Heads-up. We just added a new page to our website that is a fun project kids can do and possibly get extra credit at school, too - tracing family history by creating a family tree. You'll find it under the HowTo category.
It's a great way for kids to learn about (and spend more time with) grandparents while working on the project.
We just came across a short and sweet article about teaching kids how to play the compliment game with puppy-power... a winning combination, wouldn't you say?
Puppy-power is a fun way of learning the social-emotional skills that all kids need as they grow into adulthood. See how it helps kids join and relate with others.
For more ways to encourage positive behavior in children, check out the book below.
''Let's eat Grandma!'' or, ''Let's eat, Grandma!''
Punctuation saves lives. Use it. Save a life.
WHAT!!! Can you imagine the mixed feelings I felt when I first saw that quote on an anime forum website (not that the quote had anything to do with anime)? Don't they know I'm a big fan of kid-style anime and doing what I can to bridge the generation gap? Well, that first sentence caught my attention! Then I read the rest of it… sheer amusement!
I was so amused that I've decided to do a webpage on Funny Punctuation and discovered that there are some really fun ways to learn grammar. We just didn't have that back when I was a kid. Kids are so lucky these days! WHAT! You don't believe me… even parents will have fun helping you with this homework.
Many of you already know that we've been big fans of Crafty Art World for a long time. And with the new look of their website, we thought we'd reference Artist Anika's Peter Pan drawing tutorial as an opportunity for you to check it out again... and the many crafty ideas that are there for kids. Take a look-see and let us know what you think. Update: Be sure to check out their new Tree Frog video tutorial, too.
Here's an update from one of our favorite websites - CommonSense Media, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the media and technology lives of kids and families.
Caroline Knorr has written a short and sweet article about helping teens control their online privacy with 3 simple rules to keep in mind (using Facebook as an example):
Stick with your friends
Keep private information private.
Don't let your information get away from you.
^ Use discretion!
This is NOT safe!
We at Buzzing Kids World are big supporters of keeping our kids safe. We trust that you are, too, and that you'll find this article helpful. ^.^
Feel a beat coming on? Here's an idea...start your own Rhythm Band! We found some cool items to get you started. This is your opportunity to show off your creative skills with:
Wrist and Ankle Bells -
shake, rattle, and roll to
your own dance routine.
Rhythm Sticks - whether it's
off-beat, upbeat, or on-beat,
make sounds with the sticks!
Beat Shakers -
feel a jam session coming on?
Then... gather your friends together, get out your favorite recorder, and make music!
Now all you need is a cool name like: The Street Beat Combo, Rythym Belles, or The Shaker Music Makers. You get the idea - make music! Like Love, it's a universal language.
We found a website that we love and think you will, too - CommonSenseMedia.org. They review and make age-appropriate recommendations for movies, games, websites, TV, books and music... for kids.
Their ratings are on a scale from stoplight red to yellow caution "iffy" to greenlight "on"! For example, they recently reviewed the Miley Cyrus drama The Last Song. They rate it "iffy" for ages 12-13 (which means "ON" for 14+) and then tell you why - the good stuff (messages and role models) and what to watch out for (violence, sex, language, consumerism, and drinking, drugs, & smoking).
And then they go on to offer these suggestions about the topic: What Parents Need to Know and what Families Can Talk About [at the dinner table, for instance].
In addition, CommonSenseMedia shows the average ratings by their members (parents, educators and kids) to give you more insight from their perspective.
If you want to know what the Best Bets are for your kids' ages (2 - 17+), checkout CommonSenseMedia.org. It's easy to navigate and definitely family-friendly. That's a big PLUS in our humble opinion here at Buzzing Kids World! ^.^
The end of the school term isn't far off and these articles can help with the term papers, year-end reports and all that fun stuff. Our Sample Lapbooks page has many ideas to help with the reports and boost grades - and who can't use a bit of that in a buzzing kids world?!
Did you know that some plants can be fun! That's right... fun! We can think of two, right off the bat without even Googling it - the Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula... don't ask us how to pronounce it. Google it! ^.^) and the Tickle Me Plant (Mimosa pudica). They're fun to have 'cause the Venus Fly Trap snaps its mouth closed really fast when a fly (or your finger) lands on it and the Tickle Me Plant closes its long leaves when touched and reopens them over a period of time.
They make fun presents to give to a friend, too. Bet you know someone who has a birthday coming up; wouldn't that be a fun present to take to the party? They may be a little hard to find at the garden shop 'cause they sell pretty fast, but you can grow them from seed or let your friend grow one as their own garden project.
Let's not kid ourselves (no pun intended). We know most kids, if not all, hate homework. We did, too, once upon a time. So we wanted to do something about it; you know, help make homework more fun for kids. How did we do that? We added a new category to the menu: Fun Ways to Learn... and started with what we already had: The Dog Ate My Homework and Catch The Reading Bug as sub-categories.
We're working on a few more new articles with ideas that will really give kids some homework help with the heavy subjects. So Dear Diary, keep watching this spot, we expect to have at least one of them ready within the week. Kids homework help is on the way!
Update: As promised, here it is - Lapbooking. Watch for another one in the next day or two. ^.^
Well, I just had my first portrait done by a real live artist... Nemo. KidsGranny commissioned it 'cause it seemed like so much fun to be able to use the website logo (that's me with the world behind me in the right column). On the left is Nemo's drawing with the perfectly drawn circles that he does by hand with a pencil. How cool is that! And isn't it an awesome piece of artwork, too? I luv the way his circles make my hair look like cornrows and you can see that I do have legs. Oh, and that's my pet guinea pig that I'm walking. ^.^ ~KidsBuzz
It snowed last night – a whole inch! Cool! All the big trees have white snow on the tips of their branches and the railings are piled with it, too. The bushes down by the creek look like a fairyland. Only one problem… it's too dry to make a snowman OR a snowball. What's with that? Even the kids at the school next door can't make them, but they're having fun throwing snow at each other.
It's been over 30 years since KidsGranny has seen snow and it's the first time for Kitty. He looks so funny walking in it (so does KidsGranny, but don't tell her I said so). Kitty takes a step, shakes his leg, licks his paw, takes another step, shakes that leg, and so on. (Just so you know, KG doesn't do THAT!) Kitty looks a little lost 'cause he can't find his favorite spots. (KG does NOT look lost.)
Update: Well, that was fun while it lasted. The sun came out and it is melting. There are still big patches of the snow though. Kitty is one happy cat again. ^.^
Lucky Bums
All in all, I'd say that was just enough of a teaser to make me want more… soon! Maybe next time there will be enough snow that I can try snowboarding on that Lucky Bums kid's beginner snowboard I saw the other day. We do have a little hill - more like a slope, I guess. Wouldn't it be perfect for beginners?
Little did I know when I did the blog series on A Kid's Summer On A Farm, that within a few months I'd be living the dream and once again living in the country. Well they call it 'country' around here... even though it's 20 acres at 2600' elevation. It does have a huge barn, potting shed, chicken coop, a combo work shop/garage for the tractor and riding lawnmower (both of which came with the property - how about that!); a separate building that is being made into a music studio; PLUS a small orchard and fenced-in garden with raised beds.The house even has a canning room. (It's been a looong time since I've done any of that and even then it was only Bread and Butter Pickles. Yummy!)
There's one small caveat to the description above - there are NO farm animals on the property - just wild turkeys and the ususal critters like squirrels and funny looking rabbits (not exactly the kind you see at Easter-time); oodles of birds and, so far, five deer who visit regularly. RobinNestor reported on the critters in her blog that was just posted. She didn't talk about the bears though. I was assured there were no bears around here. The movers who were unpacking us said, "Then how come there's a creek (see photo on right) just down the road named Bear Creek?" I don't go roaming around the property at night; but then I didn't do that in the City either.
The park-like front yard/meadow with built-in lava rock as a landscaping feature is just one of the main attractions for me. The other is the kids at the elementary school that abuts the property line. How cool is that... having a website about kids and living right next door to a school... and where I can hand-deliver The BuzzLetter each month. The best part is watching them during their recesses from the window while I work on my website.
And guess what? Even the deer must know it's a playground, 'cause when I see them over there they are playing Tag. So tell me, Dear Diary, how do they know it's a playground? Haven't seen them on the swings or sliding boards yet - but who knows! I'll keep you posted.
~ KidsGranny
It's time for costumes, dress-up, let's pretend, and scary, spooky stories. And who doesn't like Halloween? If the projects in the Oct 09 issue of The BuzzLetter are not enough to get you into the mood for Halloween try these creepy books. They're suitable for ages 9-12.
Dare to Be Scared (Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill) (Illustrated) by Robert D. San Souci
Ghost Mysteries (Unraveling the World's Most Mysterious Hauntings) (Apaperback) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Scary Stories/Boxed Set (Paperback) by Alvin Schwartz
It's Labor Day! KidsGranny says it's a day-off for people who work every day. So why is she working today??? She works every day, all day – well it seems so to me.
As for wearing white after Labor Day? "NOT" says KidsGranny. This morning she was telling us how Labor Day meant we couldn't wear white shoes anymore – at least not until Easter or next spring. I never heard that before. I see people wearing white shoes all year long. She said you aren't supposed to wear white shoes OR white gloves, either, after Labor Day. Who wears white gloves anymore? KidsGranny says she often wore white gloves and A HAT, too, when she went downtown – and always when she went to church. Phew! And I think today's rules are hard to follow!
I guess I'm just lucky – I get to wear the same thing EVERY day. ^.^
This is written by me, KidsBuzz. KidsGranny is busy… you guessed it, she's working! (Psst! Follow me on Twitter. I want to get more followers than she gets. See you there. http://twitter.com/kidsbuzz) ^.^
Here's a true story: One of my grandsons, age 14 at the time and living in the suburbs, took a summer course in the city which required traveling via the train. In the mornings he rode with his dad to the city; but, had to travel back to the suburbs via the train… alone. Mom insisted he text her each step of the way… and the time:
When he left class
When he arrived at the city train station
When he was train-bound for the suburbs
When he arrived at the suburb station
When he arrived home
Well, that lasted for several days, but soon my grandson got tired of "being treated like a baby". He and his mom had a "discussion" about it. Neither would give in. Mom's position: It's for your safety. Son's position: I'm a big boy now! Dad stayed out of it. The next day when it came time to head back home from the city here are the text messages his anxious Mom received:
TRAIN
HOME
That's all. Just those two one-word messages. My grandson grew a foot taller that summer! Mom found a gray hair she didn't have before. Dad just smiled. So did KidsGranny when she heard about it. Hmm. Does this qualify as Coming of Age through responsibility, loosening the apron strings, or both? ^.^
We are constantly looking for ways to help parents get kids away from the video console to the outdoors. Brian Crecente's article Backyard Adaptations Of Video Game Classics references a way to do it on Kotaku's website:
Or have the kids make up variations of the classic Hopscotch game.
Try it! See if your kids can create new ways of playing video games in their own backyard. Getting the kids involved in outdoor activities is a good thing!
Dear Diary:
Years later, as an adult, I visited the Waterford Fair in Northern Virginia every Fall with a friend. It brought back memories of when my sister and I spent our summer vacations on a farm between school terms. The Fair had, and still has, it all – homemade crafts, art shows, weaving, and even blacksmithing (though I can't tell from the website if it's still included.)
We always started the day with the tour of the Heritage homes and gardens; then off to the marketplace and quaint little shops. A huge kettle was in the middle of the main cross street where apple butter was being stirred. We bought jars of it to take home.
Since those days of yesteryear the town of Waterford has received the distinction of being designated a Historic Town. If you're ever in Northern Virginia in early Fall, go to the Waterford Fair. They have planned activities for the kids, too. It'll be an experience you and they will never forget.
And finally, here's something for a real life fantasy page
When I was 9, and my sister was 8, we loved to go play at a small clearing by a little stream in the woods on our property. We'd break off a fresh limb to clear away dead leaves and twigs and declare it as our territory. I was Wonder Woman! She was the victim and I used to swing across the stream on a vine that was hanging from a tall tree to protect or rescue her from the wild animals. (We never saw anything wilder than a squirrel or rabbit.) We'd celebrate by eating our packed lunch while telling stories before returning to the real world. Such was fantasy in our wondrous little world!
How did you spend your summer vacations when you were a child? Leave a comment, short or long, and tell us how you had fun. And what was or would be your fantasy vacation?
Canning and pickling and haystacks The family took care of the garden; when it came time for planting and harvesting the fields of crops the farmers helped each other, going from farm to farm planting and harvesting. Not all farmers could afford to have all the heavy equipment needed for the different crops. They gladly helped each other knowing that they, too, would be helped with their fields. Some of the most fun was when they mowed the hay and we'd slide down the haystacks or carve out a small shelter in the side of them.
We helped with the preparation of canning, making jellies and pickling; e.g.,
stringing and snapping the beans
shelling the peas
shucking the corn
picking the berries and cherries
When we picked the corn and shucked it, the boys saved the dried corn silk and later stuffed it in a corncob pipe and smoked it. It didn't last long though, it always burned out fast. And they didn't want to risk get caught trying to light up another one. And NO, I did not try smoking it – cross my heart and hope (not) to die. Smoking was never a vice of mine.
There was a trap door in the kitchen floor that covered the steps leading down to the cool "dirt" cellar. That's where the bins were for storing potatoes and shelves for all the jars of canned vegetables, jellies, and meats. My favorite canned meat was the pork tenderloins. It was saved for special occasions.
Smoking meats
There was no smoke house on the farm where we spent the summers, so the butchered meat was taken to a smoke house. Virginia is famous for its smoked, salted or honey cured hams.
We were already back at school when the apple butter and cider were made.
Such was life for kids on a farm during summer vacations. Then, it was back to school in the city and indoor plumbing. Looking back, to those days, in some ways spending the summer on a farm was like glorified camping with chores.
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Heads-up. We just added a new page to our website that is a fun project kids can do and possibly get extra credit at school, too - 
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We just came across a short and sweet 
As promised, we've added more 
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![](http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3044501-10552296?url=http%3A%2F%2Flink.mercent.com%2Fredirect.ashx%3Fmr%3AmerchantID%3DAltrec%26mr%3AtrackingCode%3DCB776C4E-ECD4-DE11-A84F-0019B9C2BEFD%26mr%3AtargetUrl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.altrec.com%2Flucky-bums%2Fkids-beginner-snowboard%253fsku_id%253d813764%2526cm_mmc%253dMercent-_-cj-_-Lucky+Bums-_-76650-813764&cjsku=76650-813764" target="_blank"><img src="http://mirror.altrec.com/images/shop/detail/swatches/LBM/1292.76650_x.jpg" border="0" alt="Lucky Bums Kid's Beginner Snowboard"/></a><img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3044501-10552296" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>)
Little did I know when I did the blog series on 
visit regularly. RobinNestor reported on the critters in her 
And guess what? Even the deer must know it's a playground, 'cause when I see them over there they are playing Tag. So tell me, Dear Diary, how do they know it's a playground? Haven't seen them on the swings or sliding boards yet - but who knows! I'll keep you posted. 
As for wearing white after Labor Day? "NOT" says KidsGranny. This morning she was telling us how Labor Day meant we couldn't wear white shoes anymore – at least not until Easter or next spring. I never heard that before. I see people wearing white shoes all year long. She said you aren't supposed to wear white shoes OR white gloves, either, after Labor Day. Who wears white gloves anymore? KidsGranny says she often wore white gloves and A HAT, too, when she went downtown – and always when she went to church. Phew! And I think today's rules are hard to follow!
Here's a true story: One of my grandsons, age 14 at the time and living in the suburbs, took a summer course in the city which required traveling via the train. In the mornings he rode with his dad to the city; but, had to travel back to the suburbs via the train… alone. Mom insisted he text her each step of the way… and the time: 
Dear Diary:
in the woods on our property. We'd break off a fresh limb to clear away dead leaves and twigs and declare it as our territory. I was Wonder Woman! She was the victim and I used to swing across the stream on a vine that was hanging from a tall tree to protect or rescue her from the wild animals. (We never saw anything wilder than a squirrel or rabbit.) We'd celebrate by eating our packed lunch while telling stories before returning to the real world. Such was fantasy in our wondrous little world!
The family took care of the garden; when it came time for planting and harvesting the fields of crops the farmers helped each other, going from farm to farm planting and harvesting. Not all farmers could afford to have all the heavy equipment needed for the different crops. They gladly helped each other knowing that they, too, would be helped with their fields. Some of the most fun was when they mowed the hay and we'd slide down the haystacks or carve out a small shelter in the side of them..jpg)
![Book: A Guide to Canning, Freezing, Curing, and Smoking Meat, Fish and Game](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580174574?ie=UTF8&tag=buzkidwor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1580174574"><img border="0" src="513R3DM5P4L._SL160_.jpg"></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buzkidwor-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1580174574" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />)
