I have enrolled my son in competitive soccer and that costs around $2000 annually in a non profit soccer club. The benefits are obviously physical and mental health as well as team spirit. Now many of histeam members also joined some kind of self-defence class such as we karate, tae-kwando and then you need to put the kids to swimming and being in Canada you also need to learn skating if not hockey...if you add up all these expenses it goes around at least $6000 annually. And on top of it some music class. and then not sure if you want to put in some program such as kumon/UCMAS etc.
The govt just give $500 tax credit on music and sports each.
Then multiply these expenses by number of children...man.
Although all of the above seems justified, just wondering how much do fellow desis spend on these activities and which all activities.

Weekly Tues - Math class - $1200 / year
Weekly Wed - Swimming - $960 / year
Weekly Thurs - Piano - $960 / year

One child for the above.

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Dimple2001

Good Topic.

It will be important to know various activities suitable for particular age group.
My son will be 5 soon. what activities should he be doing ?
I want to put him more for a team activity than individual. suggestions?

Right age to give him experience of different sports by signing once a week type of activity. e.g. let him join a 3 month, once a week program for soccer, hockey, tennis etc. these programs are not taxing and gives a chance to see which sport your child is interested in. During first 3-4 classes you will be disappointed to see that he/she is not good at any of these..but continue and they will start to show the skills and interest. And depending on that you can choose one or two where extra efforts are needed. Beware to get into competitive programs, it becomes challenging to get selected as child gets older as others have already been training from age 8.
About team sports:
Soccer: Good team sport, comparatively less costly but then you have a lots of competition.
Hockey: Again good team sport, requires more committment in terms of money and time but then as national sports you may have more opportunities.
Cricket: A bit of a gamble as you know the current status of Canadian cricket and availability of training facilities.
Others team sports: Not sure myself.
I was introduced to soccer for my son by a mom whose 3 children were in competitive soccer. It became so overwhelming for her she got into depression. But at the same time I saw parents with 4 children still happily managing activities for all 4.
Your commitment is very much required not with the expectation that your son one day will be national hero but with the hope that he will get some scholarship and of course you will never miss out on the beneift of excellent health and team spirit. From age 7 onwards we never had to force our child to finish his food. He is always hungry and eats more than what I can in one sitting. Just fill the plate. (Enough of preaching ).
Good luck!

Boothastic !
thanks.
For now he is a backyard soccer champ, I am not much concerned with him making or not making to any league in soccer/hockey etc in future. (rather i personally want my son to be a hollywood star the way he looks :-) ...that was a serious note, mind you! ).

For the time, just want to imbibe some sense of constructive team work in the kid.