Regrets spending so much money on kids’ activities

[Anonymous]

Sunk cost. Money spent. Not everything has a directly correlatable outcome. Sometimes learning piano is just something fun to do. Your kid may not become huge pianist. {put own joke here}
This only child skied a lot as a kid. East coast, and in fact, mid-atlantic. But, a lot. I'm not some super athlete. It was just a fun family bonding time, and in the 80s it was rather affordable.
I WISH my kids wanted to horseback ride, because I do! Its net to see kids get interested in things. We have backyard chickens now and the kids have really gotten into caring for them, and comfortable handling them, having raised them from peeps. Did I spend the time and money on the whole setup just to get eggs I could buy for $1 per dozen at Aldi? No!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you misunderstood what you were investing in.

+1.
We have spent SO MUCH money on dance and riding lessons for our kids. They've learned time management, organizational skills, relationship skills. They appreciate the time and energy it takes to improve and grow as artists and athletes. They have gotten great exercise and built some wonderful friendships. My son hopes to become a vet, in part inspired by his time at the stables. All of that time volunteering during the studio's Nutcracker performances? My husband and I got to know other families and formed our own friendships.

Our kids won't be on Broadway or in the Olympics, but they had fun pursuing their hobbies and passions, and we have no regrets.

[Anonymous]

The problem I have is that these activities are too expensive!! Leaves way too many kids out of them.

[Anonymous]

There is so much to be learned that isn't the actual skill. The friends met, the positive adult influences, the list goes on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have is that these activities are too expensive!! Leaves way too many kids out of them.

It has become big business and it is now supporting parts of the economy. I'm okay with this. There are always cheaper activities and a lot of activities are free for low income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have is that these activities are too expensive!! Leaves way too many kids out of them.

It has become big business and it is now supporting parts of the economy. I'm okay with this. There are always cheaper activities and a lot of activities are free for low income.

Well, this is a capitalist country. If you want equality for all then you need to go to a communist country. That’s the definition of capitalist versus communism.

[Anonymous]

It has definitely a business that has taken advantage of a society that is interested in keeping kids busy and supervised all the time. Kids no longer have the freedom they once had and the people who run these activities see that. Way more parents are willing to spend big bucks than I thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has definitely a business that has taken advantage of a society that is interested in keeping kids busy and supervised all the time. Kids no longer have the freedom they once had and the people who run these activities see that. Way more parents are willing to spend big bucks than I thought.

Wrong. It is not business and society taking advantage of parents. Activity costs are driven by rent and insurance. That's it. Full stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have is that these activities are too expensive!! Leaves way too many kids out of them.

Do you think you could do it cheaper? Rec centers have free and low costs but you get the quality that goes with the costs. Same with the ymca. Extremely low cost and well not great instruction.

[Anonymous]

Of course it could be and I think that it used to be. I can go off what my parents let my sister do growing up. And also the countless articles in recent years highlighting the rising costs of all these activities. I also do not think it is a coincidence that kids are kept busy more and more with activities and the costs are rising. That can't be a coincidence.

[Anonymous]

Our kids are still young, but we don't plan to invest any serious money or time in extracurriculars unless a kid actually pushes hard for it and shows serious independent drive.. Otherwise, we will offer them whatever options are convenient and cheap, to have fun and do casually. So far, between three kids, we've done baseball, soccer, swimming, ballet, and sewing. All with cheap local teachers or teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has definitely a business that has taken advantage of a society that is interested in keeping kids busy and supervised all the time. Kids no longer have the freedom they once had and the people who run these activities see that. Way more parents are willing to spend big bucks than I thought.

Wrong. It is not business and society taking advantage of parents. Activity costs are driven by rent and insurance. That's it. Full stop.

this, not many people are getting rich off of youth athletics. Most of the fees go to program costs.

[Anonymous]

No they have turned it into a business. So many people defending the astronomical costs. No one is saying it shouldn't cost anything, but thousands or even hundreds. You probably wouldn't be defending it if it was your kid beingleft out.

[Anonymous]

My parents paid for dance lessons for me for over ten years. I don't have a dancer's body and would never become a professional dancer. But I had a shit-eating grin every time I was dancing. And years after I'd stopped dancing, when I needed to re-learn how to walk and a physical therapist came to my house three times a week, she said she'd never had anybody so in touch with their body the way I was. I know damn well that was from dance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they have turned it into a business. So many people defending the astronomical costs. No one is saying it shouldn't cost anything, but thousands or even hundreds. You probably wouldn't be defending it if it was your kid beingleft out.

my kid's travel soccer is charged monthly at around $250. For that, they have four practices a week between an hour and an hour and a half and at least one game. For us it also includes two tournaments a season. The coach needs to be paid, the fields rented, and the club insured. All that is split across a team of 12 (actually fewer because some are on scholarships which are largely funded though team dues)