[Mom31]

This is our first go at cheer leading dd loves it- the uniform is $72!!! And was not disclosed to us until the first session- very upsetting as I feel she did this on purpose. Not sure what the program all entails- what they need uniforms for how many times it will be worn etc.

Anyone have experience with this? The cost of program is 35 plus 5 a week for a one hour session with 15 other girls- then they get to be in a parade and cheer at a minor league game. There is also shorts, shoes, and hair bows the girls need to buy... it totals close to if not over $200 just for the gear.

They are going to do a fundraiser to get the uniform I think- will find out tonight.

Is this the normal cost?

 

[jaam]

We haven't done cheerleading at all, but I'm finding that pretty much any activity is going to end up costing more than you anticipate in the beginning. I think it's so common for the organization to not mention full costs at the beginning; at least that's been my experience. Very frustrating. sorry not much help, I feel your pain though!

 

[zebra15]

How would DD have done this ' on purpose'?

I can tell you from something as seemingly simple as swim team I've spent way more than $75 per month.

$75 swim backpack, found for $45 on amazon. Team suit, runs around $75 but DS won't wear it so I never bought it. There are team pictures, anywhere from $25-?? (we are moving so we miss the pics) but I would make DS show up for the pics but we wouldn't have got any. There area also meet fees, anywhere from $5-$25 a weekend plus travel costs. Year end coach present, team picnic, etc.

What many of the parents on swim do is to find an older swimmer or someone who left the team and 'buy' the suit and gear from them. I'd imagine the same works for cheer, soccer, baseball etc.

IMO these are all just costs of having a kid involved in something. I would also look at this as an investment if you DD wants to 'cheer' at the high school level. HS cheer is VERy competitive and any outside classes or training will really give her the edge for that.

 

[jaam]

I got the impression that the person who was informing about the program (not her dd) left out the $ information "on purpose".

 

[zebra15]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaam

I got the impression that the person who was informing about the program (not her dd) left out the $ information "on purpose".

Oh that makes more sense. As a parent you have the right to enroll in the classes but not take part in the performances. I've done that as well. Just say ' i was under the impression this was a $35 class and that is what I budgeted for'

 

[Super~Single~Mama]

Can you ask about scholarships and such? Most teams ask for small donations from parents to help out those who can't afford the uniforms and such.

 

[Mom31]

Yes- of course I meant the woman in charge did this on purpose.

I asked her directly what cost was involved and was told just 5$ a class then it was also $35 for the sign up- then we get there and she hands us all this binder with 200 worth of stuff we have the option to buy. So it is an option- but everyone else is getting the uniform so I will have to find a way to come up with the money because DD is not going to be the only one without a uniform. There is an option for a fundraiser. Selling Krispy Kreme donuts- 30 dozen of them to get the uniform. I am not from this town and do not know 30 people I could sell this to.

Everyone was floored at the first class and even more floored last night when she increased the cost of the uniform by another $3. Which is not alot- but really - is the class price going to go up to? That is a concern of mine.

She intentionally told us it was going to be $5 a class. She said nothing about competitions. She said that it came with shirts and a poms and a hair bow. ( now it does not even come with the hair bow and we are required to buy that too). I thought it would be a nice little activity to do with dd over the summer and I could afford $5 a week- and then scrambled for the $35.

I asked yesterday when they would be wearing the uniforms and what was scheduled they would be performing at. She said she has called the schools in the area to see if they can do football and basketball games etc for the high schools and they will also perform in parades and then in the spring they will compete maybe in some competitions. So why are we getting uniforms if we have no scheduled events to wear uniforms to?

She also now wants the whole months tuition paid up front at the first of the month( 20 a month) but not what she initially required- she wanted $5 per class.

DD is having fun with it but I really do wish that she had told me the TOTAL cost and what was involved before signing her up. She portrayed it as a nice little class not something that would require uniforms and special shoes.

this lady was a cheerleader in high school and runs a photography business. I am not pleased with this at all and am trying to decide how to handle it. I do not want to get dd involved with a woman I can not trust. There is another program in my town that does cheer and is reputable and been in business a long time.

I of course would prefer for dd to not be involved with cheer lol- as its sooo not my thing- but I want to support her in what she wants to do. I just wish this woman had disclosed this information to me when I asked instead of us getting our girls there and then having the option to either come up with the money or tell our daughters no- and I just don't want to do that- as my daughter is having fun.

 

[Mom31]

She has filled their heads with all these performances they get to do- I don't want dd to miss out because we are low income. So I will make it happen ... it just bites me in the butt. I am sure my parents will help if I ask- I just think it is bad business practice and I feel duped.

 

[Buzzer Beater]

How old is your daughter? Could she contribute to the cost of some of this stuff by babysitting or mowing lawns? My od did school and competition cheer through high school. We live in a small town so most sports/activities here involve travel. That really makes things add up. Weekend competitions? Hotel, meals, snacks, entry fees, heck some of the girls get all their hair done the same way. If I'd seen that coming I might have tried gettting her into something else. But in the end she paid for all of it herself.

 

[Mom31]

DD is 6- that is why I am having a hard time with this cost- she is just a little girl- most things we get involved in are around 50-100 this just seems like it is going to spin out of control.

 

[zebra15]

Oh, if dd is 6 then just pull her from the class and ask/demand a refund. Put her in something else, the other cheer class, dance class, gym class etc. There are tons of classes for 6yr old girls.

If you kiddo asks, just explain the class has changed and its not a good fit anymore but 'this one' is going to be soooo much more fun!

 

[rubelin]

For a 6 yr old, I'd pull them from the class. I was on pep squad in HS and there were lots of costs with that, many that I had to pay for myself, but everything you've talked about is crazy for a 6 yr old. Check out the dance classes through the city rec. department, those are usually very reasonable. Our city has done a performing arts camp for many years that costs the same as the other summer day camps.

 

[floss&ferd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubelin

For a 6 yr old, I'd pull them from the class. I was on pep squad in HS and there were lots of costs with that, many that I had to pay for myself, but everything you've talked about is crazy for a 6 yr old. Check out the dance classes through the city rec. department, those are usually very reasonable. Our city has done a performing arts camp for many years that costs the same as the other summer day camps.

I agree!

My dd's have always taken dance class but call around and check the rates. I would not start the cheer competition thing for a 6 year old! I have friends who have gone this route and it gets very very expensive very quickly. Next the instructor will start pushing for gymnastic classes. It cost money to enter the cheer competitions. Plus you will have to pay an admission fee to watch her in the competition (after paying for her to even be in the competition), etc.

The cheer thing is popular around here and a huge pet peeve of mine.

 

[branditopolis]

I was in cheer for 10 years with a league that charged $220 upfront for all the costs. It is RIDICULOUS how much this stuff costs. But we cheered at little league football games every weekend and did about 6 competitions, so we got a lot of wear out of our gear, had a lot of practices, and did things like team slumber parties and pool parties that were paid for a lot of times by my trainers. It's great to learn social skills, it's great exercise, and to build a sense of belonging and camaraderie, but toward the end it started getting to be a little too expensive. also, the older they get, the cattier the girls seemed.

 

[SimonMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by branditopolis

. It's great to learn social skills, it's great exercise, and to build a sense of belonging and camaraderie, but toward the end it started getting to be a little too expensive. also, the older they get, the cattier the girls seemed.

I think there are other activities or sports that would provide these same things without the same expense.