The kid entrepreneurs that participate in Lemonade Day are introduced to a range of new skills and experiences through the program.  Like any entrepreneur, they are involved in every step of launching and running their own business—they also experience the feeling of making their own money. During the program many children find that they have an affinity for one or more of the steps they are introduced to, which can open up a new world filled with new possibilities.

Loving a Niche

Kids who participate in Lemonade Day engage in everything from goal setting, creating a business plan, establishing a budget, product development, marketing and branding, and customer service.  It’s a unique opportunity to gain real, first-hand experience with all of the different phases of entrepreneurship.  Some kids find they connect with one aspect in particular, which can launch a self-awareness about what they like to do and what they are good at.  Maybe it’s the budgeting and playing with numbers that a child discovers an affinity for.  Or perhaps they most enjoy the creativity that goes with advertising their businesses. Whatever their preference, knowing that there is something they are excited about that can be applied in the real world can be an eye-opening, inspiriting revelation propelling them to future success.

Giving Back

While some children discover a skill they enjoy, other Lemonade Day participants also find an appreciation for giving back. Part of the Lemonade Day program is that children are encouraged to take their earnings and spend some, save some and share some.  The sharing part involves selecting a charity with which to donate some of their proceeds.  Lemonade Day encourages its participants to choose a cause that is personally meaningful to them.  For many kids this is the first time they are asked to stop and think about what causes they feel strongly about.  Once they give it some thought, Lemonade Day kids often discover an internal wealth of altruism and begin to better understand what causes speak to their hearts.  Whether they are giving back to an animal shelter, local food bank, environmental cause or to families in their own community who need a hand, many Lemonade Day kids soon discover the inherent enjoyment of giving back which will stick with them for a lifetime.

Being empowered

Knowing how to start and run your own businesses means that you can make money when you want or need to.  It’s empowering because you are no longer depending on a third party to hire you and give you a job.  Lemonade Day kids are given the roadmap to start their own business and then have the experience of actually making those important decisions and setting up shop.  Once their lemonade stand is up and running and they’ve earned their first profit, the feeling of independence and accomplishment is empowering, and can create a passion for business and entrepreneurship.

Do you want to participate in next year’s Lemonade Day? Contact your local city to find out how your child can learn to be an entrepreneur, or learn how you can volunteer in your community.

About Lemonade Day

Lemonade Day is a non-profit dedicated to teaching every child across North America the business and financial skills that are the key ingredients of entrepreneurship. By learning these skills early in life, children will be better prepared to be successful, financially healthy adults. Through our fun, hands-on program Kids K-5 are empowered to start their very own business—a lemonade stand—and experience the feeling of earning real money, using 100% of their profit to spend, save and share based on their own goals.

Lemonade Day is in 62 cities throughout the United States. Over the past 10 years, we have served more than 1 million kids in our kid entrepreneur programs and in 2016 alone, 101,000 kids participated in Lemonade Day.

Visit LemonadeDay.org to learn how to participate in Lemonade Day in your city.