Why Do We Shiver When It's Cold?

When you step outside on a snowy day, you start to feel chilly. Your body has a special tool to fight the cold called shivering. It is like your muscles are doing tiny exercises very fast.

Think of your body as a house with a thermostat. The thermostat lives in your brain and checks if the temperature is right. When it gets too cold, it sends a message to your muscles saying 'Wiggle!'

Your muscles contract and relax again and again very quickly. Every time they do this work, they make heat. It is like when you rub your hands together to warm them up. Shivering is basically rubbing your whole body.

Humans are warm-blooded animals. We need to stay at about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit inside to work properly. If our blood gets too cold, our organs might slow down. Shivering helps keep the heat trapped so we do not get sick or hurt.

Next time you shiver, remember it is your body working hard to keep you warm and cozy like a little furnace.