There’s a moment most parents hit somewhere around their child’s fourth birthday when you realise weekends are no longer yours. You’re now a full-time driver, snack packer, and emotional support human for a range of extracurricular activities you never signed up for. Football. Drama. Karate. Code Club. Tae bloomin’ Kwon Do. Whatever the club, they all come with one constant: a price tag.
And so the question arises—are kids’ clubs actually worth it? Not just in terms of money, but time, effort, and sanity too.
The Costs Add Up
Let’s start with the obvious: clubs aren’t cheap. Even if they seem cheap at first. We’ve tried our fair share over the years and, while some are reasonably priced, others seem like a cleverly disguised way of separating you from your hard-earned cash one 45-minute session at a time.
A weekly football session might set you back £5–7. Not too bad. But that’s before the “optional” kit (spoiler: it’s never optional), registration fees, end-of-term trophies, match days, and—heaven help you—tournaments. Multiply that by multiple children and a couple of activities each, and you could easily be shelling out more on clubs than on your energy bill.
And don’t get me started on the logistical cost. Clubs usually happen right when you want to be doing something else. Or they cross over with bedtime but all their mates are going so you can’t say no.
But here’s the thing: despite the financial and logistical juggling, we’ve kept signing our kids up. Actually, we’ve come to really value it.
What Kids Get Out Of It
The most obvious benefit is skill-building. Whether it’s dribbling a ball, learning a musical instrument, or figuring out how to code a game where a robot cat eats flying tacos (true story), kids come away having learned something. And, importantly, they want to learn it.
That’s the bit that stands out to me. Kids don’t always get much choice in life—what they wear, when they go to bed, whether they have to eat the broccoli (they do)—but clubs are often their choice. And that changes the dynamic. They’re invested.
Our eldest, for example, threw himself into a drama club a couple of years ago. It wasn’t something we pushed—it was his suggestion after his friend found a girlfriend at the local am dram class. He went from being fairly quiet to confidently reciting lines and projecting his voice like he was born for the West End. (He also started giving very theatrical performances of why he couldn’t possibly tidy his room, but I digress.)
Beyond skills, there’s also the social side. Clubs throw kids together from different schools, backgrounds, and age groups. They have to learn to get on, to take turns, to cope with not always being the best at something. It’s basically soft skills boot camp—with a side of shin pads.
Then there’s the confidence boost. It’s a magical thing, watching your kid score a goal, land a cartwheel, or play the triangle in a school hall like their life depends on it. They beam. You beam. Someone else’s baby starts crying. It’s all part of the experience.
What Parents Get Out Of It
Let’s be honest: when clubs go well, they’re not just good for the kids.
They’re a bit of breathing space for you, too.
For starters, some clubs are drop-off. Those words sound beautiful, don’t they? Drop. Off. It means you can spend a blissful 45 minutes sitting in your car scrolling through your phone guilt-free. Or popping to the shops without someone putting things in the trolley without asking.
Even the ones you have to stick around for have their perks. You meet other parents. You get a change of scene. Sometimes there’s coffee. Sometimes it’s grim and you end up freezing your backside off on a touchline, but even then, you’re watching your kid have a brilliant time. That’s worth something.
And, if nothing else, it means they’re not sat in front of a screen for an hour demanding snacks. That’s worth quite a lot, actually.
When it Doesn’t Work
Of course, not every club’s a winner.
We’ve had a few false starts. Our youngest lasted all of three sessions at a gymnastics club before flat-out refusing to go back. Not because of the exercises—she didn’t mind those. It was the instructor. Lovely woman, just very shouty. And not in a “cheer you on” way—more like a drill sergeant.
We pushed for another week, then called it quits. And that’s the key takeaway: it only works if they’re enjoying it.
No matter how worthy or educational an activity seems, if your child’s dragging their feet, or worse, dreading it, it stops being a benefit. And it becomes a waste—for everyone. Of money, yes, but also of time, energy, and the opportunity to do something they would love.
So now, we have a rule. We give it a fair go—usually about half a term—but if they’re not into it after that, we don’t push. There are other clubs. Other interests. Other instructors who don’t sound like they’re training for a shout-off at the O2.
So, Should You Send Your Kids to Clubs?
In short—yes, but conditionally.
Kids’ clubs can be brilliant. They teach valuable skills, boost confidence, encourage friendships, and give your children a real sense of ownership over something that’s theirs. And, if you’re lucky, they come with a few perks for you as well—be it a quiet moment, new friendships, or just the warm fuzzy glow of watching your child do something they love.
But the key is that last bit. They have to love it.
Not every kid wants to be in a football team. Not every child thrives in drama. Some want chess club. Others want Lego club. One of ours asked for a “quiet club with books” once, which, to be honest, sounded like a dream.
So it’s about the right club, not any club.
If they’re coming out of a session buzzing, showing you what they did, asking when they can go back—you’re onto a winner. That’s when the cost, the kit, the shouty instructor, and the rainy Saturday mornings all feel worth it.
And if they’re not? Don’t worry. There’s always next term.
Or quiet club. I’m still holding out hope that becomes a real thing.
