Does all of this stem from parents worrying about their children being set up for their future? Or trying to develop well-rounded people? Or trying to socialise their children?

I'm mid-forties in Australia. In my early twenties, it was pretty viable to save a deposit in a year or so, get a loan and buy a house. Now, you'd want 5-10x the deposit and I doubt early-twenties types here would have a chance of buying a house now. Maybe if they were a couple, both in very good jobs, saving aggressively, and even then they'd have a fat mortgage. It will be harder again in 15-20 years when my children would be doing this.

I figure extra-curricular activities for kids that involve loads of travel are a risky burden on a family. I'd rather travel and camp where I want to go, not just where the sports tournament happens to be, or give up every weeknight shuttling children. One of our kids has done dance because the lessons are 3 mins walk away. Or two have done tennis because their lessons are together and the third kid can play at the adjacent playground. Or music lessons during school time or immediately after. Not sure if it's parental laziness or reasonable!