For kids, life just doesn't get much better than it is in summer. You have time to swim, catch fireflies and run barefoot across the freshly cut lawn.

But don't forget the hazards of going shoeless. Just when you least expect it, you can get zapped stepping on a bee. Nothing brings play to a screeching halt faster than the pain of a bee sting. For folks allergic to bees, that little stinger can be deadly.

July 10 is designated "Don't Step on a Bee Day" to remind us that even though we are much larger than the bee, the insect can drop us faster than the biblical David and his slingshot.

But pity the poor bee. Minding its own business drawing nectar from the clover to produce honey, it's forced to use the only means of defense it has against a much larger foe. It's a death sentence for the bee, for it dies after losing its stinger.

You are less likely to get stung by the burly bumblebee. For one thing, it's much larger and easier to avoid than a honeybee. You can see bumblebees in almost every country. They can travel up to 22 mph on wings that beat 180 times per second. Unlike their less fortunate cousins, bumblebees don't lose their stinger when they use it. They will sting repeatedly to protect their nest from predators.

I got the directions to make this bumblebee from "Hands on Crafts for Kids" at www.craftsforkids.com. I modified the directions for a mobile to make this little bumblebee decoration.

Supplies you will need:

• 1 2-inch and 1 3-inch Styrofoam egg

• Yellow and black pipe cleaners

• Wiggle eyes

• Jute

• large wood teardrops for wings and 1 wood rectangle for base

• White acrylic paint and brush

• 1 wood skewer

• Glue.

Paint the wings, skewer and base. Set aside to dry.

Starting at the largest part of the 2-inch egg, push one end of a yellow pipe cleaner into the Styrofoam and begin wrapping it around the egg. Using the same method, wrap the black pipe cleaners between the yellow ones to make stripes. On both ends, wrap black pipe cleaners into circles until all the egg is covered. Push the end into the egg and glue to hold in place.

Use a 4-inch section of a black stem to make antennae. Fold it in half and twist at the fold. Wrap the ends around the end of the paintbrush and insert into the egg behind the black circle.

Glue on eyes. Push the wings into the egg.

To make the hive, cover the 3-inch egg with glue and wrap with jute. Glue the wide end of the egg to the base and let dry. Attach the bee to the hive with the skewer.