Afternoon Project: Make a lemonade stand

When your kids are home from school for the summer, it's hard to keep coming up with fun ideas that will keep them occupied but won't break the bank. Next time they're searching for something to while away the afternoon, why not consider a good, old-fashioned lemonade stand?

This classic activity never goes out of style because kids love the idea of making a little money, and parents love that it's an easy way to entertain kids of all ages.

Creating a lemonade stand is a great project for a sunny summer afternoon. Find out after the jump how to put one together that will have customers lining up around the block, and keep your kids busy for hours.



Signs - There's no need to buy expensive poster board or fancy heavy paper. Simply cut up some old cardboard boxes into 2' x 3' sections and have the kids decorate them with whatever is handy: sidewalk chalk, markers, and even random craft supplies from the bottom of the junk drawer. If they misspell words, don't sweat it -- there's something rather charming about a glitter-covered sign that says, "Lemonade sold heer!"

Tables - If you have a card table or some plastic outdoor furniture the kids can use, great. If not, a couple of large upside-down plastic tubs work just fine. As a nice bonus, they're easy to wipe down or rinse off with the garden hose after the kids close up shop for the day.

Mind the sun - Always apply liberal amounts of sunscreen to the children before they open the stand. Also, try to set up in an area shaded by large trees or, ideally, your house. If that's not possible, give the kids umbrellas to keep the rays off as much as possible.

Mix it up - Store-brand packets of powdered lemonade cost around five or ten cents per envelope, and a big bag of sugar is only a couple of dollars, so the biggest expense of a lemonade stand is usually disposable cups. Fortunately, 6-oz. plastic cups can often be found at the store for a dollar or two on sale. There's no need for really bug cups and, anyway, the smaller sizes are easier for little hands to manage. (Extra tip - make the lemonade with only three-quarters or half the amount of sugar called for on the package. It will be just as good and it's better for the kids.)

How much? - When deciding what to charge for the lemonade, there are a couple of things to consider. Managing quarters is easier for younger children trying to make change, but a nickel or dime is usually easier for neighborhood kids to find among the couch cushions or in the family spare change jar. What to charge at your lemonade stand is strictly a matter of personal preference and what you think will be easiest for your children and their customers. If you'd like to donate your profits to charity. Sunkist will send you a free lemonade stand kit, while supplies last.

Setting the stage - Why not give the stand a little ambiance? Pop a kids' music CD into a portable music player and let it play in the background. Put some lawn chairs and a few books on a small table for an outdoor reading area (no drinks allowed, though, or you may have soggy books). If you're truly adventurous, set up the lawn sprinkler and let the kids -- and customers -- run through it.

Get ready - Find a sturdy box to keep cups and napkins in so they won't blow away. Use a small container with a lid to keep money in, and seed it with a few coins of your own to help make change for the first few customers. Designate one child to handle all the money or, if they're still a bit young for that, crown yourself as cashier. Set out a small garbage can to collect empty cups and a few wet-wipes for sticky hands.

Get set - Send the kids around to their friends houses up and down the street to let them know there's a new business in town. Give your Junior Achievers a cup of lemonade to "taste-test" before the first customer arrives. Then hand them each a bottle of water to sip so they aren't tempted to drink their profits away by slurping up all the lemonade.

Sell! - Declare the stand open for business! If the kids are running their own stand and don't require your help, pull up a chair in a nearby shady spot, crack a book, and enjoy some down time. You deserve some summer relaxation too, you know!