Every fourth parent has cut back on their children’s activities

Every fourth parent has cut back on their children’s leisure activities – because it is too expensive. This is shown by a new survey from SBAB.
– That as many as one in four parents have been forced to cut back on their children’s leisure activities as a result of the costs is alarming, says Linda Hasselvik, SBAB’s private and housing economist.

In a new survey from SBAB, every fourth family with children states that the children’s leisure activities have been affected by the increased costs, and the more children – the tougher.

– That as many as one in four parents have been forced to cut back on their children’s leisure activities as a result of the costs is alarming, says Linda Hasselvik, SBAB’s private and housing economist.

– Organized leisure activities can contribute to so much, not least the joy of movement, learning to cooperate in teams but also strengthening the child’s self-confidence and self-esteem, she continues.

Among parents with one child, 20 percent stated that they were forced to limit the children’s activities. The corresponding figure for families with three or more children is almost half, according to the survey.

According to SBAB, this can lead to poorer health.

– Many households need to turn the tables to get the economy going. The possibility of leisure activities thus risks becoming a class issue, which in the long run can also contribute to poorer health in the general population, says Linda Hasselvik.

Cheaper activity

Some parents, approximately 17 percent, also state that they chose a cheaper activity than the one the children actually wanted to practice, and 11 percent state that the children had to stop an activity because it cost too much.

It is still tough financially for many households as a result of high interest rates and high inflation, according to SBAB.

According to the survey, parents spend an average of SEK 750 a month, or the equivalent of SEK 4,500 per child, on leisure activities. A cost that rises with the age of the children.