The store shelves are brimming with folders, scissors and glue. Long pants, boots, and back packs are in the mall store windows. Our summer "daze" is turning the corner to back-to-school. But, while all parents need to find room in the family budget for school clothes and supplies, those of us with kids in sports need to not only plan for the cost of equipment but budget our time.
As fun and exciting as it is for kids starting school - whether pre-school, kindergarten or elementary - and signing up for after-school activities and organized team sports, its also a wonderful time for parents: learning on which team your child will be playing, who their classmates will be in dance, karate, or gymnastics, and which parent you can car pool [1] with!
The keys for parents:
At this age, kids are beginning to settle into their chosen team or activity. They tend to do only one or two after school teams/classes. Life is getting jam-packed with school and friends. The kids who continue to play soccer baseball or softball, or volleyball are becoming more serious about their game.
Tips for parents of tweens:
By the time your child reaches adolescence they have settled into "their thing." You probably have, too. While the experts warn against the risk of overuse injury [3] from year-round play, most kids in this age group, if they are still in sports, play their chosen sport 12 months a year, in some cases both for their high school team and a private club. Needless to say you are still purchasing uniforms, shoes and gear for all those teams (not to mention paying for tournaments, private instruction etc.), but by this point your kids should not only be keeping track and taking care and track of all their gear (including washing their uniforms!), but need to be aware of just how much of a strain the cost of sports may be placing on the family budget.
Given the cost of sports, here are some final suggestions on ways to save money on gear or help out someone less fortunate:
In the end, it's not what game you play, but how you pay off the field that counts!
Gretchen Rose is a wife and mom of a teen and tween in Dallas, Texas. She and her husband are owners of KidzMat [5], the premier organizational equipment for all youth sports teams.
Posted August 12, 2011
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/713
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/683
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3343
[4] http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/
[5] http://www.kidzmat.com/
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/sports-moms-staying-organized-key
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/survival-skills/organization/the-organized-mom-tips-and-tricks
[8] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/car-pools-tips-and-tricks