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

[Anonymous]

Two words: REAL LIFE

[Anonymous]

I don’t find city kids as involved in organized sports and the like - they have more life experiences a subway ride away in the form of museums, different libraries, etc.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the city, DH grew up in the suburbs. I learned how to lock doors (cars, house, etc.) and generally be more aware of how to prevent potential crime. Simple things, like not leaving my cell phone in the car in plain view.

DH has absolutely no understanding of this AT ALL. Makes me nuts.

[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.

You can't be serious if you think this is a "city" thing. OMG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated the sameness of the suburbs growing up around DC. We’re in NYC and I see my kids with so many more diverse interests and rich lives living in the city as compared to what I had growing up.

+1. We are in DC. My son is 7. It’s incredible the experiences he has had on so far that I never had in the suburbs, that his similar age cousin doesn’t have in the burbs.

We just went to the Philips Collection Friday for their 100th anniversary. He did some amazing arts and craft activities. My favorite was an activity based on Alma Thomas work and then we went to the gallery to actually see the art piece. Lots of family friendly events at the Kennedy center, Smithsonian, etc…

Above is just 1 example but the cultural, artistic, musical, theater exposure is just incredible. There’s always lots of things like above going on for families.

And half the kids and families there are from McLean, Arlington, Bethesda, Potomac. Just a metro ride away.

[Anonymous]

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

The Virginia suburbs aren't exactly short of ethnic food or grocery stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated the sameness of the suburbs growing up around DC. We’re in NYC and I see my kids with so many more diverse interests and rich lives living in the city as compared to what I had growing up.

+1. We are in DC. My son is 7. It’s incredible the experiences he has had on so far that I never had in the suburbs, that his similar age cousin doesn’t have in the burbs.

We just went to the Philips Collection Friday for their 100th anniversary. He did some amazing arts and craft activities. My favorite was an activity based on Alma Thomas work and then we went to the gallery to actually see the art piece. Lots of family friendly events at the Kennedy center, Smithsonian, etc…

Above is just 1 example but the cultural, artistic, musical, theater exposure is just incredible. There’s always lots of things like above going on for families.

And half the kids and families there are from McLean, Arlington, Bethesda, Potomac. Just a metro ride away.

Haha, yeah. Living in Arlington, I'm running distance (literally, do it weekends) to Smithsonian. Don't think people living in Spring Valley are any closer or any more urban. This whole thread is funny. Also super pretentious in some responses. Just odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t find city kids as involved in organized sports and the like - they have more life experiences a subway ride away in the form of museums, different libraries, etc.

Local teens are the last group I ever expect to see at any DC museums unless they are on a field trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

The Virginia suburbs aren't exactly short of ethnic food or grocery stores.

Or public transportation into the big bad city.

[Anonymous]

Silly thread. The idea that a kid growing up in a doorman building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is somehow less sheltered than a kid growing up in Westchester is crazy.

[Anonymous]

I guess this thread is really only aimed at white people, since it's bizarre to me to think that you can't get exposure to "ethnic food" or "diverse people" in the suburbs.

-- Indian-American who grew up in the suburbs as did most of the Indian-Americans I know from around the country. Also one who typically went to the Maryland suburbs of DC is she wanted "ethnic food".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:City kids are better at walking long distances, IMO

I agree with this. My kids both have pretty good endurance for their ages.

My suburban teen walked 10-15 miles a day for fun and exercise during his downtime while having remote school. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silly thread. The idea that a kid growing up in a doorman building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is somehow less sheltered than a kid growing up in Westchester is crazy.

Pretty much. We live in McLean. DD's best friend lives in CC DC. Not certain I see much difference in their surroundings or upbringing. Same school. Doubt that's what the OP meant, but one is a "city" kid, the other a suburban kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess this thread is really only aimed at white people, since it's bizarre to me to think that you can't get exposure to "ethnic food" or "diverse people" in the suburbs.

-- Indian-American who grew up in the suburbs as did most of the Indian-Americans I know from around the country. Also one who typically went to the Maryland suburbs of DC is she wanted "ethnic food".

Yes, and in a lot of the country, the suburbs have both more diversity and better food.

[Anonymous]

I do think suburbs are becoming more urbanized so the distinction isn’t as stark as it once was. Also, cities are becoming more affluent so kids’ may have increasingly wealthy kids in their social circle. Anyway, interesting for sure. Plus & minuses in both categories. I enjoyed growing up in the city and there’s something special about it for sure. Suburbs offer many benefits too!