As parents, we all want our kids to be the best they can be so getting them into competitive sports seems like the right idea. But there are some costs to consider before making that decision.
Talking Points:
- Competitive youth sports is a booming business for one primary reason: parents are convinced to see their kids’ athleticism as a commodity with a future payout.
- Only 2-7% of kids will end up with an athletic scholarship which means 98% of kids go on to do other things than sports. It’s good to keep the right perspective.
- 3 Tips on counting the cost:
- Be honest about your own motives.
- Be honest about the financial cost.
- Give your kids room to be honest.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What role do sports play in your child’s life and in your family’s life?
- How have you been encouraged to see your kid’s athleticism as a commodity? Have you been promised things by coaches in the past? Explain.
- What is the cost of sports on your time? Your child’s time?
- What is the financial cost of sports for your family? Is there a need to reduce this cost to be more fiscally responsible? What are some ways to do this?
- What are the emotional costs of sports for your child? How are they handling the pressure right now? How are you handling the pressure?
- Evaluate if sports are helping or hurting your family. What adjustments do you need to make so that sports are a healthy addition to your family?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
