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Mageli Sanchez is a holy placeAn Asian legal reporter, her daughter and son are less than 10 years old, but they have already started to run around to participate in football matches.

In order to cover this expenditure, Mageli ’s husband worked at a gas station on weekdays, and sometimes spent 12 hours running a part-time transportation on Saturday. As more and more weekends and nights are occupied by part-time jobs, Mageli’s husband often cannot attend relatives’ weddings or even children’s birthday parties.

“This kind of life rhythm is indeed a little crazy.” Megeli said,

“But they are your children, you will do anything for them.”

For affluent families, the cost of investment has no worries. They can hire a personal trainer, buy the best equipment, invest in a sports club, or even repair a baseball field at home, and they do n’t care if the money hits.

Families of different income classes are doing their best, even overdrawing family savings, paving the way for children’s sports development.

At the same time, signing up for different sports also means choosing a different “price” track.

The report shows that, of the 21 listed sports, the average annual cost is track and field sports, and a child costs about $ 191. The top three most expensive sports are:

Ice hockey ($ 2583) ;

Ski / Snowboard (2249 US dollars) ;

Hockey ($ 2125) .

Although equestrian, sailing, rowing and other “aristocratic sports” are not included, the threshold is not what ordinary families can enter.

In the breakdown of fees, transportation costs are the largest expense compared to registration, equipment, courses, and competition fees.

A father from upstate New York spent $ 20,000 for his daughter ’s one-year volleyball training, many of which were spent on gasoline: up to four nights a week, driving 2.5 hours back and forth, often 11 It’s only home until 30:30.

So, what is the reason why American parents are willing to invest so much time, energy and money in the development of their children’s sports? In addition to the social culture that has long advocated sports, what attracts most American families is the college sports scholarship.

According to U.S News data, from 2018 to 2019, the tuition fees of nearly two thousand universities in the United States increased by an average of 3%. Of the 737 private universities counted, more than 100 universities have tuition fees in excess of US $ 50,000 / year, and the Ivy League colleges have increased by 8%.

If a child can rely on excellent sports ability and obtain tens of thousands of dollars or even a full scholarship, for many families, the pressure on tuition fees is greatly relieved.

While low-income families, especially those of African descent, are desperate, looking forward to training their children as professional athletes to escape poverty, low education, and unrespected fate.

The original intention of American universities to set up sports scholarships is to give children from low-income families who have sports talents opportunities for further education.

However, in the eyes of elite parents, it is interpreted as a signal to increase children ’s chances of admission: Exercise is important (Sports matter) .

When the first person in the theater stood up, more and more American parents had to grind their teeth. Although the chances for children to succeed in sports are extremely small, and for children in low- and middle-income families, this channel continues to narrow.

Second, children and Chinese families involved in the storm

In recent years, the U.S. youth sports industry has grown rapidly due to huge demand and rising costs. But behind this, in addition to the parents who are under huge financial pressure, there are also children who are exhausted or directly deprived of sports opportunities.

In order to increase the chances of enrolling children in prestigious schools, American parents ’blind pursuit of sports has even affected China across the ocean.

1. Declining sports participation year after year

Although most American parents have invested a lot of money and energy in the development of their children’s sports, from the data point of view, it has not played a positive role in the development of sports for young children in the United States.

The survey shows that only 38% of 6-12 year olds and children in the United States regularly participate in single or group sports in 2018. Compared with 45% a decade ago, this number did not rise but fell. Moreover, children whose annual household income is less than 25,000 US dollars have fallen the most, by more than 10%.

For children of low-income families, the increasingly expensive expenses mean that sometimes even entering the sports ground has become a luxury.

2. Children withdraw from sports before the average age of 11

Aspen Institute and Utah State University organized a sports survey involving more than 1,000 parents in 50 states.

It turns out that children usually end their “sports career” early. On average, each child spends less than three years participating in a sport and chooses to quit when he is less than 11.

The main reason for quitting is that you no longer feel fun in sports.

In addition to the increased attractiveness of electronic products, the high expectations of parents after high investment, rising training intensity, and sports competitions participating in cross-city and cross-state weekends are also stifling children’s love for sports.

If American families are already involved in the storm center, then Chinese families are also likely to catch up.

In the “2018 China Children’s Sports Training Family Consumption Report” released by Ruiyi, Over 80% of parents have selected sports for their children, of which swimming, basketball, fitness and go are the most popular.

Picture Source: Ruiyi

Most of the interviewed families live in the first- and second-tier cities, and the post-70s and post-80s groups with an annual income of 100,000 to 500,000 yuan.

Among them, more than 40% of households spend annually on children ’s sports training (including equipment costs ) Above 10,000 yuan, 11.8% of households invest more than 20,000 yuan.

In addition, Chinese elite families’ rapid investment in high-end sports for children is also developing rapidly, and sports options range from golf and tennis to fencing, ice hockey, equestrian, and rowing.

And the development route of children’s sports is more and more similar to the United States. The annual expenditure for equipment, hire coaches, join clubs, and even participate in international competitions, up to hundreds of thousands.

For Chinese parents, the purpose of letting children learn elite sports is also linked to the admission of elite schools, and hopes that in this way, they can help children expand their high-level social contacts, both at home and abroad.

“The school also knows that it can play iceFor children who have played for many years, the family will not be too bad, so under the premise that the children have excellent results, they will also be given priority or looser admission. A mother told the 21st Century Business Herald.

A father in Beijing shared his child ’s experience of learning ice hockey on Zhihu, and calculated an account. Cue, helmets, full body protective gear, skates and other complete equipment will be invested at one time between 2,000 and 10,000 yuan.

One-on-one small class twice a week, plus a large class on the weekend, about 1,500 yuan a week, nearly 80,000 a year. Of course, these inputs are uncapped. There are hundreds of cheap skates, and there are tens of thousands, as is training.

Also, the loss of equipment or the growth of children means that new equipment must be purchased every six months or a year. If you count the cost of traveling to different cities or even countries, it is not surprising to see millions of luxury cars such as Maybach and Porsche in the parking lot of the ice hockey club.

Even so, the Chinese family ’s enthusiasm for ice hockey continues. As of the end of 2018, the Beijing Ice Hockey Association has registered more than 3,000 young athletes and more than 150 registered teams.

Ice hockey is the epitome of countless Chinese families investing in high-end sports for their children.

In order to send the child to a prestigious school, some parents even took the risk and put the money that other parents spent on the development of the child’s sports directly on the “end point”-packaging the child into an athlete.

Just a few days ago, Sui Xiaoning, a Chinese mother who spent $ 400,000 to buy her son into the University of California, Los Angeles Pleaded guilty.

Sui Xiaoning ’s son turned into a Zeng by forging athlete filesAn athlete who played for two top private football clubs in Canada, although he has never played professional football at all. In 2018, Sui Xiaoning’s son was successfully admitted to UCLA and also received a 25% scholarship for tuition.

Last year, Singh, the college admissions consultant who planned the gray deal, was arrested by the FBI. The largest university admissions fraud case in American history was exposed and caused a sensation.

Sui Xiaoning, 49, is facing a fine of $ 250,000 and a five-month prison life.

Three, free sports or sky-high clubs under the sun

Going back to the question at the beginning, what is the meaning of sports?

If it is for scholarships, prestigious school admission rates, and elite connections, perhaps parents do have to join this vicious competition. However, we must act according to family conditions, and do not have unrealistic illusions.

If you return to your parents ’most simple desires for children, such as making children happy in sports, promoting children ’s growth and development, maintaining physical and mental health, and fostering a strong will, then accompany your children to go to the park for running, cycling, and playing ball , Can achieve the desired effect.

Of course, children also need to participate in team sports, learn to cooperate and communicate. Therefore, signing up for the school football team, or choosing a suitable training institution, can also grow accordingly.

The survey shows that when choosing a sports training institution for a child, most of the parents ’information comes from the recommendation of the parent circle and WeChat friend circle.

Therefore, in the upsurge of sports, maintaining the ability to think rationally is the premise for parents to choose sports for their children.

Finally, the Bund chose some sports that are more suitable for your reference.

1. Running

Running is the most convenient sport, and children often enjoy it. Whether it is a “match” with parents on the park’s runway, or a relay game with friends, parents only need to prepare a suitable pair of sports shoes for their children.

The benefits of running are many for the body. Not only can it accelerate the metabolism, exercise cardiovascular function, promote the bone development of the child, but also cultivate the endurance and perseverance of the child.

But before running, parents should also plan the location or route, choose the place and time where the crowd is less concentrated, and remember to do warm-up activities with their children.

2. Cycling

Biking has broadened the scope of exploration and can make children feel more independent. Riding a bicycle helps to improve the child’s balance and physical coordination, and strengthens the child’s legs and core strength.

Like running, parents need to choose a suitable riding location or route. In addition, inform your child about basic safety rules and wear protective equipment, such as a helmet.

3. Skipping rope

If you do n’t want to have such a large range of movement, parents can also choose to skip rope with their children in the open space downstairs. Because it takes less time and consumes more energy, skipping rope can be said to be a more efficient exercise.

Not only can maintain the child ’s cardiovascular health, exercise the child ’s response speed and coordination ability, continuous jumping can also promote the child ’s height growth.

During the exercise, parents can help the child adjust the appropriate skipping rope length and remind the child to maintain the correct posture and movement.

4. Yoga

Because the overseas epidemic has hindered children ’s outdoor sports, yoga at home has become a popular item. Preschool children can also practice movements with their parents or videos.

Yoga can exercise children’s physical strength, flexibility and balance. Some stretching exercises are not only suitable for muscle relaxation after intense exercise, but also can promote the growth of children’s height.

When arranging sports for children, parents need to consider the physical and age conditions of the children to avoid accidents caused by excessive exercise.

In addition, more active communication with children, teachers, coaches, and even doctors when necessary, is also an important way to ensure the safety of children.

Note: Since the epidemic is not completely over, parents still need to help or remind their children to do protective work when doing outdoor sports. Choose a place with relatively few people and good ventilation, and do not wear masks for strenuous sports with more running and jumping. In addition, students who have resumed classes should not wear N95 masks for physical education.

References:

1. https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/national-youth-sport-survey/1

2. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/income-inequality-explains-decline-youth-sports/574975/

3. https://www.thesimpledollar.com/banking/checking-and-savings/best-high-interest-savings-accounts/

4. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uneven-playing-field-middle-class-and-poor-kids-are-ditching-youth-sports /

5. https://time.com/magazine/us/4913681/september-4th-2017-vol-190-no-9-us/ < / p>

6. https://theharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Sports-Parents-Survey-2019-Final-Approved.pdf

7. http://www.lanxiongsports.com/posts/view/id/13504.html

This article is from WeChat public account: Bund Education (ID: TBEducation) , author: LU Qin, editor: Travis