- More than a third (36%) of parents pay more than $500 per child per year for kids’ sports
- Just one in 10 parents pay under $99.
- 37% of parents believe they get good value from what they spend on junior sport.
- Women are three times more likely than men to guide their kids’ selection based on the location of games and training.
Monday 25 July, 2016: Cost is the main consideration for almost a third of Aussie parents when helping their kids select a junior sport, according to new research from ING DIRECT. One in ten parents pays over $1,000 per child each year, and a quarter (26%) pay between $500 and $999.
Almost 40 per cent of those surveyed say kids’ sport seems to get more expensive every year and a similar number agree there are regularly additional (un-budgeted for) costs that crop up.
John Arnott, Executive Director, Customers, at ING DIRECT said parents knew junior sport was costly but saw it as a worthwhile investment to ensure their kids enjoyed a healthy and active lifestyle.
“Between the uniform, equipment and registration fees, the cost of kids’ sport adds up and it can put a strain on the family budget, especially for parents who have more than one child,” he said.
“To ensure sport doesn’t break the bank, be aware of the costs up front and look for ways to save. For example, by organising a group with other parents to swap outgrown equipment each season.”
Mr Arnott added: “Sports can also be a great opportunity to educate your kids about the value of money. If your child is determined to play an expensive sport, consider asking them to make a small contribution from their pocket money so they understand their choices have a financial impact.”
Priorities of men and women differ when it comes to junior sport
While both parents play a huge role in kids’ sport, they aren’t always on the same page. Dads were twice as likely as mums to consider the sport they played as the most important reason to suggest a particular sport for their child.
The thought of consistently transporting a car full of children long distances was a factor that played strongly on women’s minds. Nearly half (42%) said the location of games and training was the main reason for guiding their child to or away from a particular sport, while men were three times less likely to do so (14%).
Beyond cost considerations, the other top reason both parents gave for steering kids to a particular sport was the amount of time it would require (34%).
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
The research was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of ING DIRECT in April 2016 and comprised an online poll of over 1,000 Australian respondents.
Media contacts
Jack Dennis, N2N Communications, 0431 589 582
Kallie Hunter, N2N Communications, 0411 143 963
Kristen Costandi, ING DIRECT, 0413 317 225
About ING DIRECT
ING DIRECT changed the way Australians bank 17 years ago by launching the country’s first high interest, fee free online savings account. Since then, we’ve brought this low fee value to home loans, transactional banking and superannuation.
With over 1.6 million customers – and $34 billion in savings and $40 billion in mortgages – ING DIRECT has the highest Net Promoter Score of any bank.
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