Squeaks and I are super excited because we’re going on a road trip to see the Grand Canyon! It’s a place with huge cliffs in Arizona, USA. But there’s a little problem: Squeaks doesn’t feel so good when he’s in a car. He gets carsick!
Getting carsick is a type of motion sickness. This happens when being in something moving, like a car, makes you feel unwell. You can also get motion sickness on a boat, plane, or even a roller coaster. If you have motion sickness, you might feel like you’re going to throw up, feel dizzy, sweaty, have a headache, or just feel really crummy.
It’s interesting that some people get motion sickness and some don’t. Kids tend to get it more than adults. So, if you have it now, it might not be as bad when you’re older. But for now, there are ways to feel better!
When you’re in a car, you’re sitting still, but the car is moving. This can confuse your brain. Your eyes tell your brain that you’re sitting still, but your ears say something different. Your inner ear, a tiny part inside your ear, helps track how your body moves. It has liquid and tiny hairs that move when you do. So, when the car moves, the liquid in your ear moves too, telling your brain that you’re moving.
If your brain gets mixed signals from your eyes and ears, it might make you feel sick. Scientists think your brain might think these mixed signals are from something bad, like poison, and tells your body to throw up to get rid of it, even though there’s no poison!
Squeaks is worried about getting carsick on our trip, but there are things you can do to feel better! First, eat a light meal before the trip. Not too much or too little, just enough to keep your stomach happy. Once you’re in the car, look out the window at the horizon, where the sky meets the land. This helps your eyes and ears agree on how you’re moving, which can help you feel better.
Try not to read books or play games on a tablet or phone in the car. Looking at something inside the car makes it seem like you’re not moving, which can make you feel worse. Looking out the window can be more fun! You can see trees, the sky, road signs, and other cars zooming by. It’s also relaxing, which helps avoid motion sickness.
Squeaks and I are going to eat a light lunch to help prevent motion sickness. Then, we’re off on our exciting road trip to the Grand Canyon! We’ll be back soon. Thanks for joining us! If you want to keep learning and having fun with Squeaks and me, hit the subscribe button, and we’ll see you next time!
Make Your Own Motion Detector: Create a simple model to understand how your inner ear works. Fill a clear plastic bottle halfway with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Seal the bottle tightly. Tilt and move the bottle to see how the water moves inside. Discuss how this is similar to the liquid in your inner ear moving when you’re in a car. How does this help your brain know you’re moving?
Observation Game: Next time you’re in a car, play a game where you look out the window and try to spot different things like trees, cars, or animals. Keep a list of what you see. Talk about how looking outside helps your brain understand that you’re moving. How does this make you feel compared to when you look at a book or a screen?
Role Play with Squeaks: Pretend you’re Squeaks and practice what you would do if you started feeling carsick. What are some things you can do to feel better? Act out eating a light meal, looking at the horizon, or taking deep breaths. How do these actions help you feel better?
