FOR PARENTS: Knowing when to invest for your kid

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radness

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Dec 13, 2019
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imo There is not a set age for when to supply tools for growth.
Simply because there are different reasons to invest in an education/training.
Examples
To start on the right track.
To stay ahead.
To not fall behind.
To get an edge.
To gain different knowledge to make educated decisions and find what works best.

Sometimes people start with entry level training and sometimes all the way up through technical high-level education/training. Or from basic equiptment ball bat glove to technical tools video analysis.

For softball different stages can be
Start with learning how to throw.
To then, developing a technical position like catching.
To then, how to have a faster pop time.
Or
Learning how to hit the ball.
Or helping to create more power.

The education/training process starts when we're born.

Then gets defined by how detailed we'd like to be or need to be to reach our short and long term goals.
 
Last edited:
Feb 3, 2016
502
43
He makes a couple great points.

Can't make a kid love something.

If you have the funds enjoy and do whatever. < IMO

14-16 Is around the age when most kids seem to really choose what they want to do. Parents do on occasion force kids in a direction.

Softball/Baseball, probably the most time demanding sport for kids in the cellular age.
To play at a high level takes enormous amounts of time.


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Jun 16, 2010
259
28
I didn't watch the video. Just the title

but softball is best been described as spending what a college education cost, to try to get a scholarship for a college education.

but for most that ought to be changed to getting a partial scholarship for college education.

It's not an investment. It's a recreational activity.
If they love it and want to keep doing it then spend the money that helps them if you can. Don't expect a return and you won't be disappointed.

I knew one family in travel ball whose took money out of their 401k to pay to play travel each yr thinking it was an investment ..... Their daughter decided not to play college ball. Possibly she had grade issues but she was a really good player and had no lack of interest.


.
 
Last edited:
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
Totally agree with this. For my dd it's fun. We travel the country, spend time together and make great friends. We play at the highest level because she's talented and she enjoys playing against kids that challenge her. If I recoup some money in the form of a scholarship great. If I don't that's okay too. I wouldn't trade the memories.

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Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Totally agree with this. For my dd it's fun. We travel the country, spend time together and make great friends. We play at the highest level because she's talented and she enjoys playing against kids that challenge her. If I recoup some money in the form of a scholarship great. If I don't that's okay too. I wouldn't trade the memories.

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Agree..every decision you make in life cannot be one that is motivated by money..Both my wife and I had loans coming out of undergrad..we are still alive.
 
Jun 16, 2010
259
28
Recoup money....... Always makes me Snicker to myself. I suppose it's possible......

both my kids could have lived at home and gone to a major university locally, with free tuition for good grades, and it would have only cost me a couple of thousand dollars a year each for books and miscellaneous fees. they could have had summer jobs and earned money and paid for their own car insurance and car notes......

Instead...... Letting them do their thing cost me about $160k.....my share ....of their undergraduate education expenses. Throw the travel play costs and travel costs on top also.... Well over 200k all together . If anything....... It cost me an arm and a leg. But they had fun and that's what counts. We did too.

they did both have offers for places with full rides but that wasn't where they wanted to go..........
 
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