Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Elizabeth. Elizabeth Wonders, “why do people pierce their ears?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Elizabeth!

Do you like to wear jewelry? A beautiful necklace can be the perfect addition to a nice outfit. A homemade bracelet from a friend might be one of your favorite things to wear. Perhaps you have a ring or two that you like to wear?

Some people like to wear their jewelry in their ears. In fact, humans have been piercing their ears for thousands of years. Piercing was a cultural tradition for the ancient Aztecs, Romans, and American Indians.

So the practice of piercing definitely isn’t new. Do you have pierced ears? Many kids look forward to the day when they’ll be old enough to get their ears pierced. However, many others like their earlobes just the way they are. The thought of poking a sharp metal object through them might make you shiver!

Many children have the same question about piercing their ears. Will it hurt? Years ago, the process of piercing was probably painful. But today’s ear piercing machines make it a quick — and fairly painless — event.

Today, numbing agents are used to numb the earlobes. Then, the piercing machine pierces the earlobe. It inserts an earring at the same time. The process that takes mere seconds. Most children don’t feel much more than a tiny pinch!

At what age should people be able to get their ears pierced? It’s really a matter of personal preference. Most parents have their own feelings about what an appropriate age would be. Many children get their ears pierced when they’re old enough to care for the piercing. Pierced ears need to be cleaned carefully until they’re healed.

When you first get your ears pierced, you should leave the earrings in until your ears are completely healed. This will keep the holes from growing closed and prevent infections. Keeping your ears clean will also reduce the chance of your ears getting infected.

If you’re still hesitant to pierce your ears, that’s okay! Clip-on earrings are another option. They clip onto your earlobes instead of going in a piercing. You can also choose not to wear jewelry on your ears at all. If you do choose to pierce your ears, rest assured that it shouldn’t hurt much at all!

Standards: C3.D2.His.2, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.SL.1

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Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day just might send a chill down your spine!