>> get ready for "teen kids news." here's what's coming up. >> these people are helping their community hospital one step at a time. >> middle school can be a nightmare for girls. a survival guide coming up. >> when there's a disaster, should the government protect pets as well as people? we'll hear what teens have to say. >> coming up, we'll visit the beautiful city of prague. >> that and more next on "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. >> a lot of us join walkathons because we have a personal connection to the cause. but as emily reports, one boy's connection is not only personal, it's amazing. >> there's always excitement when an event like this is about to begin. the crowds, the signs, the different groups with their team shirts. >> let's go! [ cheers and applause ] >> this one-mile march is to raise money for the maria fareri children's hospital in new york's westchester county. it's also raising awareness about the need for transplant donors. that's why it's so special that 11-year-old tyler is here. this is not the first walkathon for tyler. the last time he joined this event, he was just hours from undergoing surgery for a new liver. >> i was really sick, you know? so i had to get a liver transplant.

>> tyler had been battling a liver disease for years, and it was getting worse. to get a donated liver, you need to be on a national list. for tyler, time was running out. the hospital's medical team worked hard to get him moved to the top of the list. even so, the wait took more than a year. >> and every day we were just waiting. is today going to be the day? is today going to be the day? >> [ sighs ] it's heart-wrenching. you're always waiting, looking at the phone, waiting to get that phone call. and when the phone call actually came in, i think i just sat on the phone speechless, no words coming out of my mouth, and tyler was with me. he just looked at me, and he knew immediately what was happening. >> when they arrived at the hospital, something else was happening that very day -- a walkathon just like this one. that's when tyler did something very unexpected. while the o.r. staff prepared for his surgery, sick as he was, tyler decided to join the walkathon. i just wanted to, you know -- surgery's a big thing, and i

just wanted to clear my mind. i just wanted to, you know, walk around, you know, just, um, get my mind off what's going on. >> as we were walking, i kept saying "are you okay? do you want to stop?" he's like "no, let's just keep going and see how far i make it." and as we were talking, before i knew it we were at the end, at the finish line, with the surgeons waiting at the finish line telling us, "all right, guys. it's time to go. we're ready. we need to go in." >> i think it was a great decision. it showed the perseverance that he has, and it showed his understanding that he was going to get better after a transplant, and that's what maria fareri children's hospital helped him achieve. >> organs are donated during tragic times. when a loved one is dying, a decision can be made that can save someone else -- someone like tyler. what would you say to the family that donated the liver that you got? >> uh, thank you, you know? you saved my life. um, you know, if it weren't for you, i might not be standing here right now. um, so, thank you with all my

heart. um, and, you know, i'm sorry for your loss, but, you know, i love you for what you did. >> tyler is an inspiration for all the children and the families that we care for here. he's overcome so many great medical challenges, and to see him out here today, it's just an inspiration for everyone. >> and that inspiration is going national. tyler's now an ambassador for children's miracle network hospitals. for tyler, giving back means more than just talk. as the saying goes, you have to walk the walk. and he certainly does. for "teen kids news," i'm emily g. >> there's more "teen kids news" coming up next. >> we'll be right back.

>> it's no secret that middle-school girls can be mean. their bad behavior is a constant theme in movies and tv shows. but as jacelyn reports, there are ways to avoid being a victim. >> well, the problem with middle school in general is that it's all about who's the best, whether it be at singing or looking the prettiest or having the nicest boyfriend or whatever. and there are cliques and there are bullies and there's just so much to deal with. >> there's is a lot of drama. theres things like, you know, one girl said this about the other girl and, you know, this girl likes this boy. >> you want to be more "in" and popular, and it doesn't really matter in elementary school like that. >> does that sound familiar? the challenges of middle school can be especially tough for girls. >> i think girls handle social situations very differently from

the way our boys do. um, girls are tough on one another. >> and "doc" wilson should know. for most of his years at new york's masters school, it was all girls. now it's co-ed. >> i mean, i've seen boys have an argument or maybe even a fight in the morning and go out of the building at the end of the day arm-in-arm. and i've said it myself and other teachers say, "but didn't you guys have an argument this morning?" "oh, yeah, but that was this morning." they can let it go a little more easily. you girls, and i think i'm right in saying this, hold on to things for a much longer time, and that spills over into your interactions in the classroom, the way you experiment with friendships. it's tough being a girl. but i don't think you're inherently meaner than the boys -- just different. >> as part of our special series on surviving middle school, we found some issues are the same for guys and girls.

for example, guys talked about the challenge of dealing with more difficult schoolwork. >> well, there is definitely a lot more work and more projects, and you have a lot more expectation to do better. >> but with girls, in addition to academic stress, there's a lot of social pressure -- pressure to look perfect, to wear the right clothes, and hang with the right clique. >> sometimes i feel under pressure to be perfect. >> you're exposed to all kinds of social media. you're blasted every time you turn around by images of what people are supposed to look like, what's cool, what isn't cool. >> well, it's harder 'cause the grade is a lot bigger and so there are a lot more kids. and it's harder to fit in. and everyone is kind of exclusive, and everyone has their, like, really "in" clique, i guess. and everyone wants to be at the top of the pyramid in popularity, so it is kind of a competition. >> so, what do you do about it? an action plan, when we come back.

>> we're back with our special report on surviving middle school. >> in middle school, kids develop new ways to hurt each other. and, unfortunately, so much of that has to do with exclusion and not allowing people to be in your group. >> picking who's in and who's not -- that's what gives mean girls their power. >> when girls can, like, tell who's in and who's out, it makes them feel, like, powerful and it makes them feel like, "okay, you can be my friend. you can't be my friend." it makes them feel good about themselves, really. >> there was a time that i was being cyberbullied by a girl that used to be friends with me. and she was saying things to me like you know, "you should go kill yourself. if i want to talk about something that's pathetic, i just bring you up." um, and i just kind of killed

her with kindness by being like, "oh, okay. thank y if that's what you think about me, then go ahead. you look great today." so, but... yeah, i have had my share of mean people. >> uh, i have met a mean girl. and she invited all of my close friends to a party except for me. >> haley kilpatrick remembers how that feels. that's why she created "girl talk" when she was a teen. >> "girl talk" is a student-to-student mentoring program where high-school girls mentor middle-school girls. i started it in 2002 in hopes of helping my sister make middle school easier for her, because it was so challenging for me. >> "girl talk" clearly meets a need. the organization is now global, reaching more than 40,000 girls. the website provides a tool kit for starting your own "girl talk" chapter. it's a way to turn negative energy into something positive. >> i think the real magic happens with these middle-school girls, and they're hearing these messages that it's not okay to exclude, it's not okay to treat

each other the way you are treating your peers, it's not okay to bully and participate in cyberbullying. >> building on the knowledge she has gained through her organization, haley wrote a book about surviving middle school. it's called "the drama years." here's some of her advice. identify sources of stress, so you can develop strategies for managing them. instead of yearning for brand names, set your own style. >> because, a lot of times, what happens is -- let's say you, like, wear a new kind of clothing that just came out and everyone's like, "ew. that's so weird." and then like three days later or a week later, you see everyone's wearing the thing that they thought that was so weird! >> haley also urges everyone to do some volunteering and not just because it looks good on a college application. >> because being involved in something bigger than yourself really helps put your problems in perspective.

and, all of a sudden, it doesn't matter if you have the right clothes, if you have the right car or the right house. and we found that it's working for all girls of all different backgrounds through "girl talk." >> what also works is extending a helping hand to others. >> cliques are real. they're part of life. i understand that. but put yourself in the shoes of the kid who's on the outside trying to find a way to enter the group. if you can manage in your heart of hearts to somehow, someway reach out to that youngster, i think you'd be well served. we've all been there. and you know what? even though you're on the inside today, those tables can turn mighty fasast on you. so, at least be willing to extend that hand of welcome to another child, 'cause you might find yourself in that situation yourself in the not too distant future. >> just be yourself, honestly. because if you try too hard you end up -- you might be in the more popular group, but you're not really happy with your

friends and who you are. so just be yourself and work hard. [ laughs ] and you'll get by. >> i mean, obviously, there are people i don't like and people who don't like me, but once you meet the right people, then you're good, i guess. >> that's basically it. you just have to trust that you know who you are and you have to stick to who you are. >> i agree. be yourself and also branch out. there are a lot of new people, and make friends with everyone. try to be, like, friendly and outgoing. >> in case you feel like you're the only one suffering through middle school, listen to this quote from a former student. the person who said that is one of today's most popular celebs -- taylor swift! so, no one is immune to middle-school misery. >> this reminder is brought to you by the national road safety foundation. don't forget -- february 28th is the deadline for the drive 2 life contest. anyone in grades 6 through 12

can submit an idea for a psa. that's a public service announcement. there are two ways to enter. you can send in a script or a storyboard, but do not a video. it won't be accepted. if you've got the winning concept, you'll get a $1,000 scholarship and a trip to new york city so you can work with a professional director and crew to turn your vision into a reality. for more info and an entry form, go to drive2life.org. for "teen kids news," i'm emily. 

>> in "speak of the week," it's your turn to tell us what you think.

>> we've seen it happen. disaster strikes, like a hurricane. the authorities rescue the people, but often their pets get left behind. so, do you think tax dollars should be spent evacuating animals from disaster? >> i love animals. so i'm an animal lover. >> yes, 'cause i'm a vegetarian. so i should answer that question yes. >> i don't. i mean, personally, i'm all for animal rights, but i feel like there are a lot more pertinent issues than evacuating animals from disasters. >> although that is important, i don't think that should be the primary use of our tax dollars. >> um, if they're domestic animals, yes. if they're used for great, um -- great uses, such as maybe elephants in india or, um, horses in places that don't use engines and, um, vehicles such as tractors. >> i think tax dollars should be used for evacuating animals from disasters because animals don't exactly have the intelligence we do. so they can't really help

themselves. they need help more than we do. >> uh, yeah. i think there is too much animal abuse in this country. and, um, when i have to pay taxes, that's what i want it to go towards. >> most of the teens we spoke to agree. they say spend the money, save the pets. if this issue is important to you, look into joining the efforts of animal rescue organizations, such as the aspca. >> this report is brought to you by tech now on usa today. >> the big news coming out of the 2013 international toy fair here in new york city is the new robotics revolution. we are seeing more robotically enabled toys than ever before, and none are more impressive than lego's mindstorms ev-3. these are build-your-own-robot kits. right out of the box you have all the pieces and parts to build any number of different variations on robots. they actually do movements like this. the snake reaches out and strikes at you. or you can pair them with an iphone or android app to control

them remotely. do you know how you can scare your mom with that one? next to that, we're seeing something for the younger set, a trend to really engage kids ages 2 to 6 with some of the traditional arts -- art, music, color recognition, learning. apps that are as engaging and as good for kids brains as they are for their fun. this is the drip drops "color the world" app. it's basically a 3-d finger painting coloring app for the ipad. it launches in february. it's free. moms are gonna love this because it's finger painting without any of the mess. okay, for you, the teen and tween market, the playstation vita. we saw it launch last year. it's back and more relevant for you than ever before. it's got a great way, as the ultimate handheld console-like gaming device to connect and play with your friends.

they can be on their ps3, you can be on the vita. you can also engage with them over facebook or any number of social media options. the ps vita is another great bet making a big splash here again this year at toy fair. and here's one i know that you love. the "sly cooper: thieves in time" game. i know, you have been wanting this video game to come back for a long time, and it is back and better than ever before. "thieves in time," all the high-definition hijinks you've come to know and love, works on the playstation vita and the ps3. now, one more thing, this sony wx80 cyber-shot camera. this is their flagship point-and-shoot camera, shoots incredible high-definition videos. you can create an entire hollywood blockbuster just on this little teenie-tiny camera, here. one of the things i love most about it, the beauty effects, you snap a shot and it automatically clears up any oily skin you might have, any bags under your eyes. it whitens your teeth right

there in the camera. it's also wifi connected so you can just upload a picture right on facebook. for "teen kids news," i'm jennifer jolly, and this is the latest from the international toy fair 2013.

>> who says time travel is science fiction? lauren takes us on a trip to a city where the past is very present. >> visiting prague is like stepping back in time. from the narrow cobblestone streets to the towering cathedrals, this is a place steeped in history. today prague is the capital of the czech republic, a former communist area in central europe. this is the changing of the guard at prague castle. according to the guinness book of records, it's the biggest castle in the world.

begun around 900 c.e., prague castle is a hodgepodge of buildings erected over the centuries. here's where prince wenceslas lived. yes, he's the same good king wenceslas we sing about during christmas. >> ♪ good king wenceslas looked out on the feast of stephen ♪ >> prague's glory days were during the reign of charles iv. in the 1300s, charles made the city part of the holy roman empire. he also established charles university, the first university in central europe. prague still attracts students from all over. >> it's my favorite city that i've been to in the world. and i love the architecture. i love the culture. i love how efficient public transportation is. >> he's right. getting around prague is easy. from trains to trams to horse-drawn carriages and river boats for sightseers. but most of all, it's a city for walking. there's so much to see and hear. [ small ensemble plays ]

and you had better plan on exercise to work off the great food you find around every corner. a particular treat is a tasty pastry called "trdelnik." dough is rolled around a stick, heated, and then dusted with cinnamon. delicious! >> everybody should come to prague to see, like, remnants of communism. and it's great, 'cause it's a bridge between western and eastern europe. so, prague's, like, a really unique place in europe. >> while i was there, the city was mourning the death of its first freely elected president, vaclav havel. in 1989, he helped lead the young country from communism to democracy. since the transition was peaceful, it's known as prague's velvet revolution. one thing you can't do in prague is lose track of time. clocks are everywhere, all shapes and sizes.

in fact, the city is home to one of the oldest and most unusual clocks in the world. called an "astronomical clock," it dates back to 1410. it not only tells the time, it serves as a sort of planetarium. it shows the positions of the sun and moon, the month, sunrise and sunset, and much more. every hour, people gather to watch a mechanical show that has been running for hundreds of years. it begins with "the walk of the apostles" and ends with death tolling the hour. there's certainly not enough time in one report to show you all the sights. this is just a taste of a city i love. as they say in prague, na shledanou. that means "goodbye." for "teen kids news," i'm lauren. >> that's all for this week. thanks for joining us. >> we'll see you next time with more "teen kids news."

>> write to us at info@teenkidsnews.com