Is Raising Children In The City Better or Worse?
Is Raising Children In The City Better or Worse?
It's been ingrained in our collective unconscious for decades that to raise kids, you need to be in the suburbs. There have been studies and thought pieces all over the place essentially asking, "is raising kids in the city okay?"
The pros of raising children in the city.
Urban parenting may seem like an odd choice to some but there are some great benefits. Urban life in most cities means being in a more dynamic environment. There are more things to do, more people to meet and more cultures to experience. This is great for kids who need to be exposed to different ideas and environments at an early age.
The daily or weekly routine of the suburbs is replaced by new non-chain restaurants popping up, shopping malls give way to small shops strewn about city streets, and the need to drive kids everywhere is replaced by a robust public transportation system.
With more walkable neighbourhoods and no need to use a car for most day-to-day activities, it makes it easier for busy parents to talk to their kids during their commute to one place or another during public transit. Talking face-to-face while holding onto a subway pole is different from needing to keep your eyes on the road.
There are some meaningful risks with commuting by car everywhere that are completely absent when you deal with public transportation. The risk of car crashes is basically eliminated.
Many cities also have the huge advantage of concentrating cultural amenities in an accessible area. Letting children explore on their own once they get into double-digit ages can help them become independent more easily.
Going to a friend's house is something that doesn't need to tie up a car and a parent, city kids learn to navigate and rely on themselves a lot sooner.
What city kids develop outside of school are very useful tools later in life once they live on their own.
There was also an illusion of good schools being rare compared to the suburbs but, even if just looking at better test scores in recent years, many city schools can hold their own.
Many parents can also reap major benefits that get passed down to their kids like better job opportunities and the possibility to reach for the highest rungs on the career ladder. Busy parents needing their own time to decompress also have access to plenty of third spaces like cafes, parks, and bookstores.
Urban child-rearing also makes it more likely that city kids interact with kids who are not from the same socio-economic or ethnic background.
While in the past some parents would prioritize sending their kids to a school with other kids of the same background without really taking time to assess school quality, modern parents do it the other way around.
If no one in the family has a green thumb or an interest in a private yard, having the city's parks department take care of the outdoor green spaces gives parents and kids more time to just enjoy the area instead of worrying about the upkeep. No need to mow the lawn, water the plants, etc and more time to spend together as a family.
The cons of raising children in the city.
In bigger cities, population growth has made things costlier in many regards. City life tends to be more expensive, which means that average childcare costs are higher.
While it's great to live in a bustling neighbourhood, the construction crew blockades that narrow the sidewalk space and the packed subways can be a stress factor for everyone.
Major cities tend to feature a lot of inequality and that can translate into the myth of urban schools' performance numbers all being bad. The fact is that not all urban schools are good and while that applies to suburban and rural areas as well, the effect seems compounded in cities because of other issues.
Unless the family moving into a bigger city has a couple of millions on hand, kids having their own backyard - one that is big enough to actually run in - is an illusion. Private outdoor space is something that is extremely pricy in cities compared to what you could find in a small town.
Though parks can be within walking distance, cycling lessons are going to take place on a sidewalk. Bike lanes can also be dangerous unless there is a system of graduated access in the quieter parts of the city.
Due to population density, it's normal to think about a family's safety. With parents working hard to afford city-living and kids walking around on their own while gazing at shop windows or at a park with friends, it's easy to get worried.
Not all neighbourhoods are made equal and a city parent needs to be savvy about where their kids tend to go to.
For many, living in the city means living in an apartment and that means rules regarding pets. If your little ones desperately want a dog but the landlord does not, the landlord tends to win.
There are ways to negotiate with them but a more affordable housing situation in the suburbs or in rural areas would mean that the only ones that need convincing are the parents.
Shed misconceptions.
We tend to keep a lot of outdated ideas without reevaluating whether or not things have changed.
The schools parents prefer for their children don't automatically all belong in the suburbs.
Child care may be expensive in the big city but raising kids in the city leads to young adults that are more adapted to life on their own, if only for knowing how to get around by themselves.
Things like car trips or a private outdoor space are concessions made so that kids get to experience a more dynamic and culturally effervescent life. Not that kids in the suburbs can't experience the same things but young people in the big cities have a much easier time getting to events, cultural landmarks, and more.
It's also important to think of older kids, the parents themselves. Cities are great for active adults that love the hustle and bustle of big cities. With more to experience and more chances to talk during trips that don't involve driving, it's easier to spend time with the family.
While there are drawbacks to city living, there are some amazing advantages. Before defaulting to the suburbs, look at your family and decide what would be best for all of you.
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