A stake is like when you and your friends are playing a game, and you each put one of your favorite toys in the middle as a prize. Whoever wins the game gets to take all the toys. The toys are the stake, and they make the game more exciting because everyone wants to win to get the prize.
Another way to think about a stake is like planting a flag in a sandbox. If you put your flag in the sand, it shows that you have a part of the sandbox that is yours. The flag is your stake in the sandbox, and it means you have a special interest or claim in that part of the sandbox.
Sometimes, a stake can also be like when you help your parents plant a tree in your yard. You tie the tree to a wooden stick to help it stand up straight. The stick is called a stake, and it helps support the tree as it grows. So, a stake can be something that holds up and supports something else, just like the stick helps the tree grow strong and tall.