The High Cost of Healthy Kids? (part i)

by bigcajunman last updated on September 8, 2020

in Parenting Costs, School Expenses, Sports

I have seen many articles posted lately in the “real” media complaining about obese kids and the implication that it is their parents fault that they are fat. I agree in some ways given that you as a parent should worry if your kid is morbidly obese, or way over weight (also knowing that some kids fill out and then shoot up in height, and there are sometimes extenuating health issues). Parents should most definitely be worried that their kids are not healthy, no argument there.

What I will write about here, is how the “real” media implies that it is a simple case of parents just not trying to get their kids healthy, and the simplest resolution to the problem is:

Make sure the kids are active at school in sports
Sign them up for sports at home in their spare time
Limit their TV and Video Game access
Limit their intake of snack foods and foods high in sugar and fat

Simple enough, and in an esoteric way, I agree, however, let’s look at this from a financial model.

The question to be answered is: is it cheaper to have healthy kids, or is it more expensive? I’ll give my opinions in the next couple of days.

New Month Coming

September is on the event horizon folks, that means we are in the final third of the year, maybe it is time to revisit your financial plans, and also start thinking about big ticket end of year items that could broadside you if you don’t think of it. What do I mean?

Christmas, better figure out what you are doing there, or you may as well get a pile of money and burn it.
When do your insurance policies renew?
What other yearly payments might come due on January 1? Do you have enough money to pay them?
How about your RRSP input goals? Reached them yet?
RESP Goals?
Savings in General?

A good financial plan is a living, breathing entity, that you must attend to monthly.

Follow On Stories

I wrote two follow-up stories that you can also read:

originally published on August 28, 2007 { 4 comments }

CindyPTN September 28, 2007, 3:11 PM
I think parents want to be involved or there with the kids because of safety issues. It’s not easy to just let the kids go out and play if an adult isn’t available. In some ways, I think organized Sports has a way of making the event a scheduled priority for Parents. It shouldn’t be that way, but when we’re so busy with this and that, the unscheduled activities of going out and playing tend to be left behind.
Thank you for contributing your article to Fitness for Moms Blog Carnival.
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Anonymous August 30, 2007, 4:20 AM
Against the law? How un-Canadian!
In my neighbourhood there is some street hockey going on. And this is an urban neighbourhood where there aren’t many driveways, so it is actually on the street! Not a very busy street, but still! The kids do move out of the way if a car approaches. I don’t know why their parents don’t make them go somewhere safer. There are two elementary schools (one English and one French) in the neighbourhood with paved schoolyards — they could go there.
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Big Cajun Man August 28, 2007, 5:46 AM
Careful about the street hockey in parts of Ottawa, it is AGAINST THE LAW!!! Unbelievable.
I have found that parents don’t like letting their kids just go out and play, the parents feel they must be involved as well, to make sure it is a GOOD game?
–c8j
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Anonymous August 28, 2007, 4:40 AM
I’m not sure kids have to be involved in formal, organized sports. They just have to be active. Let them play street hockey in the driveway. Let them chase each other around the park. Let them have an impromptu soccer game with the neighbourhood kids. Let them ride their bicycles (teach them how to ride safely). If you live on a farm, have them help with chores. Above all, set them the example and do active things together as a family.
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