There seems to be an ongoing debate about whether a rural or an urban setting is the most ideal for raising a family. There’s no debate about though the many personal, social and cultural benefits that come with urban living.
Cities are sometimes the perfect place to raise young kids. As you think about the setting you want to raise your family in, you might want to consider some of the following ideas regarding urban family life.
Choosing a Home
Homes in urban areas tend to be smaller than houses in a rural areas. This fact alone encourages family togetherness. When you’re looking for a home to raise your family in, you might want to check out condos for sale.
Owning a Streetcar condo means you don’t have to spend time doing yard work and exterior maintenance and leaves you with more time for fun family activities.
Condos or even Toronto lofts for sale offer amenities such as a pool or tennis court which are an ideal ways to enjoy time with your family. Small street houses also provide a charming small town home in a big city.
You’ll feel together without feeling squished on top of the neighbors when you have your own house. You’ll want to choose something that fits the whole family, but doesn’t hurt the budget. Look around at all your options before deciding.
Neighborhood
Condos designed to attract families are often located near a park or kid friendly museums and playgrounds. There may also be a common play area for the kids living there.
Some urban areas have a cluster of single family homes which encourage socialization among neighbors. In an urban setting, restaurants, stores and entertainment venues are conveniently close by frequently within walking distance.
You’ll be able to find the type of home you want, close to the places you’ll often go when you just search around a bit. You don’t have to live right downtown, even areas just outside the city are close enough to be involved in urban life without being in the midst of everything.
Diversity
An urban setting provides you with an opportunity to raise your children in a multi-cultural environment. The children they play with and go to school with, will often have diverse backgrounds. Your children can learn firsthand about other lifestyles and traditions.
You’ll have numerous opportunities to take your kids to museums, music events and many other educational and recreational activities. A city home life is a great opportunity to expose kids early on to many different cultures, food, and places around the world.
Urban Lifestyle
Typically, an urban lifestyle promotes simplicity. Homes are smaller and less furnishings are required. A small home gives you an opportunity to impress upon your child the importance and advantages of organization and clutter management.
Many urban lifestyles revolve around an environmentally friendly way of living. Recycling is an important part of daily life. Children who are raised in an eco-friendly home are likely to continue that lifestyle as adults.
Urban lifestyles can also encourage your child’s maturity and independence. When your kids know how to read a bus schedule and how to pay for a train ticket they’ll be able to enter their teenage years with more maturity and the ability to handle responsibility of more independence early on.
Choosing to live in an urban setting can mean you’ll have more time to spend with your kids. Interesting places and activities will be nearby. A family-friendly urban neighborhood, offers you a chance to mingle with other parents while the kids play.
Your urban family can enjoy many memory-making experiences together and having a family focused on diversity and simple living.
Brooke’s contributed several articles to Support for Stepdads. Please check out Blending Families: Tips To Make Your Transition Work and Small Town Charm: The Pros and Cons of Rural Living .
