Regrets spending so much money on kids’ activities

[Anonymous]

I don't anyone is saying activities have no benefits. They do, but in my opinion they are an added bonus. I really just don't like the negative connotation about kids who don't do a ton of activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

People don't seem to understand that most parents and kids don't have illusions of being a professional or getting a scholarship- the kids to it because the love it and the parents pay because the kids love it

[Anonymous]

I'm not say that's not true, but you don't know anyone who forced their kids or who sort of lived through their kids? I'm quite surprised.

[Anonymous]

I think OP has a very good point as it pertains to travel sports.

[Anonymous]

With that money you purchased not a skill or a trophy but a set of experiences and in some ways happy childhood in that they were exposed to many interesting things, met friends, learned how to pursue something with practice, etc. In that way, it's worth it. In some way, yes, it could have been cheaper without travel sports, it's true. But you chose to do it, no point regretting it now.

I think to a point it's possible to spend less, but just to a point. If you want them to experience enrichment, in this country it costs a bunch. Be happy that you did that for your kiddos, they will do it for theirs and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Source

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Could you have mentioned cheap one more time?

[Anonymous]

I know my parents and what they would and wouldn't let us do, and you have never seen any articles on the rising cost of youth sports? There are many ny times and times articles in the last few yea4s.

[Anonymous]

I grew up taking lessons for tennis, swim, piano, ballet, computer classes in the late 80s when it wasn't that widely available, and a ton of tutoring. My mom was a helicopter mom and I was overscheduled. Of the ones that she made me do for a long time, I think the $ my mom spent on my piano lessons and taking me to symphonies and concerts was a waste. You could say her ROI was zero. But she loves classical music and hoped I would grow up loving it too. I never ended up developing any more than superficial interest in it, fought her a lot about quitting piano. She said I had to get over the hump of daily practice being boring and difficult, that if I got at a more advanced level, that I'd get to appreciate piano. Even after 7 years of futile piano lessons, she continued to try to help me appreciate classical music. But as an adult, I don't listen to classical music, I only played the piano once after she let me quit.

As a parent, if one had a crystal ball as to what interests your child will continue as an adult, I'd invest only on the ones with good ROI. But one doesn't have that crystal ball. So I'm repeating what my mom did for me, giving me a lot of enrichment opportunities. But I don't plan to spend a ton of $$ to the point I might end up with a grudge that I sacrificed too much.

[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.

You are just plane wrong. If you can pay for the private business then rec centers or cyo are your answer. It is not a covert plot to leave you out. Operational cost are the diver. Be made at commercial real-estate if you must but it's not the businesses.

[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.

Who is this mysterious they that is working against you?

[Anonymous]

I'm not wrong and no one is working against me personally. And they is the people who run these activities. As I said you would change your tune if it was your kid

[Anonymous]

They will be able to return to those activities in adulthood (especially once their own career and family is settled ) and may really appreciate it then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1. And if you are going to just choose one activity, make it YMCA swim (life skill).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not wrong and no one is working against me personally. And they is the people who run these activities. As I said you would change your tune if it was your kid

Source?