As summer winds down and we head into back-to-school season, many of us think about the lessons we want our kids to carry with them into a new school year. This summer, I decided to teach my kids something outside the classroom, through a classic childhood tradition: a lemonade stand.
Running a small business is something I’ve experienced firsthand. Eight years ago, I started Q for Quinn, and while it’s been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life, it’s also been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. I wanted my kids; ages 8, 6, and 4, to get a taste of what entrepreneurship looks like in a fun, hands-on way. A lemonade stand felt like the perfect place to start.
But we also wanted it to have a deeper purpose. Together, we decided that 100% of the proceeds would go to Mary’s Meals, a charity that provides school meals to children in need around the world. It gave the kids a powerful lesson: business isn’t just about making money — it’s also about using your talents to do good.
Why we did it
I talked with my son about this idea last year, but life was too busy to make it happen. This summer, we finally set aside a weekend to make it work. He’d actually been asking about doing a garage sale, but I loved the simplicity of a lemonade stand as a way to introduce basic business concepts: making a product, setting a price, and seeing the results of your work.
It quickly became a family project. From making the lemonade and cookies to setting up the stand, everyone, even my four-year-old, got involved.
The challenges
Our first worry was: what if nobody comes?
Between the summer heat, the timing, and the fact that many neighbours were away on vacation, it wasn’t always easy to keep spirits high. The kids wondered whether they’d meet their sales goal, and we had to work on staying positive and focused on the fun of the experience rather than just the results.
It was a good reminder that every business, big or small, comes with challenges. And sometimes the best lesson is learning how to keep going, even when things don’t go perfectly.
What they took away
Despite the challenges, the kids loved it. They were excited about the planning, the kitchen prep, and the actual selling. For them, the highlight wasn’t just making money; it was knowing that their efforts would help feed other kids through Mary’s Meals.
We talked about how even children their age can raise funds and support causes they care about. That realization made the whole experience more meaningful and left them inspired to do it again.
Tips for parents
If you’re thinking of trying something similar, here are a few things we learned along the way:
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Spread the word early — let neighbors, friends, and family know ahead of time.
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Offer more than one thing — cookies, dog biscuits, or even hot chocolate in cooler weather can help draw a crowd.
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Pick the right timing — weekends with more foot traffic or early fall days might work better than peak summer.
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Keep it fun and purposeful — having a cause like Mary’s Meals gave the kids a deeper sense of pride in their efforts.
The biggest lesson
If there’s one takeaway I hope my kids carry with them, it’s this: they can use their ideas to make a difference.
Yes, they learned the basics of business — pricing, selling, and drawing people in — but they also saw that their creativity could directly impact the lives of other children. That’s a lesson worth more than any dollar earned.
Want to try this with your kids?
If you’re inspired to try something similar, I encourage you to pick a cause that matters to your family. For us, it was Mary's Meals, an organization close to my heart that provides school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. It's also the cause we donate to, with a school meal donated with every pair sold through Q for Quinn and Quinn.
Even something as small as a lemonade stand can show kids that they already have the power to make a difference. And who knows? It might just become one of their favorite back-to-school memories too.
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