Stripe facts for kids

A stripe is a long, straight line of a single color. You can find stripes everywhere, from clothing and flags to animals and road markings. They can be thin or thick, straight or wavy, and come in many different colors. Stripes are often used to create patterns, show rank, or even help animals blend in with their surroundings.

What Are Stripes?

Stripes are basically lines of color that repeat or stand out against a different background. They can be found in nature, like on a zebra's coat, or created by people, such as on a striped shirt.

Stripes in Everyday Life

Stripes are a common sight in our daily lives. They can be decorative or have a special meaning.

Candystripes

You might know candystripes from the classic candy cane. This pattern features diagonal stripes that twist around a cylinder. It's a fun and recognizable design often associated with sweets and holidays.

Candystripers

The term candystriper is a nickname for young hospital volunteers. They got this name because they used to wear uniforms with red and white stripes, similar to a candy cane. These volunteers help out around the hospital, making things easier for patients and staff.

Go-Faster Stripes

Have you ever seen a car with stripes painted on it that look like they're meant for racing? These are sometimes called go-faster stripes. Even though they don't actually make the car faster, they give it a sporty and speedy look. It's a fun way to decorate a vehicle!

Magnetic Stripe Cards

A magnetic stripe card is a type of card that can store information using magnetism. Think of your school ID card or a library card. These cards have a dark stripe on the back that holds data, like your name or account number, which can be read by a special machine.

Military Stripes

In the military, stripes are often used to show a person's rank or how long they have served.

• A chevron is a V-shaped stripe, often worn on uniforms to indicate military rank. Different numbers or arrangements of chevrons show different levels of authority.
• A Service stripe is another type of stripe worn on military uniforms. These stripes usually show how many years a person has served in the armed forces. Each stripe represents a certain period of service, like three or four years.

Stripes in Entertainment

Stripes also appear in the world of movies, music, and comics!

Stripes (film)

Stripes (film) is a funny American comedy movie from 1981. It stars Bill Murray and Harold Ramis as two friends who decide to join the United States Army. The film follows their hilarious adventures during basic training and beyond.

The White Stripes

The White Stripes was a very popular American rock music duo. The band was known for its unique sound and for often using red, white, and black colors in their outfits and album art, including stripes. They released their first album, also called The White Stripes, in 1999.

S.T.R.I.P.E.

In the world of DC Comics, S.T.R.I.P.E. is a fictional superhero. His real name is Pat Dugan. He wears a large, powerful robotic suit that helps him fight crime. The suit often features a striped design.

Striped Animals

Many animals in nature have stripes. These patterns can help them hide from predators, attract mates, or even communicate with other animals.

Striped Bass

The Striped bass is a popular fish found in coastal waters. It's known for the distinct dark stripes that run along its body. These fish are strong swimmers and are often sought after by anglers.

Striped Dolphin

The Striped dolphin is a beautiful and well-studied dolphin species. It lives in warm and tropical oceans all around the world. You can recognize it by the clear stripes on its sides, which are usually dark lines running from its eye to its flipper.

Striped Hyena

The Striped hyena is a type of hyena found in parts of Africa and Asia. Unlike some other hyenas, it has distinct dark stripes on its fur, which help it blend into its surroundings, especially at night when it hunts.

Three-striped Night Monkey

The Three-striped night monkey is one of several species of owl monkeys. These monkeys are known for being active at night. They get their name from the three dark stripes that run down their faces, which are a unique feature of their appearance.

Stripe-backed Wren

The Stripe-backed wren is a small bird found in the savannas of northern Colombia and central Venezuela. As its name suggests, it has noticeable stripes on its back, which help it camouflage among the trees and bushes where it lives.

Green-striped White Butterfly

The Green-striped White is a type of butterfly belonging to the Pieridae family. This butterfly is named for the green stripes or markings on the underside of its wings, which can be seen when it rests with its wings folded.