I paid $2,292 for my kids' after-school activities last year — and that was just the starting price
Between basketball, Scouts, and piano, my kids' activities cost us thousands. I'm using a few strategies to help keep costs down.
Rachel Morgan Cautero, a mom of two, shared her experience of the rising costs of youth sports and after-school activities. In 2024, the average family spent $1,016 on their child's primary sport, a 45% increase from five years ago. Cautero's family spent $2,292 on activities for her two boys, aged 6 and 8, in the previous season, covering registration fees and uniforms.
To keep costs manageable, Cautero allows her children to participate in only one sport or activity per season, with Cub Scouts as the exception due to its infrequent meetings. She purchases used uniforms, cleats, and equipment, often finding them on neighborhood Facebook pages. Sharing outgrown gear with other families further reduces expenses.
Cautero also suggests skipping summer sports and camps, which can be incredibly expensive, in favor of the break it provides. While she acknowledges the physical and cognitive benefits of youth sports, she finds that the costs have become unsustainable for many families.
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