Does any one else find that business seem to take the piss out of parents charging ridiculous amounts for activities.?
I love my kids to be active but with 3 young kids and an after school activities each it is so expensive.
$40 min per week per kid for their activities each , I just can’t afford for them to attend anymore. Not to mention the $55 admin fees that each kid gets. I feel like there is nothing affordable anymore. I hate having to tell my kids that they can’t play this sport or that because of the cost, I just can’t do it anymore.
A Worksop popped up for school holidays that my kids were interested in, until I contacted the place advertised and the price was $150 per child for a half a day work shop. So that won’t be happening. It just got me thinking. I know times are tough and staff needs to be paid but that’s ridiculous. I feel like some places are aimed at the rich.
We do attend free events during the holidays that we are grateful for. I’m talking kids interests, to get them out doing the things they are interested in and love doing, costs a fortune. I understand wages need to be paid but sometimes I can’t work out how they can get $150 for a child per work shop. I have also seen some at $250 it’s simple, they just don’t go. It’s more, how can they charge this.
For me it’s really important that my kids keep active and engage in some activity or sport out of school hours but it’s just not with in reach these days.
Don’t get me started on the direct debits they want us locked into, I hate them. I love and support the businesses that don’t lock parents in and offer affordable casual rates for sessions. I have come across one, that I will now always support, just wish more had that option these days.
I feel for other families who’s kids have never been able to afford any after school activities.kids need this, especially the time we are in when technology has taken over.
15 Replies
I think it depends on what it is, if they have a permanent business like a dance studio or gymnastics you can understand the high cost as they are paying alot in overheads like lease, power, insurance, maintenance then the other stuff like equipment, liability, wages. Then you have someone doing yoga at the park for nearly the same cost and you think what is behind this cost? Not nearly as much as the other. If you can't afford to pay then don't, I'm sure the kids will survive! I think it's perfectly OK to just do one thing each or have a break for a while.
Most of my sons activities are only $100-$150 per Semester.
Workshops in the holidays I expect to pay more as usually your paying for expertise of the coaches.
My daughter dances and that is really expensive however the facilities are brilliant and the teaching staff amazing.
Offering casual attendance is suicide for businesses!
I think it all depends on what activities you’re kids do?
There’s a lot that aren’t that expensive.
I have 2 kids who so Hapkido and it’s $20 per week, they do swimming lessons which is $15 per week.
School holiday clinics are always going to be expensive because it’s a niche market and they can charge more. Look at your local PCYC for fun clinics for kids that are affordable
Wow swimming lessons used to cost me $19 a week for each kid. Thanks I am fairly new to the state. We didn’t have pcyc in home state , so I will check that out.
Follow your local council for free or cheap things to do in the holidays
Thanks
Check out Little Athletics. Very cost effective and a fantastic atmosphere. One of my kids used to do it but is now doing footy, swimming and martial arts...I miss the days of Little Aths lol
great thanks I will look into it.
No problem! Ours was like $150 plus a singlet. And that's for the whole season plus training! And season was quite long too.
That is so good
We do clubs and sport through school it’s much cheaper but also I don’t have to do the running around it’s in school break times
FYI it’s not in break times. It pretty much takes up a whole day and is a big waste of time from teachers perspective.
What kind of sports & activities are they in? Team sports are usually $150-200 ish for a season and sometimes include a t-shirt.
If you have PCYC they do cheaper activities.
Some states also give sports vouchers if you are low income. You could try googling sports vouchers in your state.
A lot of shopping centre’s put on free workshops for the kids now. A lots of local councils put on park plays & other events.
Which sports are you kids into? My boys do soccer and it’s about $300 for the season.
My daughter does tennis and it’s 150 per term so $15 per lesson.
We also did Karate which was about $15 per lesson.
My kids do piano as well which is about $40 per lesson but these teachers have higher qualifications and experience so I feel it’s justified.
My older 3 were never interested in sport or activities. So I made them do swimming lessons until they spent more time mucking around than actual swimming.
My youngest is an avid swimmer. Has been swimming since she was 6 months old. Right now she is 12 and she swims as part of a swim club ($120 a year rego). Does squad where she used to do lessons ($180 a term) and also does squad at another pool where she swims 5-6 days a week, sometimes twice daily ($140 a month).
Swimmers are in average $55 a pair for training, then race approved suits range from $190 (when on sale) up to $600 a pair and she has 4 or 5 swimmers just for training, plus swimmers just for the beach and non training uses.
Then there are carnivals where it ranges from $3 - $10 an entry per race.
Goggles are $30-$40 a pair plus swim caps.
I spend a fortune on her swimming and also get up at 4.15am 4 times a week to take her.
I think I spend close to $10000 a year minimum just on swimming and swim expenses.
Plus she does netball ($120 a season plus uniforms) and has expressed an interest in starting nippers next season ($120 a season plus uniforms). I say yes to every sport she wants to do, as it's all training for her swimming. She has decided she wants to make a career out of swimming - she wants to make the Olympics (or similar) as well as own a swim school. I think it is important for kids to be active.
We even got a home gym so she could train at home as well.