Reality explained to kids

Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealized or fictional version of them. Reality includes everything that exists in the universe, both physical and mental. Most of what we know about reality comes from our senses, which give us information about the world around us. Our brains then interpret this information to form our perceptions of reality. However, our senses can sometimes trick us, leading us to believe things that are not actually true. For example, an optical illusion can make a straight line look bent. There is also a difference between what we perceive and what is actually out there. For example, we may see a chair in a room, but we cannot see the atoms that make up the chair. We know the chair is there because we can feel it, sit on it, and see it. There is also a difference between our perceptions and the way things really are. For example, we may see a friend across a room and wave to them, but they may not see us. This is because our brains interpret the scene differently than theirs does. Reality is also shaped by our beliefs and expectations. For example, if we believe that ghosts are real, we may see a ghost in a dark room. If we do not believe in ghosts, we may not see anything in the same room. Our concept of reality is also influenced by our culture. For example, in some cultures, it is believed that there are multiple realities, or that reality is relative. There is still much that we do not understand about reality. For example, we do not yet know what dark matter is, or what happens inside a black hole. We may never know the full truth about reality, but continue to explore and learn more about it.