Breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and it’s different all over the world! The Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with nutritionist Patty Keene about how to make smart choices for a healthy morning meal. From cereals to smoothies and pancakes to porridge, listeners learn what fuels our bodies best and discover global breakfast traditions.

Find a learning guide and activities at https://ChildrensHour.org/breakfast

What do you eat to start your day? The Kids Crew and Katie Stone explore breakfast—the meal that gives us energy for everything we do. They talk with Patty Keene, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, who explains what makes a healthy meal in the morning and why eating breakfast really matters.

Learn how foods like whole grains, fruits, and proteins help our bodies feel strong and our minds stay sharp. Patty Keene shares tips for choosing cereals with less sugar, how to build a better smoothie, and how to plan meals that keep kids full until lunchtime. The Kids Crew even learns how to read nutrition labels and calculate how much sugar is hiding in everyday foods.

Then we travel around the world to see what breakfast looks like in other countries. From noodles in China to oats in Iceland, bean dishes in Egypt to breakfast burritos in New Mexico, kids everywhere begin their mornings in deliciously different ways. You’ll hear about breakfasts that are sweet, salty, spicy, and surprising—and discover how every culture has its own way to welcome a new day.

Breakfast was written produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Amber Schiel writes our learning guides.

Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit organization, and distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.
©2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved

Lemurs are some of the most amazing primates in the world. These furry animals are only found in Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet Faye Goodwin, an educator from the Duke Lemur Center in North Carolina. Together they explore what makes lemurs unique, how they live, and the challenges they face in the wild.

Find the learning guide for this episode at https://childrenshour.org/lemurs/

We discover that lemurs are the earliest primates on Earth, and that our family tree connects to theirs going back more than 65 million years. Listeners find out why lemurs are often mistaken for other animals, what makes their noses “wet,” and how their special tooth comb helps them groom. We also learn about ring-tailed lemurs and their “stink fights,” the role of their long tails in climbing cliffs, and what they eat—from fruits and leaves to bugs and even flowers.

The show explains why Madagascar is the only place in the world where lemurs live naturally, and how humans cutting down forests has put them in danger. Faye Goodwin describes how the Duke Lemur Center works to save these animals by studying them, protecting their habitat, and helping people in Madagascar find ways to grow food without destroying more forest. Listeners learn about extinct giant lemurs, predators like the fossa, and how climate change is affecting their survival.

We also hear from Extinction Diaries, who explain just how endangered lemurs are and why it’s so important to act now. This episode is full of surprising facts, fascinating science, and real-world solutions that show how everyone can help protect lemurs.

Lemurs was produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Amber Shiel writes our learning guides, which you can find at childrenshour.org.

Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit organization, and distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn all about composers — the people who write music. Have you ever wondered how songs are created? A composer is the person who puts the notes together, making melodies that can be played by singers, choirs, or even a whole orchestra. Some composers lived hundreds of years ago, and their music is still played today. Others are writing brand-new songs right now that teach, entertain, and inspire us.

Find the full episode page and learning guide at: https://childrenshour.org/composers

We start with Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived during the Baroque period. Bach worked very hard to invent his own musical style, and even when he had struggles, he kept writing. Next we meet Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was a child prodigy. Mozart started playing the piano at three years old and composed his first song at five! Then we learn about Ludwig van Beethoven, who created some of the most powerful music ever written, even after he lost his hearing. These great composers changed the way the world thinks about music.

But composers are not just in the past. Today, we hear from Bill Sherman, a modern composer who worked on Hamilton, In The Heights, Sesame Street, and Jam Van. Bill tells us how he makes songs, why it’s important to keep trying, and how music can bring people together. Along the way, you’ll hear pieces that show how music from long ago and music from today are connected.

This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and co-produced by our Junior Producer and Intern, Thaniel Lentz, with production support from Katie Stone, Sarah Gabrielli and Chris Tsakis.

The Children’s Hour radio show is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

It’s Halloween time on The Children’s Hour! In this episode, we celebrate pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, costumes, and trick-or-treating. Our Kids Crew shares their own traditions, from trunk-or-treat clothing drives to festive parades in northern New Mexico. We’ll find out why some houses put teal pumpkins outside their doors, and learn how this helps kids with food allergies have a safe and fun holiday.

Find the learning guide and activities at https://childrenshour.org/pumpkin-spice

Corbit uncovers the spooky story of Stingy Jack and how jack-o’-lanterns began, while Isaac explores the history, varieties, and surprising facts about pumpkins. We even discover why pumpkins are considered a fruit, how Native Americans first used them, and the many shapes, colors, and flavors they come in today.
One of the strangest traditions in Halloween is trick or treating. Why do we go door to door and bother our neighbors, banging on their doors and asking for candy or other treats? The tradition is not as old as you might think, according to our host Katie Stone.

We also hear from Charlotte Joseph of the Anaphylactic Food Allergy Support New Mexico Network, who explains the Teal Pumpkin Project and how we can all make Halloween more inclusive. Plus, there are lots of Halloween songs throughout the show to keep the fun rolling!

From all of us at The Children’s Hour, we wish you a happy and safe Halloween! Bring a flashlight if you trick or treat, and remember if the porch lights are out, skip that house.


This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Christina Stella, Sarah Gabrielli, and Thaniel Lentz. Learning materials were created by Amber Shiel. Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

How old is that tree in your yard, the forest, or the park? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn how scientists can answer that question by studying tree rings. The Kids Crew is joined by Dr. Peter M. Brown, a dendrochronologist from Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research. A dendrochronologist studies the science of tree rings, which can tell us not only how old a tree is, but also stories about weather, droughts, floods, wildfires, and even human history.

Find the full episode page and learning guide with activities at https://childrenshour.org/dating-trees

Dr. Brown explains how trees grow a new ring every year. Wide rings mean the tree had plenty of water and sunshine, while narrow rings show times of stress, such as drought. The Kids Crew learns how scientists use an instrument called an increment borer to take small samples of trees without cutting them down. This lets researchers gather tree histories that go back hundreds or even thousands of years.

We find out how tree rings can be matched, or “cross-dated,” to figure out the exact year an old beam in an ancient building was cut down. This process has helped archaeologists date villages and ruins across the Southwest and around the world. Tree rings also reveal the impacts of climate change today, showing how warmer summers and changing rainfall patterns are affecting forests everywhere.

The show takes us on a journey to meet some of the oldest trees on Earth. Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains, is nearly 5,000 years old. Dr. Brown tells us about giant sequoias, which grow wider than a classroom, and how they can live for thousands of years. We also hear about petrified wood—ancient trees turned to stone—that still keep their tree rings after millions of years. Even fossil wood can show evidence of forest fires and climate conditions long before people existed.

We also learn about aspen groves, which grow from one mother root system. Some scientists think these living tree communities could be as old as 80,000 years, making them some of the oldest and largest living organisms on Earth. While their exact ages are debated, their ability to keep spreading and regenerating shows the resilience of trees and forests.

The Kids Crew asks big questions: Can trees live forever? Why do some trees live much longer than others? How do forests change after fires or thinning? Dr. Brown helps us understand that trees are “modular organisms,” always growing new leaves, bark, and roots. Trees often die because of outside forces like insects, drought, or people cutting them down. But their rings remain as a diary of their lives and the environments they lived in.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Incorporated, a New Mexico nonprofit organization.
This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Christina Stella, Sarah Gabrielli, and Thaniel Lentz. Amber Shiel writes our learning guides.

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

The Kids Crew discover the animals living right outside our doors. From prairie dogs, coyotes, and roadrunners in New Mexico to monkeys in Thailand, stray dogs in India, koalas in Australia, and wildlife in Brazil, we learn how animals adapt to city life. With expert guest Cooper Freeman and research from junior producer Thaniel Lentz, we explore the challenges and joys of living alongside wild creatures everywhere.

Find the full episode post at: https://www.childrenshour.org/animals-in-the-backyard/

Everywhere people live, animals live too. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore the creatures that share our backyards, neighborhoods, and cities. From prairie dogs in New Mexico to coyotes in Albuquerque, and even monkeys in Thailand, the Kids Crew and our guests help us see the wild world right outside our windows.

Our intern and junior producer, Thaniel Lentz, researched the many animals that thrive in cities, suburbs, and rural places. He explains how prairie dogs create underground towns that provide shelter for owls, ferrets, and reptiles, even as their own populations shrink. We also learn about roadrunners, who dash at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, and coyotes, clever enough to use stoplights to cross busy streets.

Guest Cooper Freeman, Alaska Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, describes what it’s like to live with bear, moose, lynx, and even musk ox right outside your door. He explains how climate change is shifting animal habitats northward and what people can do to live safely and respectfully with wildlife.

We also travel around the globe: to Thailand, where monkeys roam city streets and even enjoy an annual buffet feast; to India, where millions of stray dogs live alongside people; to Australia, where koalas and magpies turn up in backyards; and to Brazil, where conservationists are restoring wildlife to the Tijuca urban rainforest.

Along the way, we hear music, poetry, and stories inspired by animals. The Kids Crew remind us that no matter where you live, wild creatures are never far away.

This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and produced by Thaniel Lentz, our junior producer and intern, with production help from Katie Stone and Sara Gabrielli. Amber Schiel writes our learning guides, which can be found at ChildrensHour.org.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit organization. We are distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

©2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore balloons. From party balloons to weather balloons, and from the first hot air balloons in 18th-century France to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the Kids Crew dives into the history, science, art, and wonder of ballooning.

Find the full episode page, including a companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/balloons/

We learn how the Montgolfier brothers sent a sheep, a duck, and a chicken up in the very first hot air balloon in 1783, and how gas-filled balloons soon followed. The Kids Crew discover the science that makes balloons float, and we hear how balloons are still used today in weather forecasting, reaching as high as 100,000 feet to collect atmospheric data.

We go behind the scenes at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest balloon gathering in the world, and experience the magic of “the box,” a wind pattern that allows balloons to return to their starting point. Our crew shares sounds from balloon chases, night glows, and even a ride in a special-shaped balloon.

We also meet 12-year-old composer Evan Daitz, who turned the sound of hot air balloon burners into his symphony A Balloon’s Breath, performed by professional musicians at Chatter in Santa Fe.

The kids in the Extinction Diaries at KFOI have a message about releasing helium balloons. It turns out they are catastrophic for animals, who mistake them for food and typically choke or starve after eating them. Balloons bring wonder, beauty, and inspiration, but they also remind us to take care of our Earth.

There are practical scientific applications for releasing balloons into nature, including the enormous weather balloons that you may see floating in the sky in the middle of the day. These are released daily from hundreds of locations worldwide, and help meteorologists predict the weather, and climate scientists see longterm weather patterns. 

Get blown away with us as we learn about ballooning this time on The Children's Hour.

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from Jena Ritchey, Christina Stella, Sarah Gabrielli, Thaniel Lentz. Special thanks to David Felberg and the musicians at Chatter for their performance of A Balloon’s Breath. This episode was recorded at KUNM-fm, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and the Sunspot Solar Studio, all in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Children’s Hour is a production of The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit organization. We are distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

©2006 - 2025 The Children's Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Everything we do uses energy, but not all energy is the same. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn about renewable energy—power that comes from sources we can use again and again without running out.

Find the learning guide, activities, and full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/renewable-energy

Our Kids Crew wondered: what exactly makes energy “renewable”? Experts joined us to explain. Rebecca “Puck” Stair, director of New Mexico’s State Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, told us how sunshine and wind keep giving us free power every day. Jim Desjardins, of the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico, showed how solar panels turn sunlight into electricity we use at home. Dr. Sherry Kelly, a geologist from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and New Mexico Tech, explained geothermal energy—how heat deep underground can be used to make electricity.

We discovered the many forms of renewable energy:
Solar, which works almost everywhere and gets even better when paired with batteries.
Wind, which spins turbines day and night to make power.
Geothermal, clean energy that comes from Earth’s heat and runs all the time.
Hydroelectric, both traditional dams and new storage systems that save power for later.
Even wave and tidal energy, capturing the force of the ocean.

The Kids Crew asked tough questions: Why do fossil fuels harm our planet? What makes greenhouse gases so dangerous? Can renewable energy replace all fossil fuels before they run out? Our guests explained how carbon dioxide and methane trap heat like a greenhouse, why change takes time, and how countries like Iceland are already running fully on renewables.

We also talked about what kids and families can do—speak up, make small changes like using less plastic or conserving energy, and dream about careers in the growing renewable energy industry. Most of all, our guests reminded us that kids’ voices matter most, because the future belongs to you.

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabriellie and Thaniel Lentz. Chad Scheer records our shows at Outpost Performance Space, and Amber Shiel writes our learning guides.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico nonprofit organization. We are distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network, and supported by listeners like you.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved.

What does it mean to be a stranger in a new land? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore the experiences of refugees—people who must leave their homes to find safety somewhere else.

Find the learning guide, photos, links and the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/welcome-stranger

Our special guest is Rahim AlHaj, a two-time Grammy Award-winning musician and composer. He grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, where he began playing the oud, a string instrument that is more than 5,000 years old and considered the ancestor of the guitar, violin, and all other stringed instruments. Rahim had to leave Iraq during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein because he spoke out for justice. His choices put him in danger, so he fled first to Jordan, then to Syria, and finally to the United States as a political refugee. Today, Rahim calls Albuquerque, New Mexico his home.

Rahim explains what it means to be a refugee. He reminds us that nobody chooses to leave their home unless they are forced to. Refugees bring their knowledge, skills, and culture with them—whether they are teachers, doctors, musicians, or farmers. By welcoming them, we gain stronger, more diverse communities filled with new ideas, food, art, and traditions.

Our Kids Crew had many questions for Rahim. They asked what it was like to move to a completely new country, not knowing the language or the customs. He told us how even something as simple as reading a menu was confusing at first, but how music helped him find connection. Rahim also shared how he grew up so devoted to his oud that he named it “Habibi,” which means “my darling,” and even slept with it by his side.

The oud is round-backed and produces a deep, resonant tone. Rahim demonstrated its sound on our show, and it was unlike anything most of us had ever heard. He explained that the oud’s shape allows the music to resonate inside the instrument before flowing back out, like a voice echoing in a room.

The oud is one of the world’s oldest instruments, with roots tracing back 5,000 years to Mesopotamia. Can you hear the galloping hooves in his Horses song? The piece he played live for us at Outpost is called Baghdad, New Mexico, an homage to his two homes. Listening to Rahim play felt like traveling through time and across cultures.

The Kids Crew also learned about Malala Yousafzai, who became a refugee after standing up to the Taliban in Pakistan. When she was only 11 years old, Malala bravely demanded the right for girls to go to school. She went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize and inspire millions around the globe. Like Rahim, Malala shows how refugees bring not only their culture, but also powerful stories of courage and hope.

Throughout the show, Rahim emphasized that welcoming refugees is about kindness and fairness. The United States has always been a place where people come seeking safety, and every culture has teachings that encourage compassion for strangers. Refugees remind us of our shared humanity. By including them, we build communities that are stronger, more peaceful, and filled with variety—new foods, new music, new languages, and new friends.


Credits

This episode of The Children’s Hour was produced by Katie Stone, with help from our Kids Crew and our producers Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Chad Scheer recorded our show at Outpost Performance Space, and Amber Shiel writes our learning materials.

The Children’s Hour radio show is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, junior producer and intern Thaniel Lentz takes us through the incredible history and science of animation. From early tools like the zoetrope and flipbooks to famous characters like Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse, we learn how still pictures came to life. Thaniel explains how Disney’s Snow White used cels to transform animation, and how computers made it possible to create 3D films like Toy Story and Into the Spider-Verse. This episode is a celebration of imagination and the artists who make drawings move.

Find the full episode page, learning guide, links, videos and more at https://childrenshour.org/animation

Our show begins with the earliest history of animation. While many people think that animation has only existed since the invention of film, animation has actually been around for centuries. One example of a classical animation technology is the zoetrope. The image below shows a sculpture zoetrope, and the video demonstrates an image zoetrope.

Next, we meet some of the first cartoon stars: Felix the Cat, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Mickey Mouse. Thaniel tells us how Walt Disney and his team made Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated movie, using “cel animation”—where clear sheets let characters move without redrawing the background every time. This saved artists time and made cartoons smoother and more detailed.

We begin with early inventions like the magic lantern, a box with a candle inside that could project pictures on a wall. Thaniel explains how tools like the phenakistoscope and zoetrope used spinning images to create movement. We try flipbooks and learn how even simple drawings can show motion if you flip them fast enough.

Next, we meet some of the first cartoon stars: Felix the Cat, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Mickey Mouse. Thaniel tells us how Walt Disney and his team made Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated movie, using “cel animation”—where clear sheets let characters move without redrawing the background every time. This saved artists time and made cartoons smoother and more detailed.

Thaniel also teaches us the Twelve Principles of Animation, used by animators everywhere to make movement more lifelike and fun. We learn about "squash and stretch" (which makes characters bounce and bend), "anticipation" (getting ready for a big action), and "exaggeration" (making things more dramatic for laughs or emotion).

Then, we leap into the computer age and discover how animation changed with new technology. We hear about The Adventures of André and Wally B., the first short by the company that became Pixar, and how Toy Story became the world’s first full 3D animated movie. Thaniel explains how computers help animators “rig” characters like puppets, so they don’t need to be redrawn again and again.

Finally, we explore how today’s movies like Into the Spider-Verse, Wolfwalkers, and The Wild Robot use a mix of hand-drawn art and digital tools to create bold, unique animation styles. From chalkboards to CGI, Thaniel shows us how artists keep finding new ways to bring imagination to life.

This episode was written and produced by our Junior Producer and Intern Thaniel Lentz, with help from Katie Stone and Sarah Gabrielli.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to creating high-quality children’s public radio. We’re distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network, and we’re supported by listeners like you.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever looked up and spotted a bright red dot in the night sky? That’s Mars — our neighbor in the solar system, and a planet full of mysteries. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we journey to the Red Planet with planetary volcanologist Dr. Larry Crumpler from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. He works directly with NASA’s Perseverance Rover, which is exploring Mars right now!

Find the full episode page and learning guide at https://childrenshour.org/mars

We learn why Mars is red, discover its enormous volcanoes and deep canyons, and find out what makes it similar to Earth. Dr. Crumpler explains how rovers land, what they do once they’re there, and how they help us look for signs of life. We hear about Mars’ two tiny moons, its wild dust storms, and why it’s so dry. You’ll also discover how scientists might make oxygen on Mars and what it would take to send people there in the future.

Our Kids Crew wonders if there’s life on Mars, how rovers survive the cold, and what the first humans might find. With music about space and plenty of questions, this show is your ticket to an out-of-this-world adventure. Find pictures, links, and learning materials for classrooms and families at ChildrensHour.org — look for “Mars.”

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Chad Sheer was our recording engineer at Outpost Performance Space, and Amber Schiel writes our learning guides. Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What is journalism, and why does it matter? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn what journalism is and how journalists help us understand the world around us. We meet trailblazing reporters, hear from our Kids Crew, and talk with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. She shares what it means to be a good journalist, why she started her career, and how young people can begin telling important stories.

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/journalism

Sherry Burr and Loretta Hall from the New Mexico Press Women explain how reporters get information and tell both sides of a story fairly. We also learn how to spot the difference between real news and paid ads. Plus, Illuminata from our Kids Crew reviews Maria Hinojosa’s inspiring children’s book, Once I Was You: Finding My Voice and Passing the Mic. With music, conversations, and curious questions from kids, this episode gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at newsmaking and the people who do it.

You’ll also hear how being the first Latina in NPR’s newsroom shaped Maria Hinojosa’s view of her job as both a privilege and a responsibility. And we explore how storytelling can change the way we see the world—and each other.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone with help from Eli Henley, Sarah Gabrielli, and Daniel Lentz. Chad Scheer was our recording engineer at the Outpost Performance Space.

Many thanks to our guests Maria Hinojosa, Loretta Hall, and Sherry Burr. Additional thanks to the New Mexico Press Women for their support of student journalism.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to creating high-quality children’s public radio. We’re distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network, and we’re supported by listeners like you. Learn more at ChildrensHour.org.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Birthdays are something many kids look forward to every year. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we celebrate everything about birthdays! From candles and cakes to songs, games, and traditions around the globe, our Kids Crew explores what makes a birthday special in different places and cultures. We also find out how birthday customs have changed over time, and where ideas like singing “Happy Birthday” or hitting a piñata came from.

Find the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/birthdays/

You’ll hear about birthday traditions in places like Vietnam, where everyone celebrates on the same day during Tet; and in India, where kids wear new clothes and honor their parents. In Brazil, kids get their ears gently pulled—once for every year! In Egypt, birthday parties are full of flowers and even more than one cake. The Kids Crew also takes us to Denmark, where the whole neighborhood knows you’re celebrating because your family flies a flag outside your house!

Back in New Mexico, we talk about quinceañeras, where turning 15 is a big deal for girls in Mexican and Hispanic cultures. We also learn the history behind the birthday song and find out where the tradition of putting candles on cakes started. And we take time to remember kids who celebrate the day they were adopted. If you’ve ever had a birthday, or wanted to know how others mark theirs, this show is for you!

This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and produced by Katie Stone, Executive Producer and Host with production support from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz.

The Children’s Hour is produced by The Children’s Hour Inc., distributed by Native Voice One, and supported by listeners like you. Find more at ChildrensHour.org/birthdays

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.