Family spends thousands on extracurricular activities

The youth sports industry has grown into a $40 billion market, with the average family spending $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 45% increase from five years ago, according to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play.

My family spent $2,292 on extracurricular activities for our two boys, ages 6 and 8, last season.

The cost of kids’ sports has become completely out of reach for many families, and as a mom of multiple kids, I couldn’t help but feel that the cost of kids’ sports has become completely out of reach for many families. We’ve found ways to save, but it’s still a big commitment.

Breaking Down the Costs

In the fall, our youngest played t-ball, which had a $98 registration fee, our cheapest activity by far, though it didn’t include the cost of cleats, helmets, or bats.

Both our boys are in Cub Scouts, a yearly commitment that costs $250 per kid annually, plus the cost of uniforms, which was around $117 for my youngest (my oldest wore his from last year). This totaled up to $617, and that doesn’t include the cost of camping trips.

Then there was winter basketball, which cost $166 per kid, for a total of $332 for our family over the seven-week season.

Last winter, I also decided to broaden their horizons and signed my oldest up for piano at $140 a month and my youngest for musical theater at about $78 a month, for a grand total of $862.

Offsetting the Costs

I’ve been experimenting with cost-cutting strategies, such as only allowing my kids to participate in one sport and one activity per season, and buying uniforms, cleats, and bats secondhand whenever I can.

I also make sure to pass along the gear that my kids have outgrown to share the wealth, and sign them up for the same sports during the same season to cut down on drive time and practice nights.

Some sports offer sibling discounts, though it’s usually nominal, and we skip summer sports and camps, which can cost hundreds a week, per kid.

This doesn’t just save us money, it also gives us a much-needed break, and I enjoy having a few weeks without carpool duties when I can hang out at the pool instead.

The Benefits of Youth Sports

Youth sports help kids develop cognitive skills, improve academic achievement, and build important skills like concentration, attention, and better behavior, which are benefits I’m not willing to give up.

While we certainly could save money by forgoing sports altogether, that wasn’t an option for us.

The cost of kids’ sports is a stark departure from the $20 youth soccer registration fee my parents said they paid for me when I was a kid, and it’s clear that something needs to change to make it more accessible to all families.

When did kids’ sports and activities get so expensive? And what can parents do to offset the cost in an already struggling economy? I’m determined to find out.