What have your kids learned growing up in the city compared to Suburb raised friends?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the city, got married, moved to the suburbs and now we are back in the city. I probably just haven’t noticed, but what has living in the city taught your kids compared to the suburbs?

[Anonymous]

My kids have no qualms about being out on public transportation and moving around the city on their own. And I’m fine with it.

My friend has a daughter the same age as mine (15). This past summer, it was a huge deal for her dd to take the metro and then head over to Georgetown to walk around. Her mom made her do a practice run and was tracking her the entire time. It was intense, and my friend is not what I would call 📞 overly protective.
Meanwhile, my dd has been hanging out in Georgetown since middle school. She and her brother took the metro bus alone beginning in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Public transportation, otherwise nothing.

Things kids in the burbs know better, how to drive.

[Anonymous]

My kids grew up back and forth between both. They’ve learned from both experiences. I would say the city kinda spoiled them. Growing up on our farm out in the country taught them to be self-sufficient and strong. How to solve problems and fix things. They learned more independence because they were driving at 14. Their friends in the city often didn’t even have drivers licenses at 18. They also have a deep connection to our family land, and to the earth in general.

One is not better. They learned street smarts in the city. They can navigate metros and airports all over everywhere. They were exposed to diversity and so much culture in the city that they never would have experienced in the country.

[Anonymous]

Public transportation and general street savvy. Also, being comfortable around ethnic food - both restaurants and groceries.

[Anonymous]

Diversity and comfortable with all people. DS considers the old Asian woman who sits on the park bench every day his friend, for example. We live near an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and my son wishes them “Shabbat Shalom” on Fridays even though we’re Catholic. My kids play with all races of children and all types of parents. My kids give money to the homeless and always smile at them. Both kids have friends in our building that they can visit in their pjs on Saturday mornings (we take turns hosting). They aren’t afraid of busy sidewalks or noise (like I was being a suburban kid).

Museums are their playgrounds and not a once-a-year field trip.

Covid was definitely harder in the city but I’m really glad we stuck it out!

[Anonymous]

How to be cool. Seriously. City kids are comfortable in all situations and have a confidence and swagger that stays with them.

Sadly I couldn’t convince DH to stay in the city. We still see friends from our kids’ old schools and they are so self-assured and cool compared to my sweet, sheltered kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How to be cool. Seriously. City kids are comfortable in all situations and have a confidence and swagger that stays with them.

Sadly I couldn’t convince DH to stay in the city. We still see friends from our kids’ old schools and they are so self-assured and cool compared to my sweet, sheltered kids.

This is so not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to be cool. Seriously. City kids are comfortable in all situations and have a confidence and swagger that stays with them.

Sadly I couldn’t convince DH to stay in the city. We still see friends from our kids’ old schools and they are so self-assured and cool compared to my sweet, sheltered kids.

This is so not true.

It is my my experience. We know lots of city kids and lots of suburban kids. Do you?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in DC, my kids are growing up in the burbs. City kids are more savvy & streetsmart , no question. Suburban kids are more at ease doing other things, though. But they depends on parents for transport. I don’t think there’s anything greater than growing up in a city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to be cool. Seriously. City kids are comfortable in all situations and have a confidence and swagger that stays with them.

Sadly I couldn’t convince DH to stay in the city. We still see friends from our kids’ old schools and they are so self-assured and cool compared to my sweet, sheltered kids.

This is so not true.

It is my my experience. We know lots of city kids and lots of suburban kids. Do you?

Yes. I’m the pp with kids who grew up in both worlds. To refer to kids as “cool” is ridiculous. Are you 15?

[Anonymous]

In the city:

More diversity, both ethnic and financial. Tolerance of and sympathy for different types of people — e.g., for the guy who stands screaming on the corner outside our building every few days or the guys who pass out at our park or on the bridge we walk across. Comfort talking to strangers; we get in some outstanding conversations with people! Appreciation for other cultures and foods. Awareness of surroundings and a good sense of when to cross the street to avoid a person who is having a hard time vs who is likely to give you a hard time. My kid is also a master of urban parkour

We’ve never lived in suburbs, so I don’t have much personal comparison. But my kid’s suburban cousins visit and they’re not used to walking places or ordering their own food or public transportation. They are very easily made uncomfortable by someone who looks unlike what they’re used to or by a stranger striking up conversation. But - they have amazing experiences where they live that we could never afford because we live in DC.

[Anonymous]

City kids are better at walking long distances, IMO

[Anonymous]

Depends. Are you counting Upper NW kids = city kids? Not sure there’s a huge difference but my oldest is only 11. He does take metro alone and understands how it works. He likes ethnic food but come on, suburban kids do too (the best “ethnic” food in the DC area is in the suburbs, which are more diverse than AU Park by a mile).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the city:

More diversity, both ethnic and financial. Tolerance of and sympathy for different types of people — e.g., for the guy who stands screaming on the corner outside our building every few days or the guys who pass out at our park or on the bridge we walk across. Comfort talking to strangers; we get in some outstanding conversations with people! Appreciation for other cultures and foods. Awareness of surroundings and a good sense of when to cross the street to avoid a person who is having a hard time vs who is likely to give you a hard time. My kid is also a master of urban parkour

We’ve never lived in suburbs, so I don’t have much personal comparison. But my kid’s suburban cousins visit and they’re not used to walking places or ordering their own food or public transportation. They are very easily made uncomfortable by someone who looks unlike what they’re used to or by a stranger striking up conversation. But - they have amazing experiences where they live that we could never afford because we live in DC.

The DC suburbs seem a lot more diverse than DC to me unless you’re comparing to white-bread Arlington.