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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kids go to a county-wide lottery school in Arlington. Kids are from all over the county so my kids don't have "neighborhood friends" either. Most of their friends live 10-20 minutes away by car, and we have play dates with them often. Plus my kids spend time with their friends at after-school care and weekend sports. So I never find it an issue; in fact it's nice for us (parents) to get to know other families from all over the county.

There are plenty of kids in my neighborhood and I see them playing in the neighborhood. It's very nice, but I don't think my kids are missing out much. They have quite a busy social life (sports, after-school care, weekend play dates and birthday parties) with their friends from their lottery school.

It'll be OK as long as you think your kids' friends will be living within 10-20 minutes by car. I can't speak for older kids, but I find it totally cool with my elementary school kids.

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You didn’t grow up in a neighborhood full of kids that all played together, right? Don’t know what you missed.[/quote]

Lol, the world is not the same as when you grew up 30-50 years ago. It's no longer common to let kids roam around freely even in neighborhood full of kids. From what I can see, nowadays parents would accompany their kids (under 10) even when going to play dates just a few blocks away. So it's essentially no different from driving to a play date 10-20 minutes away. Also kids in DMV area nowadays have way more extracurricular activities than average kids 30-50 years ago, which also significantly limit their time of hanging out with neighborhood kids. [/quote]

Where I am (not DMV) kids still do play outside all the time and people are not too intense about activities. So moving to a kid friendly neighborhood was a huge bonus and made social life for them very easy, no need for playdates. It also helps to have nearby things to bike to like a nice park. My kids are young adults now but still talk to their friends, see them when they come home. There is a decent amount of turnover and I'm sure we will be part of it some day too and make room for younger families.[/quote]

I understand your perspective from a non-DMV area. However this is a DMV based forum and most people's experience are also DMV based. Around DMV, cars drive residential neighborhoods at high speed all the time. Drivers living in the same neighborhood (which is probably the majority at where you live) usually are more cautious and would slow down and yield to walkers/kids. However, Uber drivers, DoorDashers and commuters who are cutting through residential neighborhoods are way less considerate and would speed through. I wouldn't feel safe letting my kids under 10 to even walk a few blocks by themselves. I don't see other people's kids doing it either. The youngest kids I've seen walking unaccompanied are 10+. I know it's a different environment from where you live and how you and your kids grew up, but that's the reality in most areas near DC.

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