Kids from well off families beats my lot hands down.

aliasojo

Spendless wrote: »

To answer what my own kids do
DD aged 5
gym club (has just packed it in) and cheerleading (thru school cost £2 a week each activity)

daughter and middle one did gymnastics for years but eventually got bored. daughter goes to cheerleading (beat you...ours is only a pound, lol)


DS aged 8 has done in the past

Beavers
gym club/art club/tae kwon do (all thru his school )

Daughter, middle one and OH also did TKD and were good at it (middle one especially...that's just a few of his awards below) but it cost so much that they had to stop. It wasn't just the weekly class amount, it was all the equipment that they had to get too and the amount of exams and competitions that they were expected to attend....proof in case anyone thinks I'm just making stuff up now, lol>


swiming

Ditto

he has also down various 'kids clubs' during school holidays

currently he is learning to play violin (free thru school),belongs to a junior football team, and last week started cubs. Already at cubs he is going to an (indoor) camp this w/end and they are taking him to a 'sea-life' type centre and a ramble in some woods, as well as various indoor activities. Next month they are doing another to the coast which has a Christmas theme.

Does your daughter's Brownie's pack not do various different activities with them?

Not as of yet anyway. Your son's cubs seem very good. The Brownies are going to the pantomime at one point but that's it afaik.

What about 'junior woodland rangers'- anything like that near you?

Don't think so, never heard of them anyway but will Google.

aliasojo

julbags wrote: »

My first thought was where on earth are you climbing that it costs £25 an hour, that's outrageous! As you in the Highlands I guessed it may be the Ice Factor as its new and probably pricey but they only do £25 an hour on private sessions..

I had to Google this as I'd not heard of it but it's nowhere near us.

aliasojo

princess_pixiedust wrote: »

we live in a small village also and can see where you are coming from, we are between inverness and aberdeen and there is hardly anything to do here unless you travel far, there are loads of distilleries but kids arent in to that:rolleyes:

Thanks pixiedust....it's good to hear from someone who knows what I'm talking about through similar experience iyswim.

...............

aliasojo

I had another thought this afternoon....a few years ago myself and some others went on an adult outdoor education course thing that took us mountain biking and kayaking. As far as I can remember it was a council run thing I think...it certainly wasn't a privately funded course anyway.

None of us had ever tried anything like this before and so it was an experience to say the least, lol.

I wonder if they do things like that for kids?

*goes off to google again*

Lunar_Eclipse

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

whereas children such as mine would have to sacrifice 2 cheapish weekly activities for a month for one session of another activity. If more well off parents choose not to do/give things to their kids then that is their choice and up to their parenting.

This is my point entirely. You/your children have a choice. So interestingly I see your example as falling into that of "more well off parents".

All other things being equal, 'rich' kids have more experiences available to them than 'poor' kids, simply because money would not be an issue to the former. But firstly things are never equal as we all know. Secondly, most families (99%) still need to prioritise where they spend money so I find it hard to decide what 'rich' and 'poor' actually are. Also, in reality it doesn't always make a difference. It could; but often doesn't. I have a couple of sets of rich friends (£1m cash in the bank, £2m mortgage free house, private school, £250k basic salary), whose children do exactly the same as another friend who works in Sainsbury's Bakery department.

We only had two children; mainly for financial reasons.

beautifulgorgeous_2

When she is older the do it for real adventure holidays run by the YHA are great and start at £25 if you have a very low income. Five days including travel tuition food etc. O nly had to spend DS with pocket money. He enjoyed gourge walking but not absailing!

Lunar_Eclipse

aliasojo wrote: »

BUT....kids from rich families (and I'm talking generally) can have their parents time AND activity choices.

I don't think they do actually. Certainly not from the breadwinner of the family, usually the Dad. Ignoring those with more than one job, as salary goes up, so does hours on the job and time away from the family from what I have seen. I don't know anyone earning over 50k in London/South East who only works a 40 hour week. 80 hours plus is more realistic. Many are not home at all Mon-Fri, or simply go home to sleep, thus not seeing the children.

Coaching_Ball

Hi

My husband invented the Coaching Ball football (see discounts!!) for parents to self coach their children. Actually had lots of single mothers and primary schools (few male teachers) buying them. It may be useful!
I know what you mean, our local pool is grotty yet the private gym is too expensive to take the children too. It's the cold wet weather which is the hardest to entertain in, roll on summer!

tomstickland

My parent's had 10% of !!!!!! all money wise when I was young. We still did fun things though. An advantage is that you tend to appreciate things more when you've not had everything given to you.

nadnad

i think a lot of pople have got stuck on the examples given by the OP of horse riding and climbing. I don't think she was really meaning that she wanted to do these activities exactly - but they are just examples of (relatively) expensive hobbies.

i still have to say I completely understand where she is coming from if a kids family is "better off" then they will in all likliehood be able to do weekly activities ie music lessons, dance, tae kwon do/karate, whatever, and I think her point was if a child is exposed to these activities a lot and perhaps is able to become proficient and competent in them, then not only does their confidence increase but they are also gaining really good life experiences. I think it really helps once you reach adulthood if you have a range of hobbies and activities. I think it gives kids the confidence to want to join in and participate and not to be afraid. Like I said I didn't do any activities and have to admit I have no hobbies now and I'm not a "joiner inner" (iykwim) and I've always been shy about joining things or going to classes, and I really really wish I could have the confidence to do more things.

A lot of posters have also said its all about priorities but sometimes its just impossible for a family to afford weekly lessons in whatever - and its never just the lessons - theres always extras to go with.