This DIY lemonade stand in a bucket makes a wonderful gift for kids at the start of summer! It’s a fun way to encourage entrepreneurship, while keeping kids busy in the summer! Learn how to make a simple lemonade stand kit to start off summer with the kids!
DIY Lemonade Stand in a Bucket
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I got this idea from my son’s preschool teachers back when we lived in Massachusetts. It made a wonderful end-of-school year gift that all of my children loved! This DIY lemonade stand kit also makes a fantastic birthday gift idea for kids, especially children with summer birthdays.
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How to Make a Lemonade Stand Kit
The kit my son’s teachers gave him came with small containers of lemonade mix (old baby food containers), plastic cups, straws, and napkins, as well as a set of markers. I think it makes a brilliant summer gift for kids!
Johnny’s fabulous preschool teachers sent him home at the end of the year with this adorable lemonade stand in a bucket! He and the girls had so much fun with it!
You can make a deluxe kit or a simple one! Really, though you only need:
- A pitcher (we recommend plastic since this is for kids!)
- A good lemonade recipe or lemonade mix. We recommend a recipe if you have a child who loves to cook in a home where parents can handle the cooking! Try a mix for families that prefer less mess wherever possible.
- A nice spoon for stirring. I especially love wooden spoons.
- Disposable cups. Plastic is more common, but paper is usually more eco-friendly.
That’s it!
Pretend Play Shop Ideas
Kids don’t have to sell lemonade to practice entrepreneurship! Here are some other fun pretend play shop ideas for kids.
Shop Ideas for Kids
Fun ways for kids to play at shopping from the comfort of your home, plus skills they are learning through play.
DIY Cardboard Play Shop
This cardboard play shop is perfect for pretend shopping or for a DIY lemonade stand!
How a Play Shop Teaches Math, Fine Motor, and Entrepreneurship
Learn about all the skills kids practice while playing shop.
Preschool Grocery Store Activities
A simple paper-based grocery store game for kids.
My Favorite Play Dough Recipe
Play dough is a fantastic medium for pretend baking!
Life Skills for Kids: Window Shopping
Learn how to teach kids the valuable life skill fo window shopping.
Please share photos if you make one of these lemonade stand kits for you child!
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
This is still the cutest idea ever.
What a fun gift idea! I have never gotten brave enough to let my kids actually do a stand.
I think it’s easier or harder depending on where you live. We are currently in an area where they are pretty common, which makes it easier to say yes.
Such a cute idea! Absolutely adorable!
That is really a fun gift idea! When my now 26-year-old was about 4 she decided she needed to have a lemonade stand. We were visiting my parents at the time so of course the grandparents indulged her… never mind that they live so far out in the boonies that there was no hope of walk-by customers! The great-grandparents from across the road came over to patronize her stand. There was no set price but a handful of change was much better than a dollar bill in her little mind! So cute!
Very fun idea! Perfect to inspire kids to start a business and get outside!
Super clever idea for summer birthdays, too!
Yes! You could even do a simple version as birthday party take-homes.
What a fabulous teacher and gift! I have to be sure to remember this idea. Carolyn
I love that. I’m totally going to copy that for a gift! He must have awesome teachers.
His teachers are amazing!
Super cool idea! Just saw some kids with a lemon-aid stand this week.
So glad to see lemon-aid stands alive and well!
Great idea, I think I might make a set for my children.
Fabulous! My kids are constantly creating pretend meals for all sorts of occasions. This is developmentally appropriate, open-ended, inexpensive, and FUN!
And isn’t Johnny looking so grown-up??!!
He is looking very grown-up lately! But I love that he’s still my little boy, too (treasuring every last minute, too!)
That’s sure to keep the kids busy for the summer :). What a clever idea for a gift.
I absolutely love this!!!
ahhhh! that’s the cutest idea! what wonderful and creative teachers they are. pinning this to a few boards!
Thank you, Andie!
This is adorable! I love homemade gifts, and this is one I need to remember! :)
I saw this on pinterest. It is awesome! I think this will be the next gift we take to a birthday party!!
Thanks! So glad you like it :)
What a wonderful gift! His teacher really put a lot of thought into the gift!
He has had wonderful preschool teachers!
What a great idea! That’s a very good gift.
His teachers are very thoughtful – it’s a perfect “end of summer” gift!
He has had wonderful teachers! He gets new ones next year, and I hope we love them just as much.
That is a wonderful end of year gift! Thanks for sharing their great idea. I think that would work well as a quick and easy bday gift too.
That was my thought, too – brilliantly simple idea!
What a great idea!
That is such a great idea! I love it.
Oh my gosh that is the cutest. I am a big fan of homemade (inexpensive) gifts and this one is so original. Love it.
Cute idea!
So cute!
Wow! What a great gift! I bet they will have lots of fun with that.