I say neighborhood all the way fir kids and teens. I think that this is such and underrated thing in child and alot of kids are missing out on how great it can be. Sure, eventually some of these friendships will fade, but some can produce some great friendships. Also, in my experience school friends came with so much drama, I looked forward to coming home to my neighborhood friends.

I live in a neighborhood with homes close together and all the kids go to the local neighborhood school. I think it’s great. Kids can walk to school with friends, get themselves to the park after school, and access public transit (we’re a < 10 min. walk to metro). We haven’t allowed them to ride by themselves yet, but once they’re teens in a few years we plan to.

Also, my boys love sports and we happen to have a number of athletic similar-aged kids nearby so they frequently have pickup games or just shoot hoops / throw a ball around.

Sometimes I feel annoyed when I have kids showing up at my door all the time to play (they frequently end up in my basement or backyard), but then I remember how lucky we are for my kids to have friends so close by.

I can’t imagine raising kids in an isolated car-dependent neighborhood where their social lives depend upon my availability to schedule / drive them places.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We currently live in a neighborhood with large lots and children are mostly older. The neighborhood consists of wealthy families and kids attend various private schools. We have the opportunity to move to a neighborhood with a street full of kids, walkable to a playground, restaurants and library.

I am really torn because I have one kid who will likely go out ALL the time. Currently, all play dates have to be organized by parents. My three kids all have many activities and sports. They all have friends, just not neighborhood friends.

Having a walkable neighborhood and having local things to do with local friends without having to schedule it with busy parents, is a great gift.

+1 but IME this proximity only becomes friendships when they go to school together. If you intend to keep your kids in private schools, they won't be part of the neighborhood kid network.

We have that and its benefits really become clear in middle and high school when the kids are walking to school together and walking home naturally becomes hanging out together, either at each other's homes or walking to neighborhood shops, library, coffee shops

DP. This hasn't been our experience, our immediate neighborhood has five kids but no two go to the same school (one private, two different immersions, local school, specialized program), and they're all friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We currently live in a neighborhood with large lots and children are mostly older. The neighborhood consists of wealthy families and kids attend various private schools. We have the opportunity to move to a neighborhood with a street full of kids, walkable to a playground, restaurants and library.

I am really torn because I have one kid who will likely go out ALL the time. Currently, all play dates have to be organized by parents. My three kids all have many activities and sports. They all have friends, just not neighborhood friends.

Having a walkable neighborhood and having local things to do with local friends without having to schedule it with busy parents, is a great gift.

+1 but IME this proximity only becomes friendships when they go to school together. If you intend to keep your kids in private schools, they won't be part of the neighborhood kid network.

We have that and its benefits really become clear in middle and high school when the kids are walking to school together and walking home naturally becomes hanging out together, either at each other's homes or walking to neighborhood shops, library, coffee shops

Anonymous wrote:We live in a neighborhood with tons of kids. Houses range from $700-$2million. It’s amazing. They are pretty free range - bike riding, fishing, walking to 711 with friends. On the weekends I usually have to text my oldest on her watch (she is 11) and tell her to come home for dinner. It’s great.

I wouldn't say houses in my immediately neighborhood go up to $2million but this sounds like Fort Hunt.

I would move to where there are more kids and walkable things. Do it this summer!

Anonymous wrote:We live in a neighborhood with tons of kids. Houses range from $700-$2million. It’s amazing. They are pretty free range - bike riding, fishing, walking to 711 with friends. On the weekends I usually have to text my oldest on her watch (she is 11) and tell her to come home for dinner. It’s great.

Where do you live in the DMV that kids can go fishing?!

Capitol Hill teens have such great opportunities to do year round or summer internships or jobs or attending events at really cool and interesting places.

I'm really envious of young kids on Capitol Hill, what a great place to grow up, specially for teens. You can walk or take uber or public transport to museums, think tanks, libraries, zoo, green house, parks, food trucks, restaurants, universities and so on.

You would still have to have some rules and boundaries for them to maintain a balance but overall, chill and let kids chill. We need to keep our anxieties in check.

Anonymous wrote:We live in a neighborhood with tons of kids. Houses range from $700-$2million. It’s amazing. They are pretty free range - bike riding, fishing, walking to 711 with friends. On the weekends I usually have to text my oldest on her watch (she is 11) and tell her to come home for dinner. It’s great.

So did we. It was a great neighborhood for the kids growing up.

Our society really underestimates value of less structured childhood and free playtime with neighborhood friends. Mental health matters.

Anonymous wrote:We currently live in a neighborhood with large lots and children are mostly older. The neighborhood consists of wealthy families and kids attend various private schools. We have the opportunity to move to a neighborhood with a street full of kids, walkable to a playground, restaurants and library.

I am really torn because I have one kid who will likely go out ALL the time. Currently, all play dates have to be organized by parents. My three kids all have many activities and sports. They all have friends, just not neighborhood friends.

Having a walkable neighborhood and having local things to do with local friends without having to schedule it with busy parents, is a great gift.

Anonymous wrote:We live in a neighborhood with tons of kids. Houses range from $700-$2million. It’s amazing. They are pretty free range - bike riding, fishing, walking to 711 with friends. On the weekends I usually have to text my oldest on her watch (she is 11) and tell her to come home for dinner. It’s great.

Where in the dmv is this?

We chose the kid neighborhood. No regrets. I prioritized yards, sidewalks and culdesacs when looking for houses.