6 Summer-Ready, Kid-Friendly Drinks

This summer, while you are planning barbecues, beach trips, and back porch drinking, you might come to a crossroads in your planning. While friends and family who are of age can partake in any cocktail, punch, or beer mish-mosh that you present to them, there is that one age group that can put a serious damper on your cocktail menu plans.

What should you serve to the kids?!

Thankfully, summer is a perfect opportunity to experiment with a variety of light, fruity flavors that are friendlier to the kid palate than the heavier, hotter, and creamier drinks served in colder months. Another great part of an alcohol-free drink menu? Friends and family who are of age but are playing designated drivers can enjoy some delicious cocktails without having to worry about drinking too much before getting behind the wheel. And those who are drinking can simply mix in their alcohol of choice if they insist on an extra kick.

When preparing your mocktail menu to serve to the youngins at your next large gathering, remember to cater to the correct audience. Kids and teenagers obviously haven't had the opportunity to experience different kinds of cocktails and spirits, so their palates are more accustomed to simple flavors. Keep things sweet and light, and include some fresh, seasonal fruits as well. Think strawberries, blueberries, cherries, watermelon, and raspberries, as well as mint and ginger. Also, remember to have fun! Mocktails open the door to a lot of creativity with flavors and ingredients, so set the booze aside (just this once) and mix away.

Here are some of our favorite alcohol-free cocktails that the under-21 crowd will definitely go crazy for. Have some alcohol-free recipes of your own? Leave them in the comments section below!

Click here to see six non-alcoholic drinks perfect for the whole family.

— Sara Kay, TheSpir.it