TIME for Kids - Age 8+ Family Edition

On September 10, presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump met for a debate. It took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was watched by more than 50 million people around the world. It was the first debate between the vice president and the former president. But it wasn’t the first debate of the 2024 presidential election. On June 27, Trump debated President Biden, who was the Democratic party’s nominee at the time. Biden dropped out of the race on July 21. Harris became the party’s candidate soon after. During the debate, the candidates had to follow rules that were put in place to help things run smoothly. A candidate had two minutes to answer a question. Then the other candidate had two minutes to respond. They had to wait their…

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a system of caves in New Mexico. Its ecosystem was threatened recently when a visitor dropped a bag of Cheetos there. Food and drink are prohibited in the caves. A spilled snack might seem harmless, “but to the life of the cave it can be world changing,” park representatives wrote in a September 6 Facebook post. The Cheetos “formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi.” Much of this was not native to the cave. Rangers spent time carefully removing foreign molds. The post called this incident “completely avoidable.” It reminded people that “we all leave an impact wherever we go.” NEWS STORIES MAY INCLUDE REPORTING FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.…

On September 10, presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump met for a debate. It took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was watched by more than 50 million people around the world. It was the first debate between the vice president and the former president. But it wasn’t the first debate of the 2024 presidential election. On June 27, Trump debated President Biden, who was the Democratic party’s nominee at the time. Biden dropped out of the race on July 21. Harris became the party’s candidate soon after. During the debate, the candidates had to follow rules that were put in place to help things run smoothly. A candidate had two minutes to answer a question. Then the other candidate had two minutes to respond. They had to wait their turn. While…

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a system of caves in New Mexico. Its ecosystem was threatened recently when a visitor dropped a bag of Cheetos there. Food and drink are prohibited in the caves. A spilled snack might seem harmless, “but to the life of the cave it can be world changing,” park representatives wrote in a September 6 Facebook post. The Cheetos “formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi.” Much of this was not native to the cave. Rangers spent time carefully removing foreign molds. The post called this incident “completely avoidable.” It reminded people that “we all leave an impact wherever we go.” NEWS STORIES MAY INCLUDE REPORTING FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. EDWIN REMSBERG—VW PICS/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES…

Kira Patel volunteers with a global hunger-relief organization. Where do you volunteer? I pack food with Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization with a location in Mesa, Arizona. I have completed more than 50 volunteer hours this year. What do you like about volunteering? It’s a lot of fun. I take my family and friends to volunteer. Everyone comes together to pack food bags that are sent to children facing food insecurity. Every time I leave a session, I feel a great sense of pride. Every bag we pack makes me feel one step closer to ending world hunger. What other ways do you spread kindness in your community? There are so many ways—even simple acts during the day. For example, a compliment or thankyou to a teacher or…

Each year, TIME makes a list of the World’s Greatest Places. TIME for Kids picks its favorites. This year’s list has something for everyone, from delicious local food to close encounters with wildlife. Maybe you like scenic outdoor adventures. Maybe you prefer brain-bending science museums. Whatever you like, learning about these destinations will change how you see the world. Where would you go first? NATURE ART Art and nature lovers can wander through a world of colorful drawings at the GROOTBOS FLORILEGIUM, at the Grootbos Private Nature Preserve, in South Africa. The gallery has nearly 250 botanical drawings. They celebrate South African plants and their pollinators, such as insects and birds. —By Elaine Glusac LUSH LAND Want to try harvesting seaweed or keeping bees? Travel to Chile’s RUTA DE LOS…