Parents spend £1,216 a year driving sporty kids to training and matches, study finds
From early-morning football runs to weekend swimming lessons, parents are clocking up thousands of miles and spending a fortune getting their sporty children to training and matches.
Parents are forking out a staggering £1,216 a year on fuel ferrying their sporty kids to training sessions and matches – and clocking up more than 1,700 miles in the process.
A study of 2,000 mums and dads found parents spend an average of three hours and 22 minutes every week behind the wheel, juggling work, family life and their children's sporting dreams. Football is the biggest culprit, with 61 per cent regularly driving their youngsters to matches and training. Swimming comes next at 40 per cent, followed by dance at 18 per cent. And the commitment can come at a cost beyond petrol.
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) said they had missed something important, from birthdays and social events to work commitments, to make sure their children could take part. More than a third (36 per cent) have skipped a meal or eaten on the go to get their little athletes there on time, while 34 per cent have had to leave work early. Traffic congestion was the biggest headache, cited by 28 per cent, followed by fuel and travel costs at 26 per cent and fitting journeys around work at 21 per cent.
But despite the expense and early starts, most parents reckon it's worth every mile. A whopping 77 per cent said they would miss the regular drives when their children no longer needed a lift, while 72 per cent believed the journeys had strengthened their relationship with their youngsters. And 91 per cent agreed grassroots sport had benefited their children beyond physical fitness. Parents reported improvements in confidence (66 per cent), teamwork (63 per cent) and social skills (56 per cent). Seeing their children enjoy themselves was the biggest reward, cited by 74 per cent, followed by keeping them active (71 per cent) and supporting their mental wellbeing (55 per cent).
The research, commissioned by carmaker Chery UK, found 78 per cent of parents drive up to 49 miles a week for sporting commitments, with the average standing at 33 miles. Chery UK managing director Farrell Hsu said grassroots sport played a vital role in young people's lives, despite the time and cost involved. Lower fuel or charging costs topped parents' wish lists for easier travel, at 41 per cent, followed by better parking (38 per cent) and more local sporting venues (24 per cent).