Discussion of the Day
Kids extra curricular activities
ANIMALOVER 0906Sep 26, 23
With the cost of living being so much more higher these days, what's a good (or realistic) amount of extra curricular activities kids should be doing, or how much are people spending or willing to spend of said activities? (Sport, music instruments etc)
Comments
  • Between our rental prices (about $2300 monthly) and our gas prices ($4.95 a gal.) I don't know how anyone can afford anything extra. We live about 3 blocks from the school where the kids can go play basketball. We have three video game systems in the house. They all have bicycles and I keep a lot of art supplies on hand. The older ones like to cook, so I keep a lot of baking mixes and we look for recipes that they help cook. They have a 15 ft. diving pool in the backyard in which they play all kinds of games and have lap races. We play board games, card games and have movie nights. You don't have to have a lot of money to stay active and be entertained.
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    • It depends on what resources are available, and what the child needs. It's important not to over schedule the child.
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      • HI TY Zebra
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        • Depends on one's individual income. Kids are easily bored and want something to do constantly. Day trips like movies, zoo, Melbourne show is great if you can afford to do so. Other things like spending time at a friend's house, local park, or library are good too. Maybe even volunteering has its rewards. It gives them an eye opener to the real world and experience too. It all comes down to what you are willing to do!
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          • I think some exercise while getting some fresh outdoor air, does the young and also the young at heart : A World of Good. Two paragraphs from the poem : Lukannon by Rudyard Kipling (Writer of The Jungle Book). I can just about feel that Ocean Breeze in some Historic places! Good to be outdoors! ;-) The song of pleasant stations beside the salt lagoons, The song of blowing squadrons that shuffled down the dunes, The song of midnight dances that churned the sea to flame -- The beaches of Lukannon -- before the sealers came! I met my mates in the morning (I'll never meet them more!); They came and went in legions that darkened all the shore. The beaches of Lukannon -- the winter-wheat so tall -- The dripping, crinkled lichens, and the sea-fog drenching all! The platforms of our playground, all shining smooth and worn! The beaches of Lukannon -- the home where we were born!
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            • Sport is an important extra curricular activity, it keeps them out of trouble, socialising skills and keeps them healthy.
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              • With the cost of living so high not everyone has the extra money to put there kids into sports etc. Take your kids to a park and let them run around and enjoy themselves.
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                • if they are passionate about something, i think no amt of money shud be spared, (well u know within reason) its hard enough gettin kids engaged into anything physical these days, so if they WANT to actually do sumthing they shud b encouraged plus plus plus!!
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                  • The park is the cheapest and yet the best activity all children can do.
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                    • Go to park cheap as chip, pininic like old days, museum they cheap things to do
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                      • It's the travel to be honest.
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                        • People are definitely spending less.
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                          • We are spending more time doing free activities.
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                            • I need to think that all kids are getting to do activities they enjoy even if it's something that doesn't cost much.
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                              • My granddaughters are in band and cheerleading.
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                                • Hope my cat has gone to heaven
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                                  • As much as they can afford. Because... they want to give to their children every opportunity to do what they like and develop their talents
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                                    • My children are grown now so no idea.
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                                      • If is has to be in the budget did you not start a bank account for your children from the day they were born for such things later in their lives .
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                                        • Sometimes these extra curricular activities lead to careers. By not having too much primary school homework they are free to find out what interests them. However I don't believe kids should be so busy after school that there is no down time to to dream, connect with family, and themselves.
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                                          • We never had any of these extra curricular things in my day, my parents wouldn't have had the money to pay for it. I went to Girl Guides and we fundraised for camps etc. There are many things you can do with the kids that don't cost anything. Leave your phone off when you are with them and give them your time and attention.
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                                            • The most for the least. Take advantage of every public funded sport there is including school sports!
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                                              • We use to go lizard hunting in the gullies where we lived but alas, they no longer exist because of the suburban sprawl, however, I use to go camping out in the bush either by myself or with mates from the age of 12 and I loved that just getting messy and cooking on an open fire, I miss the 70s.
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                                                • Definitely sports, which can be played at home, on the beach or with friends.
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                                                  • I think a good activity would be for everybody gets to choose what activity they would like to do such as(painting, drawing, singing, sewing..etc…and go shopping for the tolls to get started….Make sure everyone is involved….Make it fun….
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                                                    • Ooops, joining...
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                                                      • With the cost of living being so high, many families can’t afford extra activities. They learn music and have sports at school. Families can have a fun day out playing games outside. Going on picnics having a swim. Going for a walk. Sing a longs. There the memories I treasure with my parents which unfortunately many families don’t seem to do these days. Not everything cost money just got to think outside the box.
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                                                        • Joininjg a sports club of some sort is usually good value...
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                                                          • Why does keeping fit have to cost money? Just for kids to get out in the fresh air and play cricket or footy with their friends in the park is great.
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                                                            • Playing with friends outside and getting dirty , maybe try skippy, that used to keep us fit and is a cheap thing to do
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                                                              • Just spend time with the playing in the yard, park, board games they are all pretty cheap
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                                                                • Too easy! Before school a good bend and stretch routine is to encourage them to make their own bed. After tea for Team Work they can wash and dry the dishes, can even be fun with the suds!!!
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                                                                  • encourige them to do whast they enjoy spend what evr you can on them they are only young once and thery grow up fast
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                                                                    • I am on a fixed income and none of my kids are at home now, so it doesn't make much of a difference. I could spend a little if it was really important to them even if it meant sacrificing.
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                                                                      • We go hiking and often see parents take the children of all ages hiking. It is a great family time and extra curricular activities for them
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                                                                        • We have hiking trails close to where we live. Natchez Trace.
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                                                                      • Taking them to the park
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                                                                        • Kids need about 1hr of vigorous activity 3 times a week. That doesn't mean it has to be an organized exercise. Just running around with friends (no parents allowed) at the park or school yard is just as good or maybe even better. A little less organization and a little more participation is the trick.
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                                                                          • I agree with you 100%. We need to show them trust not just adlib it.
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                                                                        • My eldest daughter was into netball so we took her to the various courts when they were playing against another team. Luckily that was only for a couple of years then she got tired of getting up early every Saturday & gave it away. With the youngest daughter, I think she was interested in a sport similar to that of rounders & again that only lasted for a couple of years before that was given away. I would never force either of them to take up a sport or activity that they didn't like just for the sake of it.
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                                                                          • I I think that the kids should spend about an hour after school at the local park either kicking a football or in girls case using the monkey bars often provided
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                                                                            • Here I have a rescue Great Dane who came from a household that did not train it from a puppy and then thought it would be cute if they taught it to shake hands. The dog a 14 month old puppy knocked a kid over and it got a bruise which a teacher saw and reported to the Child Welfare System. The dog went into a stable was fed once a day and otherwise ignored for 5 months and in under a week we are expected to have it behaving perfectly at least according to the 2 police officers who tried to walk throguht the yard yesterday and did not shut the gate behind them.
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                                                                              • That is messed up. Poor dog doesn't deserve that. The world is too fast paced and people expect things right now and it just doesn't work like that. I remember when I was in college and doing my first math class and they did a new segment every week. Now, it would take me a minute and a half to learn what we were doing and by the time I finally figured it out I was already a day behind. And I just kept falling further behind. It was too fast and I am a quick learner.
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                                                                              • Colin L 88398Colleen M 510798
                                                                                Back at high school I had to repute year 12 to change the courses I needed for Uni. Unfortunately for me I was in the last year of Maths 1 and when I redid year 12 I landed in Maths 2 where 1 + 1 could mean anything depending on how you chose to address the issue. Drove me crazy and when I got to Uni there was no such thing as Maths 2 it was all the old stuff that I had been learning all my life and that was Trig and so on all the complicated stuff. A couple of months ago I found one of my old Slide Rules and other than remembering how to multiply and divide with it I can do nothing else by back in the day we did everything on them Cosigns and so on. I used that Slide Rule all through Uni to Phd Level and for the first 10 years of my working life as a Mech Engineer. Will never throw it out but by the same token I'll never be using it again.
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                                                                            • Find out what they are passionate about and go from there.
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                                                                              • I see so many tired and unduly stressed out kids being dragged from pillar to post to do all these extra activities... what to keep up with the Jones's Kids? Choose one and if they are not dressed and ready for it well ahead of time ,then they're not that interested guys. Some will naturally want to try a few different ones before they land on one they love, so be prepared to have to trade in that violin for your drum kit or a tennis racket instead! It's all a fine balance though as all these things require practice time to get good at, and they still need to play ,do homework and ,well rest daydream and have family time too :)
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                                                                                • For starters I'd only enrol my kids in things they're genuinely passionate about as that way my money would be well spent. Regarding musical instruments, you only have to buy an instrument once but then have to keep paying for accessories like guitar strings, drum sticks etc when something breaks (say about $30 every 3 months or so depending on instrument type and practice levels). You can always start with a cheap instrument that has the capabilities to allow skill level to progress - example is a keyboard >500 that has many octaves but non weighted keys and only has basic settings. Budget guitars >$500 (Gibson, Ibanez, Epiphone have pretty good quality budget instruments otherwise Ashton which is probably the cheapest) are great for starting out because you can really thrash em while you learn. Violin doesn't have to be a Stradivarius when you're learning and a >$800 instrument should suffice. If the kid gets really good and they want an upgrade I'd tell them to get a job to pay for it, otherwise it's a Birthday or Xmas prezzy. Sports local clubs have pretty decent fees but clothing and equipment can be more expensive. I wouldn't spend more than $5000 total annually for everything including equipment. There's always budget friendly accessories.
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                                                                                  • It depends on what age they are and what their dreams are. School sports are fine but in the long run you can't beat the local organised clubs. Even for parents there's a bonus. We have met and maintained friendships with people from those clubs for 50 years and even though the kids are well & truly grown, they too have friends from those years. My 3 (now 2 due to one who passed with cancer) have maintained their relationship with their clubs, ;now training young children and being involved with the committees. Son is President of his Club & is Head Trainer after years of study. Daughter is the same although now just a supporter.at 60. These local clubs look after your children and you know who they are with and the friendships they form, lots of them for life.
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                                                                                    • One organised physical activity, and one other interest. That’s it.
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                                                                                      • I think all children should join extracurricular activities either in school or outside of school.
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                                                                                        • No we don't need to worry about that these days, Thank goodness. It was expensive back then and I can't imagine the costs involved now. In saying that my girls didn't do as much and I guess we didn't have the money at the time. I remember when I went to school we got to go on a camping trip and we went to the War memorial in Canberra and saw the Parliament Houses both of them. I never really went without but I was never very sporty. My parents being grateful they didn't have to get up early to take me to training. I think if you can put a little a side each week for the just in case some thing unexpected comes up because with children as experienced first hand it can happen and when you least expect it too. Being a little prepared helps with the shock and then it's not such a huge deal at the time. I remember my eldest was acting funny one Monday morning and she had to do an assignment which she failed to tell me until the Monday morning and I had to rush down to the shops to buy some things for her. Which I managed to do but she was really bad at not telling me things like that or handing me pieces of important information about school, I had to make sure I went through her school bag every Friday afternoon just so we didn't end up with any shocks on Monday morning.
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                                                                                          • If you can only go for one extra cirrucular activity, let it be the Scouts. Teaches them so many life practical skills, while having fun. Then let them branch out from there. ie. sports, music etc.
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                                                                                            • I think getting them into sports, dance etc where they learn to socialise with other kids & adults, but also park activities, bike riding etc
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                                                                                              • enjoying home with their parents
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                                                                                                • Soccer is a inexpensive sport and lots of schools offer it,my nephew plays and all we had to get is a shirt,shoes and shorts and he loves it.
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                                                                                                  • That shouldn't say Canberra( obviously) it should say "can be":. Damn auto correct..
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                                                                                                    • View all 3 replies
                                                                                                    • Yeah I’ve been caught out with The AI auto word alteration before Did you know that there’s a edit feature here?
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                                                                                                    • I have no idea how to use this phone other than your basic functions
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                                                                                                    • SteveDanielle R 478487
                                                                                                      It’s just the next one after the thumb like button
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                                                                                                  • Kids like to see their friends so if you know them or their families try to tee up a play date,Canberra at the park,beach,home for BBQ. I used to go to a primary school near home with mine as they had great play equipment,basket ball court and playing field with no locked gates.i would pack a lunch take a bag with balls,bat,tennis racquets, even bikes. Try checking out the what's on in your community page. So activity's are free or low cost, like markets,fairs etc. Otherwise google parks around or just outside of your area. You may have to drive a little but some councils have awesome parks that you would never find without looking them up or recreation centres. Our local had a indoor swimming pool,which is a cheap day out if your kids swim. Not everyone has time off work so whether you juggle family,friends or pay for care there is still things you can do over the holidays to reduce the cost.
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                                                                                                    • Arts and crafts, board games, parks to kick a ball, Take the dog for a walk, all free
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                                                                                                      • How about them playing marbles, jacks, hopscotch, tether ball, jump rope...You know what? I just read Mesmereyes's answers, and I totally agree, and am just duplicating answers, so go with 'eyes' suggestions! ;-D
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                                                                                                        • everything is computers couch potatoes???
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                                                                                                          • Libraries are a wealth of awesome activities and programs, movie nights, and they are all FREE! I've done it, so I can attest.
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                                                                                                            • How about acts of service in their neighborhood? That's a two-fer. You feel great inside and you pass time productively. DIY crafts are all the rage these days too!!!!!!! Only a couple bucks for that. C'mon mom and dad, guide your children. Costly activities are 4 times a year. Every 3 months you go do a reasonably priced activity they don't normally do all the time. It's really not complicated. Don't make it so.
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                                                                                                              • Sports is always a good activity and swimming.
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                                                                                                                • Zero, get creative and use recyclable items from around the house. Jump rope, hide and seek, tag. Don't sit around and be the uninvolved parent. Prod them to THINK of fun penniless things to do.....🤑
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                                                                                                                  • its getting way to high to say
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                                                                                                                    • It is definitely getting high
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                                                                                                                      • My son’s are adults now, however when they were younger and active I did find extra activities outside the home which didn’t cost a lot and they enjoyed; after school team sports like hockey and soccer, whatever the local community centre was offering, cubs and scouts, swimming and hiking, and I was a solo mum!
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                                                                                                                        • Not relevant
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                                                                                                                          • Walking, at home Music, Poetry(Yes, imagination and writing expressions), Meal Preps, Cleaning their things/House, therapy art, gardening/lawn care, safe freestyle playing, etc Organized sports isn't everything and often creates too many cliques, rivalry and hatred, instead of mere team building.
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                                                                                                                            • I’m not a parent
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                                                                                                                              • Our boys are now in their mid forties, with families of their own.
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                                                                                                                                • I tried to get my son in as many things as possible to keep him interested in a variety of things. He turned out okay. The cost of things now is a big factor as was said. I am glad that he is grown and I wish all others the best...
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                                                                                                                                  • my granddaughter is learning the violin and guitar and only goes one hour a week , because also gets tutelage at school that's 30 an hour, my other grandees are about to start little athletics its a once a once-a-week thing for now this is sponsored by there uncle so not sure what costs are involved
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                                                                                                                                    • When our generation was/were kids we used to find our own fun.. Not any more. But it's our fault... what you allow, you approve.
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                                                                                                                                      • I grew up in an era where outside play was what kids did. In high school, writing for the school paper cost us nothing.
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                                                                                                                                        • I believe it should go based on each child's interests and what you realistically cost effective for each family but hopefully all children will get a chance to do some extra stuff - libraries are a good place to have them do crafts, movie nights, or whatever activities they have
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                                                                                                                                          • anything that doesnt cost much, running, plays at school
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                                                                                                                                            • don't have any suggestions - don't have any kids - LUCKY ME
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                                                                                                                                              • WHATEVER A CHILD WANTS TO DO TO KEEP THEM BUSY AND JUST HAVING A FUN TIME...ANY AMOUNT IS WORTH THEIR HAPPINESS.
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                                                                                                                                                • I don't have kids so couldn't really say.
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                                                                                                                                                  • Some private schools keep mentioning organised extracurricular activities regarding sports yet do not take into any consideration the cost to parents. Their emphasis on it if you have 2 or more children at the school puts a lot of pressure on parents. They make a point of asking what sport the child is doing.
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                                                                                                                                                    • Have to educate kids "'money doesn't grow from tree". take up sports like running, swimming or playing basketball as a team.
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                                                                                                                                                      • The parks are free and a good way to get out.
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                                                                                                                                                        • Common sense approach. Kids should be involved in some sort of activity away from school and home but never to the point every minute of their day is mapped out. My 3 children all had a winter and summer sport, we also had a good size pool so they swam often and as they got older surfed at the beach, rode their bikes etc. No computers back then so they were very active and still are. I never made them do a sport they did not choose but they had to finish the season if they did not like it. That was the deal.
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