Finding After School Activities that You Can Afford
Most of us grew up being able to participate in activities after school, such as choirs, sports teams and academic clubs. However, many after school programs go on the chopping block every year as schools contend with greater need and smaller educational resources. For families struggling to make ends meet, this may limit or take away altogether a child’s activities outside of the classroom. Consequently, we’re seeing more and more children unsupervised and at loose ends in the hours between finishing school and when their parents get home. In this article, we’ll look at some cost efficient activities and community programs that will fill the gaps in your child’s education.
A shaky economy doesn’t negate the need for fun and educational activities after school, with sports being the most popular and expensive. Besides administration fees, parents have to pay for equipment, equipment maintenance, uniforms, transportation costs, and sometimes out of town accommodations. There are several ways to reduce these costs and make sports more affordable for your family. Start by shopping for equipment and supplies off season. Items like hockey gear are much cheaper in the warm months when they are discounted. Don’t hesitate to buy used equipment like sticks, balls, skates and nets that are in good condition. You can score great equipment at 40-70% less than retail at second-hand stores that carry used sports equipment. You can also ask the team if they have used uniforms that you can purchase or rent. Don’t let old equipment sit around the house either! Sell it through newspaper classified ads, online or at a consignment shop for cash or store credit. This is a great way to offset the cost of new equipment.
For music lovers, there are also various ways to cut back expenses. Instead of buying a new, pricey instrument that your child might become bored with, consider leasing. A number of retailers subsidize school music programs by offering leases that you can pay for on a monthly basis. This pay-as-you-go method is ideal for a child who is studying an instrument for the first time. If you see that they do not enjoy it, you just break off the lease. A lot of music and second-hand stores also sell used sheet music and instruments at economical rates.
Membership and tuition charges constitute a substantial share of the price of after school programs. If one-on-one classes are too pricey for your family, then there are more inexpensive options. Organizations like the Scouts, Little League, Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Y offer reasonable membership costs and activities.
If you are looking for activities after school for younger children, check out your local church, community center or library for play classes with small fees. Some offer kids crafts or other programs for free and they are fun and well supervised. For older kids, volunteering their time for a worthy charity or organization is an excellent option. Community run programs are always looking for volunteers and the activity looks great on college applications.
Involving your children in after school activities is the ideal way to keep them busy and supervised until you get home. The good news is, there are lots of alternatives for after-school activities that are affordable and easy to get involved in.
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