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).

I think it really depends on the neighbourhood. We live in an area with loads of young families and there are a couple of kids that make bracelets every now and again and they set up outside their house - they actually get a massive queue of little kids going. They do advertise it on the community facebook page so everyone knows

Around here, the mum post a photo on the local facebook groups, and at least friends and family pop in to support the kids.

It’s only grabby if they approach people/knock on doors. Like some kids here years ago going door to door trying to sell “home made perfume” that was in old pop bottles. Ewww!
On a hot days by a park, what’s the harm. Let them. And let them keep the profits". A pop up shop. Their first small business.

You’re being ridiculous. Let them crack on and don’t get involved. If they make a couple of quid why on earth should they give it to charity?

Let the kids play their game.

We’ve done it with homemade lemonade. Didn’t sell much as few people had cash but it was fun! And good for kids to show initiative, build confidence etc

I guess op you're in the us. In Britain it's not a common thing at all. HOWEVER, we used to have penny for the guy...Nov 5 we celebrated the execution of some Catholic conspirators who tried to blow up parliament in 1605. You made a guy (a representation of guy fawkes one of them) and begged money of off people on the run up. Halloween wasn't a thing until about 25 years ago in most of England. When I was 18 we had some kids do it in the centre of Bristol and come into our bank to cash the coins into notes...they made a fortune

A few years later I used to work in the centre and walk to my wife who's office was in a poor part of the city, some kids set up a stall selling stuff, I've still got a video I bought.

You have to encourage entrepreneurship and kids making their own cash...they learn that it takes effort and sales and other skills to make it

We did this as kids all of the time in North East England in the 1990s, when Halloween was very much a big deal.

No reason at all to assume that the OP isn’t in the UK.

We had two kids do this last summer, they offered to clean our car for a fiver. They had a sponge and bucket of soapy water and I gave them a tenner, cupcake and bottle of pop each. Some people are just a bit miserly. I think it’s really sweet, just depends whether people in the area agree and will give them money or not! They might get sad if no one buys.

I don't understand half of these comms, and most of all the OP.

'Who would buy lemonade from random kids?' - I would. I did before (it was nice), and I would do it again. What's the issue? You have a drink and support sweet entrepreneurial kids, what's the problem?

How is it 'beggy' and 'grabby', jesus. Two kids selling lemonade. They're not harassing anyone, not going door to door, not begging people for money.

Why would they give their earnings to charity? What's the point in that? What's the incentive? That's just cruel. You work, and then give your earnings to your parents to donate to charity? I wouldn't do it if I were them.

I sold flowers and apples from my granny's garden (with her permission ofc) when I was a kid. I didn't need the money, my grandad spoiled me rotten, I was showered with treats, toys and other goodies daily. But it was a fun thing to do, I really enjoyed it, felt so grown up, earning my own money. No one forced me to give up my earnings, though..

I think they need to make the lemonade as it's just ripping people off if it's just cheap fizzy pop being poured. People having cash is the biggest issue I expect. As a kid li used to but cheap sweet like Tom Thumb Drops and sell them with a markup in the school playground. One night my sister gobbled up all my stock so I went bust.

Ok just not a thing in the west country, plus as someone said, it's like a Charlie brown cartoon thing... again Halloween not in the west country, which is why I said most of England

American lemonade is flat isn't it - just lemon juice and water?

Are they going to make fizzy lemonade - do you have a Soda Stream?

I'm really surprised people have a problem with it, lots of kids do it around where I live.
People share it on Facebook and people love that kids are learning that working/using initiative/bring proactive = sucess/money/self esteem, I think I few adults could learn that lesson....

Absolutely let them keep the money or maybe 50/50 with a local kids charity.

FYI they don't normally make the lemonade! It's from a bottle 50p for basic, £1 for added ice, lemon slice and a straw!

How are they going to take payment now that so few people carry cash? Do they have a card reader?

I’m surprised people do this tbh. There’s a reason places selling food/drinks need public liability insurance!

@Sartre carwashing or gardening I would be up for! Odd looking goop in a pop bottles not so much……. Lemonade/squash or ice pops on a hot day, yes please.

Except if they don’t adhere to these laws, a SWAT team may turn up and apprehend them

oh wow. That has struck a bell in my very old memory

I used to make rose perfume and picking the petals and my mum yelling at me. Sticking in a bottle /jar etc with water and waiting

well aren’t you full of the joys of spring! OP I think it sounds a nice idea just wondering who actually carries cash though. Is it homemade lemonade and how much will you charge?

I wouldn’t buy home made as maybe there’s gross hygiene but i would buy cartons or cans, they’ll have to take card payments as no one carries cash though surely

I also don’t buy cakes from those cake sheds and at least they tend to have a food hygiene rating 😅

Why do you feel they need public liability insurance. Could you outline the risks?

I was thinking the same?? Two wee girls came to my door trying to sell bracelets and shells and I felt bad turning them away but I never have cash!

Totally depends on the kind of area you live in, what your neighbours and community are like.

If it was my neighbours I’d pop round and buy a couple just to make the kids happy, because it’s a nice thing to do.

Unfortunately society in general isn’t quite what it was, and a lot of people are miserable as sin, with the social skills of a hermit.