To let the kids setup a lemonade stand?

[Thenonstopcleaner]

DS and DD 9 & 7 are begging me to allow them to set up a lemonade stand this weekend. Some little kids on our street were selling their toys the other day just for pocket money and we bought some bits from them. So I am guessing this is where the idea has came from! I have said the only way I will let them do it is if the money goes to charity.
Both not happy about that at all! But that’s the only way.

Im not 100% keen on the idea and I know DH will flat out say no. Is it a bit cruel to say no?They aren’t very confident kids so I think it would be great for them.

(I remember painting nails for 20p out the front at a kid but everyone seemed much kinder back then).

No. Because I bother to read and understand the law before being a sanctimonious keyboard warrior

We live on a new build estate and the park is just behind us so very busy on hot days.

My parents always told us not take anything of anyone or to beg or look like you are begging so I guess that has stayed with me. I have ADHD too so I really think into every single detail and worry about what people may think of us. Ridiculous I know!

My son's been doing it on multiple weekends recently and it was a great hit! They (he did it with 2 friends) made really good quality lemonade and sold it for £1 a cup. We worked out a way he could take payments via a QR code we set up via Halifax. BUT he's 12, so was able to handle it all himself - except I believe I'm still out of the pocket for the ingredients... However, I was quite impressed at the initiative regardless. And I've told him next time he needs to start reimbursing me!
What's actually wrong with it, no one is forced to buy? I used to make decent money at his age washing cars.

I think it is a bit beggy if I’m being totally honest.

DD was making and selling bead bracelets last year on a stand outside the house, she loved doing it, it kept her busy for ages, a few of her friends joined her for bits of time here and there and she made about £20 (I lost about £30 buying beads and elastic but that’s besides the point). Me and my brothers did similar when we were kids and remember it fondly now as adults.

But it’s not begging and nor does it remotely look like begging.

I think it’s really sweet but obviously (as PP said) depends on the area, some would be far more receptive to this than others. I imagine it would fly where I live because older people live here and are more likely to have physical cash (we never do!) and also just enjoy seeing children out being little entrepreneurs I guess…

Lemonade is a pain to make though I have to say, you’ll need a lot of lemons…

Why would they need to know this, unless it’s some sort of reenactment event?

If life gives you lemons...

Haha! Just get the wonky ones is all I’ll say, save yourself the expense…

I think once the earnings from your lemonade stand are making you liable for income tax, your business is no longer described as "two kids running a lemonade stand".

I think it’s quite sweet and entrepreneurial and wouldn’t expect them to give the money to charity, obviously depending on the area you live and with adult supervison.
I now have that stupid duck song stuck in my head though, so for that reason only YABU.

We did this last summer, but the kids also sold plants (we have a lot of pot plants so lots of spider plant babies etc)
we didn’t have many people but the kids seemed happy to just be sat there with their stall. I met a new neighbour I hadn’t spoken to before which was a bonus. Main issue was lack of people having cash!
Lemonade is just lemons and sugar and water…pretty easy to make…?

It depends what it’s like where you live. If it was around my home, I’d worry you are setting them up to fail, I’d worry about how they would feel if they sat there all day and no one bought anything.
I honestly don’t think I would buy a drink from small kids. I prefer to sit in a cafe!

I’m intrigued to know how much you think they are making from cups of lemonade to tip over personal allowance

But what did you do with the money you made as a child painting nails????

My kids did something similar, great idea - but not sure mumsnet is the right place to ask about such maverick ventures

My DD’s sold cup cakes and loved it. Thankfully they did it with the supervision of a more amenable mum friend and outside her house thank God as I’m too buttoned up and would have been too mortified. (My kitchen bore all the mess though so I did my bit).

They did give to charity and the school heard about it and praised them for it. I’m glad. I think it’s a big grabby to pester passers by and keep the money for themselves.

My children have done this multiple times - I think it's great! It gives them a project, teaches them maths skills and entrepreneurship and a bit of marketing. I always let them keep whatever they made. We make old fashioned lemonade from scratch and charge about 50p for a paper cup.
But, I will say, we live in a safe area, with a great community and a busy street WhatsApp. Our road has a reasonable amount of footfall too.

I don't see why you object to them trying to earn a little money. Would be great for them to see how much work is involved, cost up the supplies, chat to people coming over and then, if they do well, enjoy their earnings. I'd front them the cost of some paper cups, lemon and sugar to try that out. Brilliant experience for them.

Got any grapes.

Why not! Get them some paper cups, ice, lemonade and let them crack on!
I’d say 50% charity 50% to them . Gives them a bit more incentive

I do think the begging point is very valid. No one likes a hawker whether you are on a weekend in Marrakesh or walking past a couple of sweet village kids.

I was very strict on this rule. I think partly because I grew up in the 80s when slightly threatening youths would hang out by the shop with the worst made Guy Fawkes’ ever begging for a penny for the guy.

But with the right boundaries in place, it can be a very nice summer thing to do that creates lots of happy memories (for children and the ginger beer drinkers!)

I could see the sweet side of this but I would never ever buy it. And I taught DD not to buy things like these either.
Call me boring or whatever, we always took part in cake stalls and fairs at primary but no way I would buy food/ drinks from little children on the side of the road.

I honestly don’t see what could possibly grabby about it. They won’t be pestering or harassing people. Is your local Tesco grabby just for trying to sell things?