How much do you spend on extracurricular activities? Mine seem so expensive

[extracurricularsomuch]

How much does everyone spend on extracurricular activities?

admitidly I live in Switzerland, and everything is expensive here, but I’ve just totalled up how much my daughters clubs are going to be this year. She’s desperate to do dance too, but I just can’t make it all work with work. And also worried about her being tired.

so, climbing, gymnastics, all yeat round. Skiing in winter, football in summer and autumn, is costing over £2000.

and she’s desperate to do ice dance in winter too.

luckily the 2 year old is too young for all this, but it’s going to be crazy when he’s her age.

No, it’s pure volunteer work. The football coaches are all parents and the pitch is kept up to scratch by a group of pensioners. We make and sell refreshments to earn more money when hosting a game. Once a year we all pitch in for a giant spring clean of the facilities. Most people around here are very handy at DIY, too.

There are pros and cons to it. The A team consists purely of the coaches‘ sons, for example.

Athletics is a slightly different system. It’s in the next town (we live in a village) and the sports complex was heavily sponsored by a large firm nearby. The €120 would also let DS do other sports like handball, fitness, table tennis or reduced swimming lessons. This sport club has an employed administrator (the equivalent for smaller clubs is voluntary, as are all the coaches). They also offer subsidised holiday clubs for select weeks.

My experience is that Germany is very community-minded. Clubs are kept simple and you‘re expected to get involved. If you get good at a sport, it’s expected you’ll coach a children’s team in some form. I‘m a reluctant baker, but have often made cakes to sell at events, manned a stall or helped set up or clear up. It’s a good way to get to know people.

Local councils tend to offer a reduced rent for room hire by a club (my choir pays €10 per 90 minute practice for room hire). Membership fees are kept low so the choir has a number of ‘passive’ members who continue paying even though they don’t attend rehearsals. The sports clubs are the same.

There‘s also an additional personal tax allowance for certain volunteers - may be as high as €3,000 a year.

As well as having tried a range of sports (2 of which have stuck), DS(9) also takes part in the spring cleans and work behind the scenes. It has taught him team work, community, and the importance of getting involved.

DC does a couple of lunchtime clubs at £10 each and a couple of after school (at school) clubs for an hour wraparound £10-12 each session.swimming £22 half hour lesson. London suburb state school. All mediocre.

About £6000 if you include monthly fees, competition fees, uniform, private tuition fees, hotels for competitions( about 6-8 a year).

That does seem cheap. Were in a European country and pay 2,500€ per school year for two children doing different activities:gymnastics, dance, music, swimming and private English classes.