Raising kids in a big city has its own advantages and its own set of problems. Big cities like LA and NYC attract many families with children, as they offer what no other place in the world can. However, raising kids in those kinds of environments can be challenging. So, in this article, we will explore some of the main advantages and disadvantages of raising children in big metropolitan areas. Make sure to stick with us to the end!
Access to education is better
It is far easier to get access to many different things when you live in a big city, and education is one of them. On average, kids who live in big cities are more educated than those who live outside of them. Of course, that doesn’t mean that city kids are smarter or more intelligent. It just means that they have more opportunities.
However, our society still values diplomas and degrees, and it is far easier to get a job with them. Access to better education can make your child more financially independent later in life, as it offers more job opportunities. This is one of the main reasons why people move with their families to big cities.
Your child will make better connections later in life
What comes naturally with living in a big city are connections and friendships we acquire throughout life. Big cities simply house more people than rural areas, and this leads to people making more connections.
While it is true that some of those connections may be toxic and destructive, a lot of research suggests that drug and alcohol abuse, for example, is more prevalent in rural areas.
Connections that your child can make by living in a big city can be of great value later in life. Who knows when and who your children are going to meet. Whatever the case is, by growing up in a big city, your child can have more options due to a larger network of people.
Also, creating and maintaining a business is far easier in a big city. It’s a simple calculation – more potential customers equals more profit!
However, you shouldn’t base your decision only on your child’s future
Many parents tend to overlook their own well-being while caring for their children. While this is a noble thing to do, ultimately, this kind of thinking can backfire.
Not everyone is comfortable living in big cities. Moreover, we would argue that almost no one is. Living in huge and dense urban areas has only been going on for a couple of centuries, and we are yet to adapt to it.
Many people who move to a big city tend to feel miserable. While it is true that wages are higher in cities, people on average spend more money on recovering from the psychological trauma of living in a huge city. Also, cities are usually too expensive, and you have to spend more just so you can live in a tiny apartment, in a part of town where everything happens.
Maybe the problem isn’t that you live in a city and don’t like the hectic urban atmosphere. Most psychological problems tied to living in a city come from worrying about finances. People who live in Manhattan, for example, are not that happy as one might think. They have to think about credits, mortgages, and money, in general, more. If that is the case with you, Brooklyn might be a better option than Manhattan. Prices in this borough are lower, and the benefits almost the same. So, moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn might be something to consider.
You may have to spend more on your child’s physical well-being
However, raising kids in a big city has its disadvantages too. Children in urban areas have more access to fast-food chains and unhealthy diets, and we know how children love those kinds of foods.
Children from more rural areas quite often do not have those kinds of options. When we compare two extremes – a child who grows up on a farm and a child who grows up in a cosmopolitan area – we can often see that the former has a healthier diet.
Also, children who live in big homes with spacious yards tend to behave more like stereotypical children since they have more space to run and exercise. It is no wonder why children in cities are more prone to obesity and depression, as those two come hand in hand. Additionally, cities have more of a hectic and loud atmosphere, which can lead to many problems, like tinnitus.
Children who live in dense urban areas have to learn how to behave in the conditions they have. Tay cannot run and be loud in the building, in an apartment, in a public institution, etc. They have to let their energy out in special places, like gyms, courts, playgrounds, and parks.
But this doesn’t have to be the case!
The rule that urban children are more obese is no longer true. In the last few decades, with the penetration of fast-food chains and supermarkets, adults and children from suburban and rural areas are starting to surpass citizens of urban areas. Maybe there is a societal factor included, but that is a story for another time. All in all, if you teach your children all about the importance of health and nutrition, you should be fine no matter where you decide to live.
We hope you will find our take on raising kids in a big city useful. Good luck!
