One of the sure signs of summer in Albert Lea and elsewhere on a really hot day can be seen with a young child sitting in a chair behind a card table next to the sidewalk in a residential neighborhood. This youthful entrepreneur has a pitcher or two on the table filled with colorful liquid, several glasses or plastic cups, and a poster advertising cold drinks for the price of several coins.

The folks at Kraft Foods who sent the following information to the Tribune hope that the colorful liquid being sold by these junior merchants is Kool-Aid.

To help these ambitious youngsters do something more worthwhile than playing computer games and watching television, here are some friendly tips from the Kool-Aid folks. (My added comments will be in parentheses.)

&uot;One reason kids love to run a Kool-Aid stand is it provides them with a chance to do something all by themselves. From mixing the Kool-Aid to drawing posters that advertise the price, kids require only minimal supervision from Mom. In addition, kids love playing like a grown-up with their friends as they pretend to run their own business. At the end of the day, the child’s happiness from operating a Kool-Aid stand is measured in smiles, not nickels and dimes.

&uot;Charge a reasonable price &045; part of the charm of a Kool-Aid stand is being able to get a cold refreshing drink for 25 cents or less.

&uot;Offer a discount on refills.

&uot;Make sure to have plenty of nickels, dimes and quarters and a few dollar bills for making change.

&uot;Operate the stand from p.m. to 3 p.m. – traditionally the hottest and most thirsty time of the day.

&uot;Check the weather forecast. If today is predicted to be the hottest day of the year, make sure to prepare for the crowds by mixing an extra pitcher of Kool-Aid. (Also, having an extra pitcher of Kool-Aid provides a second flavor option. And what isn’t sold can be consumed later by the family.)

&uot;Use plenty of ice &045; after all, the colder the Kool-Aid, the better.

&uot;Place the Kool-Aid stand in the shade &045; it will be more enjoyable for both the seller and the customers. (Here’s a tip worth emphasizing. Maybe a large patio-type umbrella would work if there isn’t a shade tree available.)

&uot;Make the Kool-Aid stand unique by offering some creative twists. For example: Serve ‘Super Sour Kool-Kubes’ &045; ice cubes made by mixing two envelopes of unsweetened Kool-Aid with 1/3 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of water, then freezing in ice cube trays. Add to your favorite Kool-Aid drink for a super sour twist.

&uot;Create your own Kool-Aid punch by serving a lemonade flavor enhanced with your favorite fruit, such as orange slices (pineapple chunks or pieces of apricots or peaches).

&uot;Advertise the stand by creating homemade signs and placing them around the neighborhood.

&uot;Offer customers a smile and a ‘thank you’ when handing them their drink. (A box next to the card table will solve the disposal problem for the plastic cups and other trash. As an added thought, don’t even attempt to repeat the allegedly cute caper a sidewalk merchant I once encountered tried to pull off. He had only three glasses at his stand and was &uot;recycling&uot; them from customer to customer.)

&uot;Consider donating some of the profits to a favorite child-loved charity.

&uot;One last tip for Moms: it doesn’t hurt for you to quietly guarantee business for the stand by secretly calling a few friends and neighbors and encouraging them to stop by for a cool drink. After all, in the business world, it’s all about ‘who you know!’&uot;

Here’s a concluding addition I have for this list of worthwhile tips. For some of us on special diets, a glass or cup of cool sugar free Kool-Aid would be a welcome treat to purchase at one of these summertime sidewalk thirst stations.

Tribune feature writer Ed Shannon’s column appears Fridays in the Tribune.