[orbitingpluto]

But then you'd need to include things that they have that we don't.

The cost of activities for children has skyrocketed beyond belief compared to 40 years ago.

[tasuki]

Wasn't the primary activity for children 40 years ago "go play in the street with your friends"? Has that become any more expensive?

[orbitingpluto]

Yes, outside wandering has been replaced with, "here's an iPad".

But if you're talking about any sort of instruction I'd say the prices have tripled. If you're talking about something like organized hockey? Prices are astronomical.

[barrow-rider]

Hockey is not a good measure of kids activities. Not really common outside of the north, and wayyyy more expensive than most other sports.

Kids basketball consists of 1) kid. 2) shoes. 3) ball. And you only need 1 ball per group of kids. Ditto for soccer (futbol) A jersey is optional.

Hockey requires a bunch of pads which will be changed out every year or two as the kid gets bigger. Hopefully they have a sibling that can make use of them otherwise it's a sunk cost. Then there are broken sticks, broken teeth, hockey bags, ice time -- non-trvial -- and it adds up.

Hell, the cost of replacement skate blades -- not including the yearly sharpening -- is more than the cost of a basketball and a cheapo pair of wal-mart athletic shoes: https://www.bladzskateshop.com/product/bauer-lightspeed-repl...