Carotid Arteries — For a 4‑Year‑Old

The heart is like a little pump. It pushes red blood all around your body. Blood is like tasty water that gives your body energy.

Arteries are like big roads or pipes that the blood uses to travel. The carotid arteries are two big roads in your neck. They carry blood up to your head and brain so you can see, think, and move.

Easy steps to understand:

• Step 1: The heart pumps the blood.
• Step 2: The blood travels in arteries (big roads).
• Step 3: The carotid arteries are two big roads in the neck.
• Step 4: These roads take blood up to the head and brain.

Try this with a grown-up:

1. Ask a grown-up to help. Never press your neck hard.
2. Gently put two fingers on the side of the neck (next to the windpipe). You may feel a little tapping — that is your pulse.
3. If you don’t want to try the neck, you can feel the pulse on your wrist instead.

Fun idea: Draw a picture of a head and two red lines on the neck to show the carotid arteries. Pretend tiny red cars (blood) drive up the roads to the brain!

Remember: always do the touching activity with a grown-up nearby.