Florence stable. However, their leadership also included times of extreme control, corruption, and abuses of power. Despite this, the Medicis left a significant mark on history, transforming Florence into a center of the Renaissance that still shines brightly today.

The story of the Medici family, from Giovanni to Cosimo to Lorenzo, teaches us that with great power and wealth comes the responsibility to foster culture, knowledge, and beauty. Their legacy reminds us that we all have the capacity to contribute to a better society. Their story inspires us to think of how we, too, can make our own mark in the world, creating something magnificent that could last generations.

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Theme park rides like Thunder Mountain Railroad and others are a blast to ride and experience, but how do these rides come to be? Who designs them? Who builds them and creates all of the environments and machines that are required to make them work? Today we’re going to talk about none other than the world famous Disney Imagineers!

The magical world of Disney theme parks has captivated the hearts of millions around the globe for decades. Behind the scenes of this enchanting experience lies a rich history marked by creativity, ingenuity, and a team of visionary individuals known as Imagineers. The roots of Disney’s theme park legacy can be traced back to WED Enterprises and the birth of Imagineering. 

When Walt Disney first decided to build a theme park, after his wild success as an animation studio, Disney created a group called WED Enterprises. This was in 1952 and Disney formed the group because he knew he would need a crew of very talented people to help design and engineer his theme park, which was still just a thing of his dreams and imagination. 

WED Enterprises included artists, engineers, architects, and designers who would bring Walt Disney’s dreams to life. They were known for having more than just one skill, such as being an architect or an engineer. They had to have BIG imaginations and be ready to think outside the box. At heart, they were storytellers, responsible for creating immersive narratives that would become park rides and other experiences. Their mission was to blend creativity with cutting-edge technology to create an enchanting world for park visitors.

In 1986, WED Enterprises changed its name to Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineer is the combination of the words engineer and imagine! Imagineers are expected to not only have the skills to do their job but to think creatively and come up with new, bold ideas as they tell their stories in the form of attractions. In fact, one of the Imagineers first principles is “It all begins with a story.” 

Next, let’s dive into the life of some of the most famous Imagineers! Marc Davis was born in Bakersfield, California and from a very young age loved drawing and art! He practiced during his free time and eventually went to college in Kansas, where he further developed his skills. In 1934, Marc joined Disney as an animator and helped illustrate for animated classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi. He worked closely with Walt Disney to create these films and when it came time to start designing Disneyland, Walt Disney knew Marc would be the perfect fit to help bring his dreams to life. 

One of his first projects was designing characters for The Haunted Mansion. Marc had a great sense of humor and was able to bring it to life through art as he designed characters such as The Hitching Ghost and the ghostly bride Constance Hatchaway. He also worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and many of the humor pirates you can see and experience throughout the ride. Marc also helped design the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, and EPCOT’s Journey into Imagination.

Another early imagineer was Harriet Burns. Harriet was born in San Antonio, Texas and early on had a passion for art and design. She started at Disney in 1955 as a set painter for many of the rides. She became one of the first female Imagineers and helped design and paint characters on the Disneyland Railroad, Its a Small World, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Harriet was also known for her strong will and personality. When she had a vision for how someone should be done, she worked hard at it and made her opinion known until she got results!

The history of Disneyland Imagineers wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tony Baxter, whose first job at Disneyland was actually an ice cream scooper at age 17. He loved being at the park and was determined to help make it an even more fun and enchanting place. He went to school and studied landscape architecture and later theater design. At this time, he also started helping with construction projects at Disneyland.

In 1970, Tony officially became an Imagineer. His dream job! He helped redesign Fantasyland, then later came up with the idea that became Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain showcased Baxter’s ability to combine storytelling with groundbreaking ride technology. The attraction became an instant classic, enchanting generations with its whimsical charm.

Baxter’s gift for adventure and storytelling reached new heights with the creation of the Indiana Jones ride. Opened in 1995, this dark ride blended film and theme park elements, plunging riders into the heart of an ancient temple filled with scary sights! The attraction’s success showed Baxter’s ability to translate movie magic into an immersive and exhilarating theme park experience.

Other famous Imagineers worth mentioning are the artist Mary Blair, X Atencio, Wing T. Chao, Alice Estes Davis, Yale Gracey, Bob Gurr, Joe Rohde, and Marty Sklar. Because Disney parks are worldwide, Imagineers of many different nationalities, races, and backgrounds are now part of the Imagineering team!

Something else exciting about Imagineers is that as they are working on new rides, they often invent entirely new technologies that are used not only at Disney but in other theme parks and attractions around the world.

One of their most famous innovations are audio-animatronics. These are the life-like robots that become characters on the different Disney rides. They often look very realistic and move in real ways that make the parkgoers feel like they are experiencing the characters and the environments for real! The animatronics on some of the rides were ahead of their time. To date, one of the most advanced and realistic animatronics is the Shaman on the Na’vi River Journey at Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Animatronics like this require many designers and engineers to figure out how to make them move in life-like ways. You’ll have to check out a video for this one, because you won’t believe your eyes!

Many of the vehicles for Disney’s rides also feature very advanced designs in order to move guests around through the attraction. This includes trackless rides that use magnets to orient them along the path. Another example is the jeep in Indiana Jones that makes passengers feel like they are bumping up and down on a wild ride, which has the flexibility to move many different directions.

Using RFID wristbands, guests are able to open their hotel rooms, enter parks and even make purchases using radio frequencies. Many of these technologies feel like magic when they are being used, but under all of the electronics a smart engineer had to design every piece of the advanced equipment to make it work. 

Other technologies include projection mapping, augmented reality, and virtual reality simulators… all with the goal of making guests feel like they have been transported to a different place and time and are living the actual experience. Pretty amazing, right?

Does becoming an Imagineer sound interesting to you? If so, be sure to look up their principles of design and think of ways you can apply them to your own interests. Do you like to be creative? If so, think of the kind of ride you would create if you were a Disney Imagineer. Draw up a plan and maybe even make a miniature version of it using cardboard and other materials. You might even simulate how it works using a space in your backyard or living room. Be sure to run it by your parents first, of course, but remember that all of these Imagineers were once kids like you who were passionate about art and design and had BIG imaginations! 

The post History of Disney Imagineering for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Well, thanks to sailors, fishermen, marine biologists, submarine crews, and other explorers, we know a lot more about the sea and what’s in it than at any other time in history.  We have discovered underwater cities and sea life and shipwrecks.  We have found fossils, treasure chests, and planes that disappeared decades ago.  We have developed amazing things like sonar, radar, and underwater vessels to dive deeper and explore further.  But to this day, we have not reached the bottom of some of the deepest seas in the world and we haven’t discovered all there is to see in this vast underwater kingdom.

So, that means: where there is the unknown or a mystery, there is folklore!  Since the beginning of time, man has been connected to the sea.  For ancient man, the sea must have seemed very big and mysterious and scary indeed.  People eventually built boats and started sailing across these seas. They saw strange creatures jumping out of the water or bumping into their boats. They heard spine-tingling screeches on the wind or witnessed large shapes bobbing on the waves.  What could these things be?  Were they ghosts or monsters or gods?  

Well, since ancient man didn’t have any means to go deep under the sea to discover these answers, they had to find an explanation using what knowledge they had.  And that is where sea legends and folklore began.  People crafted stories and carved images to make sense of the sea.  Over time, these tales, myths, legends, and images spread around the world and became part of folklore on every continent.

And one of the earliest and most enduring tales of all time is that of the mystical mermaid.  Many people across the world can describe a mermaid: a beautiful creature, half woman/half fish, with long flowing hair and glittering scales.  And we know this because images of them have been carved into stone in ancient temples or sketched in books dating back centuries.  As far back as the 19^th century B.C., people believed that life came from – and started in – the sea. In the city of Babylon (which means “Gate of the Gods” and is now part of Iraq), people prayed to a half human/half fish sea goddess called “Atargadis” who was the ruler of life and fertility.  They carved her image on stone templates wearing a “mural crown” – a crown shaped like towers, walls, and fortresses instead of flowers, arches, and crosses like crowns that came later.  Sometimes she was carved with a human face on a fish body; other times as half human/half fish.  Atargadis was married to a god named Hadad and they were the gods who protected the city of Babylon.  Atargadis also ruled over the city’s religious and social life, as well as the creation of new life. 

But how did Atargadis come to have the form of a fish?  Well, one ancient myth states that the goddess originally had a human form but then drowned herself in a lake, thus turning into half woman/half fish.  She was ashamed for having fallen in love with a handsome man and giving birth to a baby girl – something that was, apparently, forbidden for divine, non-human goddesses.

Over the ensuing centuries, people traveled and traded with people in other cities and countries.  The myth of Atargadis spread throughout the Middle East and Europe.  The early Greeks, who had originally depicted their goddesses as birds with human faces, later changed their goddess images to mermaids.  

Thus, the mermaid legend grew and more tales blossomed.  Mermaids gained nicknames like “sirens” or “water nymphs.” Their image changed into dangerous sea maidens luring unsuspecting ships and sailors to their doom.  They were no longer the praised city protectors of the past.  But like the original goddess Atargadis, they still possessed magical powers and liked music and song.  Early sailors reported hearing strange sounds like otherworldly music on the waves and guessed it must be mermaids singing.  Who or what else could it be?  Today, we might suggest the sounds were coming from pods of whales.  But since the ancient sailors didn’t know about whale communication or have sonar recording devices, they believed in singing mermaids instead.  However, unlike the goddess Atargadis, mermaids of legend were said to be mortal.  The lived about 300 years, had no soul, and eventually turned into sea foam instead of going to heaven.  

And since mermaids were depicted as beautiful creatures, it was assumed they must be vain.  Artists painted beautiful scenes of mermaids lounging on rocks surrounded by objects of vanity, such as hairbrushes, combs, and mirrors. Myths soon popped up stating that if a human captured and hid these mermaid objects, the mermaid would become human and could be tricked into marriage.  However, if the mermaid found the hidden objects, she could transform back into a mermaid and return to the sea.  

Perhaps because of these myths of humans stealing the mermaid’s items, luring them into human form and marrying them, mermaids then gained the reputation for spitefulness against humans. Tales stated that, if provoked, mermaids could cause floods, storms, or other sea disasters.  A mermaid spotted during a sea voyage was considered an omen of shipwreck. Other legends told of mermaids luring men into the water where they drowned or were forced to live under the sea forevermore, never returning home.  Some myths, however, stated that mermaids could also show compassion.  If something nice was done for them, such as rescuing them from a net, they could bestow gifts or blessings.

And it wasn’t just rum-soaked sailors who reported seeing mermaids out to sea.  Famous explorer Christopher Columbus reported seeing mermaids while sailing in the Caribbean.  Today, we might guess he saw manatees instead, which can nurse their young like female humans and, from afar, can look to have a human face.

Mermaid folklore was still going strong in 1837, when Danish author Hans Christian Anderson wrote a book called, “The Little Mermaid” and it became an instant classic.  Approximately 150 years later, Walt Disney made a film by the same name, popularizing the mystical mermaid for a new generation of children worldwide.  

Today, you can see mermaids depicted on modern day coat of arms, including those in Britain, Warsaw, and Germany, as well as the University of Birmingham.  However, if you see a mermaid with a serpent tail, two fish tails, or wings, it is called a Melusine and is very common in French folklore.

So, now we know about mermaids, but what about mermen?  Well, mermen are not as common in folklore as mermaids and they can either be shown as handsome or grotesque.  The legend of the merman started in Babylon and became connected with the sea god Ea, the god of water, wisdom, culture, and civilization.  He was also the creator and protector of man and the world.  However, some state that the merman legend refers to Ea’s servant.  Ea was shown as half man/half fish, while some images show him as a man wearing a fish robe.

Later the Greek myth of Triton was born.  Triton was a sea god and the son of Poseidon.  Poseidon had a human form, but Triton was half man/half fish, holding or blowing a conch shell.  Sometimes he held a three-pronged trident.  He lived in a golden palace at the bottom of the sea with his parents and acted as Poseidon’s messenger.  Triton was called both a mighty and dreadful sea god and could blow his conch shell so loudly that it raised or flattened waves and scared away mythical giants. He was said to have green hair and blue skin with barnacles on his mighty shoulders.  However, around the 1500’s several artists started depicting Triton with a fish tail, man’s body, female’s chest, devil’s horns, and thick legs with webbed feet.  People started calling Triton a “sea devil,” “sea monster,” or “sea satyr.”   That was not a good time for the mighty sea god!

And speaking of Greek myths, there is a legend about another merman name Glaucus who started life as a human fisherman.  He noticed that when he caught fish, they would struggle to get back into the water when he placed them on the grassy shores.  Glaucus thought that the grass must give the fish special

powers, so he ate the grass.  He then had an overwhelming desire to jump into the sea and never return.  The sea gods under the waves heard his wish and turned him into a sea god just like them, and Glaucus never returned to land.

Various Scandinavian countries, including Iceland and Norway, have legends about mermen with black hair, long beards, and dusky skin with a man’s torso and a fish tail.  One British folklore writer stated her opinion that mermen were “often uglier and rougher in the British Isles” although how she came to this conclusion is unknown.  In Irish folklore, a merman named Coomara is depicted as a hideous creature with green skin, hair, and teeth, slitted eyes, and a big red nose.  And in Cornish folklore there is a merman named Bucca with hair of seaweed and the skin of an eel who looks for offerings of fish left along the shore.  

Mermen tales can be found around the world, including Europe, China, Japan, Greenland, Canada, and even the Amazon.  

Today, mermen are depicted in comics, movies, and films as handsome, strong, and courageous, such as in the TV show, “Man from Atlantis” and the super hero movie, “Aquaman.” They are featured in the popular game, “Dungeons and Dragons” and in the hugely successful “Harry Potter” movies where merpeople live in a lake near Hogwarts.

So, what do you think about the legends of mermaids?  Do you know of any legends where you live?  If you could have one special power as a mermaid or merman, what would it be?

The post History of Mermaids: Myth, Mystery and Legend for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

If I asked you this same question about 70 years ago, you would have had a lot fewer options to pick from. And one thing’s for sure. You would have almost surely named a male athlete. This is because, in the 1950s, the greatest sports legends, and basically the only sports legends were men. 

It was very rare for women to play professional sports. When they did, they were told that they weren’t as competitive or fun to watch as the men playing the same sport as them. This meant that young girls had nobody to look up to. They had no Naomi Osaka or Alex Morgan to dream of becoming. 

A young girl named Billie Jean King was growing up in those days. She loved sports. She was born in California in 1943 into a family of athletes. Seriously, at least one of her family members had excelled at just about every sport you can think of. Her mother was a swimmer, and her father did basketball, baseball, and track. Her younger brother played baseball, and he even became a pitcher in Major League Baseball. 

Today, we might think that  Billie Jean was born to be an athlete. But this was 70 years ago. So, it was something of a surprise when Billie Jean wanted to follow in her family’s footsteps and be an athlete. 

Her family’s skills meant that she had high expectations and big shoes to fill. But, it didn’t take long before Billie Jean was proving she was every bit the talented athlete as the rest of her family. 

She started in softball. And she was really good at it. So good that when she was only 10 years old, she was playing with teenagers. It didn’t matter that they were bigger and stronger. She was still a strong competitor. 

After seeing one of her friends playing tennis, though, Billie Jean traded her softball bat for a tennis racquet. With that first swing at 11 years old, Billie Jean swiftly showed that she was definitely made to be a tennis player. 

She even told her mom that she was going to become the best tennis player in the world. Not the best women’s tennis player, not even the best women’s athlete, but the best tennis player in the world. 

There was one slight problem. Nobody really paid much attention to women’s tennis players, or really any women playing professional sports. So Billie Jean didn’t have anybody to model her career after. She had no female superstar athletes paving the way for her. Nope, she was going to have to do it all herself. Young Billie Jean had lots of challenges ahead of her. She was definitely going to have to prove that she was a tough opponent on the court.

But what she didn’t know was that some of her toughest battles would be off the court.

Still, Billie Jean knew in her heart that tennis was her sport. She was ready to start training. She was ready to start the path to become the best tennis player in the world. Not so fast, said reality! Her first off-court opponent was quick to show up. And it  stopped Billie Jean in her tracks. 

At the time, tennis was a pretty expensive sport. Her family didn’t have a lot of money, and her parents didn’t think they would be able to afford all of the equipment that she needed to start playing tennis. Billie Jean was used to overcoming an opponent with skill or endurance. That couldn’t help her this time.

But what could help her was persistence and hard work. Billie Jean decided that she would earn the money herself. She asked her neighbors if she could do jobs for them. Slowly, she ended up saving the money to buy herself her first racquet.

One opponent down. She had a racquet. She was ready to start practicing. She took free tennis lessons offered in her hometown of Long Beach, California. 

After a couple years of practice, Billie Jean was getting better and better. At age 14, she even won a championship tournament in Southern California! She was proving to herself and everyone around her that she was an athlete. And a great one.

But more opponents popped up off the court.  People criticized the way she played. They said she played too aggressively for a young girl. Billie Jean couldn’t help that she was a girl. No matter how well she performed, the boys around her were getting much more attention and praise. Billie Jean was frustrated. 

The criticism that she faced because of her gender continued to build. Then, as a teenager, she played in a big tennis tournament. At the end, they gathered all of the players for a photo.   Except for Billie Jean.

Why was she excluded from the photo?  At that time in tennis, women played in a traditional skirt. Billie Jean wore shorts. She was more comfortable and could play better in them. But she wasn’t allowed to be in the photo. Not unless she wore a skirt. Like girls were supposed to wear.

She felt like many people were rooting against her. The people in charge of tournaments didn’t want her to be noticed for her success. Despite this little loss, she kept playing throughout all of high school, and by the time she was ready to go to college, Billie Jean was ranked as one of the best women’s tennis players in the whole country. 

Even though she was winning almost every match in every tournament she joined, she made less prize money than the men who won the exact same tournaments. The people around her told her that she was a very good tennis player…for a girl. 

The college she went to wouldn’t even give her a scholarship just because she was a girl! She won every match she could, but still she felt that her gender was the one rival she would never be able to vanquish. 

Billie Jean was starting to realize that her childhood dream of being the best tennis player in the world was going to be much more difficult than she thought. She accepted that it would be difficult, but she did not accept that it would be impossible. 

Billie Jean was already fighting hard on the court. Now she was ready to start fighting back just as hard off the court. When she thought about her childhood dream, she didn’t just want to be the best tennis player in the world for herself. She wanted to be the best player in the world so she could make sports equal for all the girls who followed in her tennis-playing footsteps. 

To do this, Billie Jean would have to start playing more and bigger tournaments. So that’s exactly what she did. In 1961, when she was 18 years old, she competed in her first Wimbledon tournament. Wimbledon is an annual tennis tournament held in London, and it’s basically the World Cup of tennis. It’s one of the biggest and most watched tournaments all over the world every year. 

Billie Jean and her tennis partner Karen Hantz Susman became the youngest pair to ever win the Wimbledon women’s doubles title. After that, she didn’t stop. She kept winning. For the next 20 years almost, it seemed like Billie Jean won every match she played. 

In 1966, she won her first major singles championship at the Wimbledon tournament. And then she won again in 1967. And again in 1968. She went on to win a record-winning total of 20 Wimbledon titles in her career, which she still holds the record for today. 

Her victories spanned the whole world. From 1961 when she won that first Wimbledon, until 1979, Billie Jean won 13 titles at the major tennis tournament in the United States, four at the one in France, and two at the one in Australia, and 20 – yes, 20 – from Wimbledon.  

Even without doing the  math, we can all agree that those added up to a lot of wins for Billie Jean. Most importantly, she achieved that special goal that she told her mother about when she was a young girl. For a total of 6 years, Billie Jean King was ranked as the best women’s tennis player in the world. 

She’d made a name for herself. Now Billie Jean wanted to use the fame and reputation she’d earned on the court to start tackling some of the challenges and problems she’d dealt with off the court.

She first created an association specifically for women playing in tennis. She wanted to make the sport equal between mens and womens players, not only for herself, but for the women she was competing against, and for the thousands of young girls who might one day break the records she was setting. 

With this new Women’s Tennis Association, Billie Jean started a campaign to make prize money equal for both men and women at all these tournaments. At one point, Billie Jean even said she would stop playing in tournaments that would not offer the same amount of prize money. Unless they offered up some equality off the court, Billie Jean would not play. And without Billie Jean, less people came to see these tournaments.  

So the United States Open in 1973 became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money to both men and women thanks to Billie Jean. This was a big deal! It’s rare, even today, for male athletes and female athletes to earn the same amount of money. Billie Jean’s hard work and international success was changing some people’s minds. 

Of course, not everybody was happy with these changes. One of them was an older men’s tennis player. His name was Bobby Riggs. Bobby was especially upset with Billie Jean. He insisted that men’s tennis was better than women’s tennis. He boasted that he could beat any of the best female players, Billie Jean included. Even though he had been retired from the sport for almost 20 years, he challenged Billie Jean to a tennis match. The winner would get $100,000! And almost as importantly, they would get bragging rights. 

Billie Jean had never been one to back away from a challenge. She had changed the game of tennis and made it better for women. She had paid for her own equipment, been excluded from tournament photos, and spent decades training. Was she going to back down now? Of course, she accepted. 

People were very excited. They nicknamed the match the “Battle of the Sexes.” They put it on TV for the whole country to watch! It was the most watched tennis match ever. This meant that the stakes were even higher for Billie Jean. Could she beat a male tennis player? Could she show everybody watching that women were just as good at sports as men? 

On September 20 in 1973 Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs very easily. But it wasn’t her only victory. Her tougher victory was the respect she won for women by the thousands of viewers across the world. People were starting to agree with 11-year-old Billie Jean. Finally, it seemed that Billie Jean could claim the title of the best tennis player. 

Since then, Billie Jean has retired. She set up the Women’s Sports Foundation and a co-ed tennis team to make sure women would always have a place in professional sports. She continues to advocate for women in professional sports.

Billie Jean’s victories are one reason that we have many successful women’s athletes that we can look up to today. People like Simone Biles, Alex Morgan, and Serena Williams aren’t great athletes in spite of being women. They are the greatest athletes because they are women. And that’s something that Billie Jean worked hard to prove.  

So the next time you hear someone say, “They’re pretty good . . . for a girl,” remind them of Billie Jean King. Who was a pretty good athlete. Period. 

Sources: 

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Billie-Jean-King/630675

https://kids.kiddle.co/Billie_Jean_King#Early_life

https://kidskonnect.com/people/billie-jean-king/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-the-Sexes-tennis

The post The Story of Billie Jean King for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Our story begins in the early 2000s with two wizards of the Internet named David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. These visionary friends loved building and creating, and they dreamt of a place where everyone could let their imagination run wild. Together, they set out on an epic quest to create a platform where people could build their own games and play together.

In 2004, they used computer coding to create DynaBlocks. It was a virtual land where players could build and explore, creating their own adventures and challenges. 

Their chosen tool for their game idea was Lua, a scripting language known for its simplicity and versatility. Lua provided the foundation for David and Erik to weave the intricate code required to create a platform where users could unleash their creativity.

The development of DynaBlocks and its evolution into Roblox was no small task. David and Erik, armed with their coding expertise, spent several years refining and expanding their creation. The process was marked by many hours of dedication, trial, and error. As they encountered challenges and made changes, the two founders tirelessly worked to improve the user’s experience and build a platform that would capture the imagination of millions.

David and Erik hired a team of skilled programmers to get the job done. This collaborative effort brought many talents and perspectives into the mix, enriching the game design process. The team worked worked together to deal with technical challenges, optimize performance, and introduce new features that would contribute to the Roblox’s growth. As the team expanded, so did the complexity and depth of system, demonstrating the power of teamwork and innovation in the world of computer programming.

By 2006, Roblox officially became the digital space we know today, where players could build, play, and make friends from all corners of the globe.

As more adventurers joined the Roblox world, it started to sparkle with millions of games created by imaginative minds. You see, Roblox was designed so even the players could learn how to code and use graphic design to create their own games using the Lua programming language! How amazing is that? It means the possibilities for Roblox were endless! The popularity of Roblox soared, and soon it became a global sensation, enchanting players young and old alike.

In Robloxia, the virtual land of Roblox, players can embark on incredible quests and adventures created by fellow players. Some of the most popular games include “Adopt Me!”, where players can adopt virtual pets, and “Brookhaven,” a magical town where everyone can become anything they imagine.

The developers behind these games, like Adopt Me!’s DreamCraft and Brookhaven’s Wolfpaq, are like modern-day sorcerers. They spend hours waving their digital wands to create magical experiences for players to enjoy. These games became so beloved that they attracted millions of players, turning the once-small Robloxia into a bustling metropolis of creativity.

Now, let’s talk about some young adventurers who turned their dreams into impressive games. Players like Alex “builderman” Balfanz, made their fortunes by crafting games that captured the hearts of millions. Alex created “Jailbreak,” a game where players can choose to be cops or robbers in a thrilling chase. His creativity didn’t just entertain, but he was also able to earn money from his game, turning him into a legendary figure in the Roblox world.

In the magical land of Robloxia, some young creators have discovered a path to riches. Take, for instance, the young adventurer Andrew “badcc” Bereza. His game “Bad Business” became a sensation, and as players flocked to experience the excitement he crafted, Andrew found himself with a treasure trove of Robux, the currency of Roblox. 

Some of the young creators were able to earn enough to pay for their college education, which is pretty impressive!

In the world of Roblox, not all heroes wear capes – some wear headphones and sit in front of computers. Let’s delve into the tales of two creators who warmed the hearts of players everywhere.

One such gamer is EthanGamerTV, who started creating Roblox videos at a young age. His enthusiasm and love for the game resonated with many, turning him into a beloved figure in the Roblox community.

Another popular player is “Work at a Pizza Place,” Dued1. His game, where players can experience the joys and challenges of working at a pizza joint, became a beloved classic. Dued1’s journey from a humble creator to a celebrated figure in Robloxia showcases the power of imagination and hard work.

What do you think of the story of the creation of Roblox? It always amazes me to think of the small beginnings of projects like this. I mean, that’s how my podcast started, too. The idea for Roblox started in the minds of David Baszucki and Erik Cassel and with lots of hard work, talent, and determination led to the game we know today that is played by millions of creators and gamers around the world.

If you were to create your own game or app, what would it do? If you have an idea, write it down, draw some pictures to describe it, and use websites like Canva or Fiero Code or Scratch to learn how to design and code and bring your creation to life. Like Roblox, every big idea has to start somewhere!

The post History of Roblox for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

It had been a year since Tenzin had joined the monastery, he thought back about his life before climbing up the mountain and starting his new life as a Buddhist monk.

Tenzin had been born to humble parents in the village of Gyalpo. His family had been devoted practitioners of Buddhism for generations. Tenzin’s earliest memories were of prayer and the comforting presence of the nearby monastery. His parents, recognizing the spiritual interests of their son, encouraged him to explore the teachings of Buddhism from a young age.

As a child, Tenzin was drawn to the temple. His curiosity came out in the form of many questions posed to the village monks and visiting pilgrims. The elder monks, seeing his earnest desire for knowledge, began to guide him in the basic teachings of mindfulness and compassion.

One day, as Tenzin explored the village outskirts, he encountered a wandering monk named Kelsang. The old monk, with a flowing white beard and eyes that sparkled with ancient wisdom, recognized something special in Tenzin. Kelsang saw in the young boy a kindred spirit yearning for a deeper understanding of life.

Over a simple meal of tsampa and butter tea, Kelsang shared his own journey to enlightenment. He spoke of the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned, and the joy that accompanied a life devoted to mindfulness and compassion. Tenzin hung on to every word.

In that moment, Tenzin decided to become a monk like Kelsang. Kelsang offered to guide him to the monastery high in the mountains. Tenzin’s parents knew they would miss their son, and Tenzin knew he’d miss them, but they recognized the calling within Tenzin and gave him their permission to start the journey.

Under the guidance of Kelsang, Tenzin made the difficult hike to the monastery, where he was welcomed with open arm. 

Tenzin focused back on the present moment, waking in the monastery. He stretched, yawned, and noticed that his friend, Lhakpa, hadn’t awoken yet.

“Hey, it’s time to get up!” Tenzin said, shaking Lhakpa’s shoulder. 

“Ok, ok,” Lhakpa said groggily. His head was shaved just like Tenzin’s and the other boys.  

“I’m getting up.” Their other friend, Sonam, was already up, getting dressed and preparing for the day. 

Together, they walked across the hard wood floor to the dining room where other boys sat around a low table on the floor. They enjoyed a simple breakfast of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from roasted barley flour. As Tenzin ate, he listened to the rhythmic chants of the monks from the nearby monastery, a sound that echoed through the valley like a soothing melody. After his meal, Tenzin and his friends headed to the temple where he would spend the day learning the way of mindfulness and meditation.

The temple, perched on the mountainside, overlooked the village below. Its weathered stones and ancient prayer wheels told stories of generations seeking wisdom and enlightenment. The temple’s exterior was adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Buddhist scriptures. Tibetan prayer flags, vibrant and fluttering, adorned the eaves, imbuing the air with a sense of sacredness. A pair of heavy wooden doors, marked the entrance. Above them, a gilded canopy sheltered a trio of prayer wheels, waiting to be set in motion by the touch of a devoted pilgrim. 

Together, the boys entered the temple with a sense of reverence and anticipation. Inside, the air was thick with the earthy scent of incense. The flickering butter lamps cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating a setting of peace and tranquility. Their teacher, Lama Dorje awaited them. He was a wise and gentle monk with a flowing red robe. His head was shaved like the boys, his eyes were dark and piercing, and he always had a smile of his face. Lama Dorje lived the teachings of compassion and patience. His goal was to guide the minds of the young boys toward the path of enlightenment.

The morning rituals began with prostrations, a humble gesture expressing devotion and humility. Tenzin, Lhakpa, and Sonam bowed to the images of Buddha, their bodies moving in a fluid rhythm. The repetitive motions served as a physical expression of their dedication to the spiritual journey ahead.

Following the prostrations, the boys engaged in mindful breathing exercises. Lama Dorje instructed them to focus on each in breath and out breath, grounding their minds in the present moment. Tenzin closed his eyes, feeling the cool mountain air fill his lungs. And as he exhaled, he released the any stress from within.

After the morning session, the boys gathered for a simple lunch of lentil soup and steamed vegetables. The act of eating itself became a practice in mindfulness, with every bite savored and appreciated. The boys shared stories and laughter, fostering a sense of friendship that would support them on their spiritual journey.

In the afternoon, the boys explored the temple’s garden. Colorful flowers decorated the landscape, and the smell of blooming jasmine filled the air. They stood still and listened to the gentle rustling of leaves and distant chants from the temple. As they strolled along the winding paths, Tenzin embraced the beauty of the moment around them, practicing what he learned every day about fully living in the moment and appreciating what was happening in the now.

The boys walked a little further to the center of the garden to a Bodhi tree. This was the same type of tree Buddha was said to have received enlightnment. Under the shade of the Bodhi tree, Lama Dorje guided the boys in walking meditation. With each step, they connected with the earth beneath them, giving them a deep sense of gratitude for the interconnectedness of all life.

As the sun dipped below the towering mountains of Tibet, the boys returned to the temple for the evening session. Lama Dorje led them in a chanting ritual, the vibrations of the bell and their voices resonating through the ancient walls. The words carried prayers for the well-being of all living beings, the core Buddhist belief in compassion.

The day ended with a meditation session overlooking the majestic mountains. The boys sat in silent contemplation, their minds settling like a calm mountain lake. The fading sunlight painted the landscape in shades of lavender and indigo.

As they opened their eyes, Lama Dorje shared a simple yet profound teaching: “In the stillness of the mind, one finds the path to enlightenment. Embrace each moment with gratitude, for it is a step closer to understanding the nature of existence.”

Tenzin and his friends left the temple that evening with hearts full of inspiration. The teachings of mindfulness and compassion had taken root in their young minds, shaping the foundation for a life dedicated to the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.

In the quiet of the night, Tenzin stood on the temple balcony, gazing at the starlit sky above the mountains of Tibet. The vastness of the universe matched the depth of his new understanding. The journey was long, but with each step, Tenzin walked a path illuminated by the wisdom of the ancient teachings, a path that led to the serenity of the mind and the boundless compassion within the heart.

The post Finding Peace: A Buddhist Monk’s Journey appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

But when did we start celebrating Valentine’s Day?  And why?  Do you believe it actually involves a priest, a Greek God, and a duke, plus goats, dogs, and birds?  Well, it’s true, so let’s dive into the past and uncover the hidden history behind this love-filled holiday.

First, we must go back many, many centuries – to the third century in fact – to the thriving city of Rome, the bustling center of Italy and the heart of Catholicism.  The country is ruled by a Roman Emperor named Claudius II.  Claudius is a strict ruler who does not allow disobedience.  He makes a law that states that unmarried men must fight in his wars because they make better soldiers – they are free of wives and children and they fight fiercely.  He strongly believes that married soldiers, on the other hand, are lackluster fighters because they are constantly worried about losing their lives and never returning to their wives and children.  

Also at this time, there is a clergyman – a priest or a bishop – in Italy named Valentine or Valentinus, who travels around Italy preaching the Catholic faith.  At one point, he is imprisoned because of his preaching.  Valentine is brought before Judge Asterius and the judge dares him to prove his faith.  Judge Asterius orders Valentine to heal his blind daughter.  Valentine prays and then puts his hands on the daughter.  Immediately, the daughter’s eyesight returns.  The judge is so grateful to Valentine that he releases him from prison, as well as all the other inmates in his city.  

Valentine continues on his travels and learns about Emperor Claudius’ laws regarding single men being sent into battle.  He thinks this law is unfair, so he secretly performs wedding ceremonies for single men and their sweethearts, thus going around Claudius’ rules.  

Valentine eventually meets Emperor Claudius, who likes him at first, but when the emperor learns that Valentine is performing secret wedding ceremonies, he becomes enraged.  And when Valentine tries to convert him to Catholicism, he orders that Valentine be thrown into prison. He orders Valentine to give up his faith, but Valentine does not do so.  Some stories state that while Valentine is in prison, he writes a letter to Judge Asterius’ now-healed daughter and signs it, “From Your Valentine.”  

Unfortunately, Valentine’s kind acts and constant preaching anger Emperor Claudius and he orders Valentine to be killed on February 14^th.  By the following century, Valentine is one of the most celebrated saints in France and England.

In the 5^th century, a pope named Gelasius I became increasingly worried about the pagans – or non-Catholics – and their strange ceremonies.  These pagans did not believe in one God, but rather fairies, gods, goddesses, and goblins.  The pope decides that the pagan celebrations need to be banished and replaced with a Catholic celebration instead.  So, he orders that the pagan holiday of Lupercalia – held every year on February 15th – will now be the feast day of St. Valentine and celebrated on February 14th.

So, what is Lupercalia?  Lupercalia is a pagan – or non-religious – holiday honoring Faunus, the god of agriculture and the founders of Rome, named Remus and Romulus.  

During Lupercalia every year, a group of religious men used to gather in a secret cave in Rome where they believed that the infants Remus and Romulus were raised by a she-wolf or “lupa.”  The men would offer a goat and a dog as a sacrifice to the god Faunus.  They would then make strips out of the animals’ hides, dip them in fluid, and walk around town touching women and fields with the wet hides!  I am sure you and I would find this practice very strange today, but in those days, women liked to be touched by these hides as they believed it would bring them healthy babies and a bountiful harvest.  Later in the day on Lupercalia, single women would write their names on a piece of paper and put the paper into a large urn or container.  Young bachelors would pick a woman’s name out of the urn and live with that woman for a year.  I wonder if this is where blind dating got its start?!

Later, during the Middle Ages in France and England, it was believed that birds started their mating season in mid-February, around the feast day of St. Valentine. These mating birds and St. Valentine were mentioned in a 1375 poem by English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote: “For this was Seynt Valentine’s Day/When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” 

And just like Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made Christmas trees in homes a popular holiday tradition, another noble couple made love letters a St. Valentine’s Day tradition.  In 1415, Charles, the French Duke of Orleans, fought in the Battle of Agincourt against King Henry V of England.  The French lost the battle and the duke was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London, and other British castles, for the next 25 years.  While in prison, he wrote a poem to his wife called “A Farewell to love,” thinking he would never be released nor see her again.  He called her, “My very gentle Valentine.”  His poem is now considered the oldest valentine in existence.  

So, now we know about the priest and the pope who started St. Valentine’s Day and the noble who wrote a historic valentine.  But how did a chubby little cupid make it into our Valentine’s Day celebrations?  Well, in Greek history there is a handsome god of love named Eros, who shoots golden arrows into people to inspire love or stop others from doing evil acts.  But at some point in history, sometime after the death of Alexander the Great and Queen Cleopatra, images of Eros changed from a handsome god to a chubby cherub.  Eros remains the same to this day – possibly because a cheery cherub is less threatening as a symbol of love than a muscled man with arrows!

So, little by little, through the centuries, mid-February has become the time of year to celebrate love. By the 17^th century, Valentine’s Day had become quite popular.  And in the 18^th century, people started exchanging small tokens of love, like candy, flowers, and handwritten notes.  Then, in the early 1900’s, Valentine’s Day cards arrived in stores due to the popularity of the printing press.  People found it easier to select a preprinted card with a Valentine’s greeting than writing their personal feelings in a handwritten letter. Today, Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday, behind Christmas, with approximately 145 million cards sent every year.  

Couples still give each other boxes of chocolate, bouquets of flowers, and Valentine’s Day cards.  Children create handmade cards – or purchase cards – and give them to their classmates at school.  Sometimes they hold celebrations with tasty treats like cookies, cupcakes, and punch.  

In the United States, we also enjoy a popular candy called “Sweethearts.”  They are tiny, heart-shaped candies with words etched on them like “Be Mine,” “Kiss Me,” or “Miss You.”  They come in different colors like pink, yellow, blue, and green.  And the romantic expressions on the hearts change through the years – some sayings are kept and some are abandoned.  Since the language of young love is always changing, so the sayings on the hearts change, too.  Today, the hearts have expressions like “LOL” stamped on them.

The Sweethearts’ candy maker produces over 100,000 pounds (or 45 kilograms) of candy hearts every day.  That’s much heavier than a hippo, an elephant, or a Tyrannosaurus Rex – and almost as heavy as the space shuttle!  And over 8 billion hearts are made every year.  

So, what do you think of Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day?  Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day where you live?  What do you like most about Valentine’s Day?  Do you hold celebrations at home, school, or church and, if so, what do you do?  Do you have a favorite treat on Valentine’s Day?

The post History of Valentines Day for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

But did you know that kings and queens and dungeons and castles don’t just exist in fairy tales? They really exist! For hundreds of years, they’ve lived in a city called London.

Every year, 30 million people travel from around the world to London, the capital city of the United Kingdom. Why do so many people come to visit this city that is home to kings, queens, dungeons, and castles? Let’s check it out!

What better way to see all of the old castles and new buildings of London than from the sky. So let’s start our tour of this magical place with a trip up an elevator. In London, though, they would call this elevator a “lift.” This particular lift is going to take us to the very top of a building called the Shard. The Shard is the tallest building in London so our elevator has to travel more than 1,000 feet to reach the top!

But what a view! From the 68th floor of the Shard, we can see just how enormous London really is! Museums, buses, people, and buildings spread out as far as the eye can see. Many people think that London is one of the biggest cities in the world. Actually, though, it’s the smallest city in the United Kingdom. This is because the actual City of London is only about one square mile of skyscrapers. All of the palaces, attractions, and museums we see below us are actually in a region called Greater London, not the city of London.

London was founded about 2,000 years ago. At this time, a powerful empire known as the Roman Empire was invading many places on the continent of Europe. Eventually, the mighty Roman army sailed so far north that they reached a large island with a large river called the Thames. The Romans sailed along the Thames until they decided that it was narrow enough to build bridges across it. There, they built a city and called it Londinium, but at some point, it was shortened to London. From the top of the Shard, it’s easy to see the same river running through London today!  

Where the Romans first settled is the small section that is the true City of London. Today, people from all over the world come to work here. It’s pretty easy to spot from the Shard because it’s a cluster of tall skyscrapers. One of them is even shaped like a pickle. In fact, many people who live in London like to call it the Pickle!

Remember those bridges that the Romans built? Well, there are still around 35 of them crossing the river in London alone! Probably the most famous is called Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is built to look like, well, a tower. It’s named after a landmark that sits just at the end of the bridge called the Tower of London.   

The Tower of London has actually served many purposes throughout its history. It was first built as a military fortress for a French king named William the Conqueror. But since then, it’s been a prison, a castle, a place to store weapons, and even a zoo. 

Today, visitors stop by the Tower of London to see the crown jewels, owned by the King and Queen themselves. The collection of jewels is guarded by seven ravens, and countless British guards called beefeaters who wear bright red coats, big black boots, and tall fluffy hats. They get their pictures taken by tourists a lot! 

While the beefeaters guard their jewels in the Tower of London, the King and Queen live on the other side of London in Buckingham Palace. But even though a British queen or king has ruled the United Kingdom for around 1200 years, they haven’t always lived in Buckingham Palace. When the palace was built in London in the 1700s, it wasn’t for the royal family. A man named John Sheffield just wanted a place to stay while he was in London. About 50 years later, in 1762, King George III saw how grand and beautiful it was. He knew that nobody except for the royal family was fit to live there. So, he bought it for his wife.

To make it even grander, he added large gardens, archways, statues, and monuments. Buckingham Palace now has over 775 rooms. Seventy-eight of them are bathrooms! 

Since the 1700s, the people who lived and worked in Buckingham Palace have followed many royal traditions. Some are still used today. For example, if you visit the palace, you’ll know that King Charles is home if the British flag is flying on top of the building. You might also be lucky enough to see the changing-of-the-guard, which happens every morning during the summer, and every other morning during the winter. 

From the Shard, we can see that just below Buckingham Palace is a big clock tower. And when I say big, I mean huge. It’s so big they named the clock in it Big Ben, and it is 315 feet tall to be exact. This famous symbol helps Londoners keep track of time as they go about their busy days in the bustling city. The bells inside weigh about 14 tons each. That’s about the same as five adult elephants. When Big Ben was built, it took sixteen horses to pull it to where it stands now.

Big Ben is attached to the Houses of Parliament. This large building is home to the government of the United Kingdom. It’s kind of like the British version of the capitol building in Washington D.C. The Houses of Parliament look a lot like a palace themselves. In fact, this building is sometimes called the Palace of Westminster because it looks so royal and extravagant. 

London has long been a place for kings and queens to live. It’s also where a lot of business people and politicians come to work. But if you look down from the top of The Shard, you’ll see a crowded city full of people walking its streets, taking taxis and buses, and even riding boats along the Thames. What do all of these people do in London? 

Some could be actors hurrying to theaters in the West End. There are more than 240 theaters across London, and most of them are in the West End. London became famous for its live theater performances thanks to a famous playwright named Shakespeare. Shakespeare has a number of famous plays including Romeo and Juliet. In the 1500s, his theater, the Globe, was built in London. Even though it’s not in the West End, Shakespeare’s Globe and its many performances set the stage, quite literally, for the popularity of theater in London. Visitors can still see a play at the Globe or any one of the other 200 performances every day in theaters across London. 

Visitors might also check out one of London’s 192 museums. London was once the center of an empire that included Africa, Asia, and even the original American colonies. Because of this history, the museums in London are filled with art, artifacts, and information from all over the world. London is even home to the world’s oldest public museum – the British Museum. 

Like the artifacts in its museums, London is home to people from all over the world. Over 300 different languages are spoken here. Its restaurants include food from all over the world. And if you go to one of many soccer stadiums in London to see a match, you’ll likely see the best players in the world. 

The view from the Shard is not just beautiful. It helps show a city that is rich in history but also a modern city that is thriving.

Wait. I think I hear the chimes of Big Ben. It must be time for tea. Afternoon tea is another long tradition in London. But we’ll save that story for another time.

Sources:

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/London/345951

https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/a-brief-history-of-london

https://kids.kiddle.co/History_of_London

https://kids.kiddle.co/Buckingham_Palace

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Big-Ben/476223

https://kids.kiddle.co/Palace_of_Westminster

https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover/about-us/globe-theatre/#:~:text=The%20Globe%20Theatre%20you%20see,Julius%20Caesar%20in%20spring%201599.

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/arts-and-culture/vision-and-strategy/20-facts-about-london%E2%80%99s-culture#:~:text=London%20has%20over%20192%20museums,Rosetta%20Stone%20(196%20BC).

The post Tour of London for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

To be called the king of something, you have to be really good at it. You have to spend a lot of time and effort trying to be the best at it. Michael Jackson did exactly that.

He did have a little bit of a head start on other musicians. Before he was the King of Pop, he grew up performing with his talented family. Michael was born in Indiana in 1958 to a large musical family. Altogether, he had eight brothers and sisters! This helped give him a lot of practice learning how to compete for the spotlight. 

Michael was only six years old when he and four of his older brothers started singing in a band. They called themselves the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 signed with a popular record label in 1968. For almost twenty years, Michael took the stage with his brothers. Even though he was the youngest, he was the lead singer. If you’ve never heard the Jackson 5 before, check out two of their most famous songs:  ‘I Want You Back’ and ‘ABC.’ 

A B C, It’s easy as

1 2 3, as simple as

Do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3

Ok, you don’t want to hear me sing, but maybe it will ring a bell now!

While all of the brothers in the Jackson 5 were talented and successful, it was their young lead singer who quickly stole the spotlight. His future as the King of Pop was just beginning. 

Michael was still young when the Jackson 5 was topping the charts and releasing hit albums. His parents had to pull him out of school because he would get mobbed by fans during classes. Can you imagine having to sneak into math class to avoid giving autographs? With this type of fame, it was only a matter of time before young Michael was ready to break out and become a star on his own. 

In 1971, Michael was finally ready to step into his own spotlight. He released his first-ever solo album called Got to Be There. He was only 13 years old! Like many teenagers, he wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. For the next few years, he tried a little bit of everything in the entertainment industry. He still sang with his brothers in the Jackson 5. He released five of his own albums. He even did some acting in movies! Michael was good, maybe even great at some of these things. But he still had a long way to go before anybody honored him enough to call him king. 

Working with different people in music and movies helped Michael make connections in the industry. Eventually, he found the type of performer he wanted to be. In the 1980s, he went on his last tour with his brothers. Quitting the band would let him focus more on his solo career. 

It’s a good thing for us that he did. In 1982, Michael Jackson wrote, recorded, and released the best-selling album of all time. Seriously the best album ever! This album, his sixth, was titled Thriller. Thriller is still in the Guinness Book of World Records, even today! This album topped charts, earned many Grammy awards, and even led to a 13-minute long mini-movie for the music video of the song ‘Thriller.’ And, of course, Michael starred in it. It’s one of our family favorites to watch this every Halloween. 

It’s fair to say that by this point, Michael Jackson was on his way to earning the title of King of Pop Music. His beautiful voice and his upbeat songs were wowing fans. But how was Michael going to reign over all other pop singers? He was not just a singer, he was an entire personality. He had moves, music videos, and outfits that were fun to watch! 

Fans all over the world loved his dance moves and his bold clothing choices. He often showed off both in his popular music videos. Maybe you’ve heard of the moonwalk? If not, you should look it up. It’s this famous move where Michael looks like he’s walking forward while he’s really gliding backwards. Cool, right? He was known for doing the moonwalk onstage, often wearing a single sequined glove and cropped pants to show off his white socks. Michael stood out with his sparkling gloves, bright-colored shirts, and jackets and pants made entirely of leather. 

One of Michael’s most iconic looks was his red leather pants and matching jacket that he wore in the music video for Thriller. Before Thriller, music videos usually featured musicians singing their songs. But Michael wanted to tell a story. He popularized the entertaining, movie-like videos that music artists are still making today.  

With this kind of success though comes pressure. Could the King of Pop make another album just as good and just as flashy as Thriller? Michael Jackson answered that question five years later with the album Bad. This album added another five number-one hits to his growing list of achievements. This time, he made a music video with an award-winning movie director named Martin Scorsese. 

At the time, Michael was considered the biggest musician in the world. He had money and fame that most people could only dream of. He had famous friends and a huge mansion. But this rockstar lifestyle came with challenges. 

People wanted to know everything about Michael’s life. From the way he designed his home to the shape of his nose – every part of Michael Jackson was questioned by the public. That can be a lot of stress for one guy, even for a king.

Michael was in the spotlight for more than 40 years. His fame meant that his name frequently appeared in newspapers, magazines, and television stories. Some of his actions caused the public to question him as a role model. Some people stopped supporting him, but others continued to appreciate and love his music.

Still, Michael continued to make music. While none of his new albums were as big as Thriller, they were still popular. Michael stayed busy making music that people loved and entertaining crowds, and he took the time to help others. He was often considered a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who donates a lot of their money to help other people. 

In the 1980s, Michael worked with another musician named Lionel Richie. Together, the two wrote the song ‘We Are the World.’ The song was recorded by many famous musicians like Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner. It raised over $60 million to help fight poverty and hunger in Africa. Michael became well-known for his generosity and gave away lots of the money he earned to different charities. 

He also used his music to discuss things that he thought were important. The lyrics from his 1991 hit ‘Heal the World’ ask listeners to be kind to each other and take care of the planet. In his song ‘Black or White’ from the same year, Michael speaks against the hate that he faced because of his appearance and the color of his skin. These songs promoted racial tolerance and acceptance, something that was personal to him. 

In June 2009, Michael Jackson unexpectedly died in Los Angeles. He was only 50 years old. Much of the world mourned. He left behind a legacy of accomplishments and accolades. But mostly, he left the world his incredible music.

In his lifetime, Michael was nominated for 38 Grammy Awards and ended up winning 13 of them. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – once with the Jackson 5 and once as a solo artist. He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He still holds the title for having the best-selling album of all time with Thriller. 

It’s pretty easy to see why Michael Jackson became the King of Pop. He did so much for the world of music. Like all kings, he wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes. He was criticized. Still, his music is sure to be enjoyed and rediscovered by new fans for years to come. Long live the extraordinary music from the King of Pop.

Sources:

https://www.biography.com/musicians/michael-jackson

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Michael-Jackson/487595

https://www.ducksters.com/biography/entertainers/michael_jackson.php

https://kids.kiddle.co/Michael_Jackson#1986-1990

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson

https://www.grammy.com/news/michael-jackson-10-achievements-that-made-him-the-king-of-pop

https://www.michaeljacksonslegacy.org/michael/about-michael/

https://www.grammy.com/artists/michael-jackson/13202

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/michael-jackson-60th-birthday

The post History of Michael Jackson for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

But let’s leave all that behind.  Not everyone in the middle ages was a king, knight, or royal maiden. Most people– and by that I mean almost everyone– were very, very poor. And it’s a legend passed around by these poor peasants that we’re interested in today. 

So instead of imagining a grand castle with battlements and a drawbridge, let’s venture into the depths of Sherwood forest, where Robin Hood and his companions, the Merry Men, live and plan their raids. But, as you probably know, these are no ordinary criminals. The legendary Robin Hood was an outlaw, but he wasn’t in it to make himself rich. Instead, he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. His run-ins with the sheriff of Nottingham, his arch-nemesis, bring excitement and danger to the many tales of daring and bravery, while his relationship with the Merry Men and Maid Marion showcases teamwork, friendship, and generosity. 

But was there a real Robin Hood? And why have the legends of this green-clad crusader against injustice stayed so popular for over 700 years? Let’s go a little deeper into Sherwood Forest and see if we can find some answers! 

It turns out, the real Robin Hood is hard to find in those shadowy woods. Historians in the 14th and 15th centuries wrote about him as though he was real, describing a man who lived sometime in the 12th or 13th century. Later stories say he was a loyal supporter of the noble King Richard the Lionheart, and defended the king against Prince John, who seized the throne. But this alliance with King Richard was suggested by a much later writer, who lived in the 18th century, rather than anyone alive closer to the 1190s when he ruled. Also, Richard probably wasn’t as noble as these later Robin Hood legends suggest, and John probably wasn’t as evil. 

But in addition to history books, there were also plenty of songs and plays based on the legendary outlaw by the time the historians began to take notice. May Day festivals often included plays about Robin Hood. But it’s the songs, called ballads, where we find most of the Robin Hood legends we’re so familiar with today. A ballad was a folk song that told a simple story. They were performed by and for common people in many different settings in medieval England: At taverns, public markets, and fairs and festivals. 

Ballads were part of an oral tradition – stories passed around among friends, or from grandparents to grandchildren, generation to generation, over a long time. Ballads just happened to be set to music. Different performers might change things around or add new elements, so they weren’t really “written” by any one person. Most people didn’t know how to read or write in the Middle Ages anyways, so ballads were an important way to keep treasured stories alive. Over time, people forgot which parts were real and which weren’t, and the stories became legends.

At the time, people loved the idea of a hero who stood up against injustice and challenged authorities. Most people in medieval England were, after all. Most of them worked as farmers on land owned by royalty or the church. These people were called serfs, and they weren’t free to just get up and leave to seek a better life elsewhere. They had to farm the same land their parents and grandparents had farmed, for a wealthy baron or the church. But these peasants saw the grand castles and manors that the landowners lived in, the decadent foods they indulged in, and the fine clothes, and compared it to their own meager houses and rough clothes. 

So it’s no wonder Robin Hood became the hero of many a folk ballad, sung by these unfree peasants who worked the land. He strived to even things out, taking from the wealthy and giving the spoils to those who had almost nothing. In some medieval legends, Robin Hood is himself a commoner, a peasant, who goes against the system. In others, he started as one of those noblemen, but after seeing how the poor farmers on his estate lived, decided to devote himself to the cause of making their lives better.

Whatever Robin Hood’s personal history, wealthy, powerful people don’t always want to give up their wealth so that the poor can have a better life. Plus, what hero is complete without a villain? Robin Hood’s most persistent foe in the legends was the Sheriff of Nottingham. A greedy, cunning official, the sheriff had it out for Robin Hood, always devising schemes to capture him and his band of Merry Men. But Robin Hood always outwitted the sheriff, often besting him at his games. In one of the most famous ballads, the sheriff puts on an archery contest, with a silver arrow as the prize. The contest is designed to lure Robin Hood, who has a reputation as a skilled archer, into a trap so the sheriff can arrest him. But Robin disguises himself and wins the contest anyway. In some versions, he even splits another contestant’s arrow right down the middle! Later, he shoots a note–attached to an arrow–into town, boasting to the sheriff about how he had tricked him. 

Another thing every hero needs when he goes up against the bad guys is allies – a band of friends to help him through tough situations and keep his spirits up when things seem hopeless. Robin Hood’s Merry Men filled this role perfectly. Friar Tuck, Little John (said to be seven feet tall!), and Will Scarlett, to name a few, helped Robin with his schemes and disguises. Like Robin himself, we’re not sure whether most of these people were real, but many of them seem to be inspired by real people – mostly outlaws, though not always as charitably inclined as the Merry Men of the ballads!

But the love of Robin’s life was the Maid Marion. Though she’s always in modern movies and books about Robin Hood, she wasn’t in the earliest ballads and legends. But when she shows up in a 17th-century ballad, she makes a strong impression – on Robin as well as audiences! In this story, Marion disguises herself as a boy to search for Robin in the forest. But when she finds Robin, he’s also wearing a disguise, and instead of a happy reunion they get into a fight:

They drew out their swords, and to
cutting they went,
At least an hour or more,
That the blood ran apace from bold
Robins face,
And Marian was wounded sore.

“O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,” said
Robin Hood.
“And thou shalt be one of my string,
To range in the wood with bold Robin
Hood.
And hear the sweet nightingall sing.”

Fortunately, in the end Robin Hood is so impressed by his opponent’s swordsmanship, that he asks to stop the fight (“Hold thy hand”) and offers “him” a spot in his band of Merry Men, saying “be one of my string.” In other stories, Marion has very different roles: sometimes, she’s a noblewoman, sent off to marry the evil Prince John, rival of Robin Hood’s ally King Richard, and Robin must rescue her. In other accounts, she’s equal to any of the Merry Men–fighting alongside the rest of the crew, helping with Robin Hood’s mission to steal from the rich and give to the poor. 

In modern times, Robin Hood hasn’t lost any of his popularity. There have been countless novels, comic books, TV shows and movies about him since the middle ages. Movies range from the swashbuckling 1938 film “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” to the animated Disney version where Robin Hood and Maid Marion are portrayed as adorable foxes. Countless novels have been written over the years focussing not just on Robin Hood himself, but members of his outlaw band and especially Maid Marion. 

Whichever version of Robin Hood you prefer, the legendary outlaw stands for many of our most deeply held values. He’s loyal to his friends, brave in the face of injustice, and kind to those in need. I definitely don’t recommend stealing from anyone, but you can follow Robin’s example in any one of these areas. Even without breaking the law, doing the right thing can be uncomfortable, and doesn’t always make you popular. The world will always need people who are loyal, brave, generous, and kind – people who will do the right thing even if it means getting in trouble now and then.

Sources

https://www.boldoutlaw.com/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Robin-Hood

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/robin-hood

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/medieval-times/european-middle-ages-and-serfdom/a/serfdom-in-europe

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/738/the-adventures-of-robin-hood/#overview

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