Risk factor

Okay kiddo, so a risk factor is something that makes something else more likely to happen. Let’s say you want to go outside and play in the park, but it's raining. The rain is a risk factor that makes it more likely for you to slip and hurt yourself if you run around, so you need to be careful.

Sometimes we talk about risk factors for sickness or disease. Just like the rain makes it more likely for you to slip and fall, there are things that make it more likely for you to get sick. For example, if you don't wash your hands, you might get sick more often because there are more germs around you.

There are a lot of different things that can be risk factors, and they're not always things you can control. For example, if someone in your family has a sickness, that can be a risk factor for you getting it too. But there are also things you can control, like eating healthy food and getting enough exercise, which can lower your risk for getting sick.

So, a risk factor is just something that makes it more likely for something else to happen. And it’s important to be aware of these things so you can stay safe and healthy.