5 Kid-Friendly Drinks for Summer

5 Kid-Friendly Drinks

Now that summer’s in full swing, it’s time to relax by the pool with a cold drink in hand. If you’ve got kids, though, they might want to join on the fun or even steal a sip from you. With that in mind, here are five kid-friendly summer drinks you can make that are safe for the whole family to enjoy.

Shirley Temple

This popular drink is named after the child star of the same name (though she personally had nothing to do with its creation despite rumors). With the appearance of a normal cocktail but without any alcohol, it’s great for kids who want to seem more mature while still enjoying a sweet treat.

Traditionally, a Shirley Temple is made with ginger ale and a splash of grenadine, then garnished with a maraschino cherry. More modern takes on the drink will replace the ginger ale with a lemon-lime soda or lemonade, though. Some even use orange juice, so the exact ingredients used in this drink will depend on your tastes.

A word of warning, though. Certain brands of grenadine syrup may contain alcohol, though it’s not too common. Even so, be careful when buying to prevent accidentally intoxicating your kids.

 

Aguas Frescas

Popular in Mexico and the Southern United States, aguas frescas is a versatile drink made from fresh fruits blended together with sugar, water, and small seeds.

Any kind of small seeds will work when making the drink, common options including chia or barley. They work wonders at adding a little extra flavor and body to the drink you wouldn’t normally get from just fruit and water. Depending on your preference, you can use sweet or sour fruits while making aguas frescas.

 

Arnold Palmer

Named after the American golfer, an Arnold Palmer is a refreshingly light drink for an afternoon in the sun. There are only two ingredients in an Arnold Palmer: Iced tea and lemonade. The exact ratio will be up to your personal preference, though many will choose a simple 1:1 as a starting point.

Its simplicity is part of why it’s so popular. Arnold Palmers aren’t as sweet or as thick as some of the other kiddie cocktails that come to mind when thinking of non-alcoholic drinks for kids. The plain presentation and more subdued flavor help it stand out from the crowd and taste great doing it.

 

Razzy Blue Smoothie

As the name implies, the razzy blue smoothie is blue in color thanks to its main ingredient: blueberries.

This is a dense, nutrient-packed drink with lots of flavor. Almonds, oats, and flaxseed meal help to thicken it while adding extra fiber, with bananas, blueberries, raspberry yogurt, and grape juice bring the sweetness. Add in some buttermilk for a smooth, creamy, slightly sour finish for a refreshing change compared to more typical smoothies you might find.

 

Hot Fudge Sundae Shake

From MyRecipes comes this irresistible drink and dessert all in one. Combining equal parts of milkshake and sundae, you can’t hope to outdo this treat the next time you’re craving for something sweet.

The key to making this drink is the technique. Layering the vanilla milkshake, chocolate syrup, and caramel sauce can be tricky as the hot toppings will be threatening to melt the ice cream the entire time you’re pouring into the cups. If you work fast, though, there shouldn’t be any issue besides remembering to top the glass with a brownie instead of just eating them out of the pan.

 

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to share with your kids or just a change of pace from a traditional alcoholic cocktail, these five drinks are a great way to shake things up this summer. With different drinks for all occasions, you’re sure to see one stand out beverage that you just have to try.

 

Author Bio

Victoria is a home cooking mom and blogger behind How Daily, a food and DIY blog. She loves to share her recipes and culinary tips from her diversified experience of multi-cuture. She’s most interested in cooking and creating authentic and original tastes from traditional recipes. Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter.