Jim Liebelt Christian Blog and Commentary

Act now to share the love of Christ in the Middle East

Parents Spending More On Kids This Summer

The cost of keeping the kids amused this summer is going up: A new study from American Express finds that parents are spending $958 per child this school vacation, up 12% from last year, and up 59% from 2012.

Day trips remain the most popular activity for families, with 77% of those with kids under 18 planning at least one such outing, an 8% increase from last year. (They intend to spend an average of $292 on these adventures.) And 48% have kids participating on sports teams, a 9% increase. (That costs an average of $187.)

About 41% have ponied up for either a pool or club membership, up 14%. (That one costs $132.) Some 37% have enrolled their kids in an education or arts program. And there’s always camp, either day camp (used by 34% of participants) or sleep-away (chosen by 25%). Those cost an average of $273 and $234, respectively.

And while 98% of the survey, based on an online sample of 1,253 adults, say they are assigning kids chores this summer, fewer parents of teens expect them to pursue a summer job (30% vs. 35% in 2013).

Source: Marketing Daily
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/229835/im-boooored-parents-spending-more-on-kids-this.html