As I’ve said before, being a parent and dealing with after-school activities is often like fighting for a seat on a RyanAir flight. Everyone is out for themselves and the weak are trampled.
For example, at after-school concerts, parents arrive an hour early to the venue to dump their coats over an entire row, claiming seats for what must be an insanely extended family. Are there really that many people who want to see children stare at the floor while an overenthusiastic music teacher tries everything in her power to keep them engaged? You would think these people were fighting for a seat to see The Who in 1979.
But it’s not just attending after-school events that are a parental battlefield. Signing up for after-school activities – especially in a city like Stockholm – can be a battle of its own.
The Madness of Stockholm’s Culture Schools Sign-Ups
I am currently waiting in a queue online to sign my kid up for piano. For one day in August, at 8am, the Stockholm Culture School (Kulturskolan) open a window for parents to sign their children up for a spot in one of their classes. These classes are usually after-school activities like sports, drama, art and music. Sure, there are other places you can find these after-school activities, but only the Culture School offers them for the very un-Scandinavian price of a mere $30 for the entire semester.
For parents, this is like trying to buy concert tickets to the most popular band in town.
At exactly 8 AM, parents that have already been waiting online are assigned a spot in the virtual queue. It’s a nerve-wracking process. Every second counts when you’re competing with thousands of other parents.
I logged in this year, just 30 seconds after the sign-up window opened. My place in line? Number 1449.
Why Does This Happen?
What is it about the Stockholm Culture School that makes parents go to such extreme lengths? The answer is simple: affordable extracurricular activities. If you want to sign up your kids for things like piano lessons, sports, or theater, the price tag can be enormous. And remember, when it comes to sports, it’s not like in the U.S. where schools have teams. There are no sports in Swedish schools, only gym class. If you want to play soccer, baseball, hockey, etc., you have to sign up and pay for that yourself from an outside organization.
Generally, extracurricular programs here can cost anywhere from the equivalent of $250-$1000, when you add in costs for equipment and clothing. The Stockholm Culture School offers something that’s rare – prices between $30-$100, usually with everything included.
Fight for Your Right to After-School Activities
If you’re thinking about signing kids up in Stockholm for an activity through Stockholm’s Culture School, be aware of the preparation and steps that need to be taken. Set yourself up by the computer at least 30 minutes ahead of the opening time with your coffee drink of choice. Make sure you have a comfortable chair and get ready to battle.
As for myself, it looks like my kid is going to spend his year playing the kazoo.
No shame in a good kazoo solo.
That’s kind of wild. I would not have expected such a thing.
Parents are vicious creatures. 🙂
Good point.