Kiddie Neighborhoods in Frisco,TX (Houston, Dallas: best neighborhoods, house, established neighborhood)

[momwithadot]

I'm really stressed about this, so only sincere comments please.
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We moved from Houston, TX to the DFW area partly coz of work & partly coz we liked the suburbs here better. Stayed in an apt. at the intersection of Plano, Frisco, Allen & McKinney, to decide where we wanted to live. After extensive research, we found the house of our dreams and yes, within budget too. Great Schools, excellent location in terms of work proximity, kids activities, etc. But guess what - there isn't a single kid out there on the streets - no kidding! We moved during the holidays, so we thought it's cold outside - that's why. Fast forward to Spring and no signs of little kids around. Add to it the fact that not one person in the neighborhood was curious enough to look us up, let alone extend a welcome, <sigh!> I was out walking one evening when I saw a lady pulling out weeds along with her middle schoolish son. As I approached the curb, they walked back into the house and smiled at me as she shut the door! My kids are going crazy without friends to play with and I am seriously considering selling this monster of a Dream House and move into a neighborhood that is flooded with kids (figuratively, of course!) Advice Please......

[TurtleCreek80]

Welcome to Collin County. You're hardly the first poster to learn that it isn't always as "family friendly" as the hype. The last poster that comes to mind HATED her supposedly friendly/suburbia dream neighobrhood in McKinney and ended up moving into Dallas city proper to find what she was looking for.

Not every block on every street in every neighborhood is teeming with kids- not even in Collin Co. You really do have to knock on doors or get a school directory to figure out which streets have kids - and even kids with a few years of your own (ie, having a 5 y/o and a 3 y/o on a block full of middle and high school kids isn't much help, either).

In other cases, there are kids, but they're not allowed to play in the yard (kidnappers could be lurking!!) and are overscheduled and off at their many activities. Neighbors arent' welcoming because they're just on a temporary corporate relo before being shipped off to the next city. Or perhaps the wonderful "cultural diversity melting pot" doesn't play out the way you dreamed and you discover you have NOTHING in common with your neighbors from around the globe (including language, for starters).

The best neighborhoods are usually in ESTABLISHED neighborhoods (at least 30 years old) where famililes truly live with each other and are part of one another's lives. Drive around hte older neighborhoods in Plano, Richardson, the Park cities, Devonshire, Lakewood, etc and you can't help but find tons of kids out playing freely and neighbors chatting in front lawns or out walking babies & dogs.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

In other cases, there are kids, but they're not allowed to play in the yard (kidnappers could be lurking!!) and are overscheduled and off at their many activities. Neighbors arent' welcoming because they're just on a temporary corporate relo before being shipped off to the next city. Or perhaps the wonderful "cultural diversity melting pot" doesn't play out the way you dreamed and you discover you have NOTHING in common with your neighbors from around the globe (including language, for starters).

Once again, TC is exactly correct!
Kids hardly ever play outside anymore due to their parents' fear of "stranger danger", and even the young ones have Schedules of swimming lessons, socc, dance, etc. And yes, those "diverse" neighbors and their kids probably don't even speak English and have hardly anything in common other than the address.

Good luck!

[compSciGuy]

Only time I see lots of kids outside are when it snows and Halloween. Even going to the park it's usually empty. Any 'indoor' potential hangouts nearby, like a rec. center, etc.?

[carroll4628]

I agree mostly with what TC80 says about neighborhoods with 'diversity' and lots of 'relos', but like always, there are exceptions. You have unfortunately ended up in the typical 'relo' neighborhood. When you walk around the "neighborhood", how far are you walking? 2 blocks, 4 blocks, the whole neighborhood? Things could be different two/three streets away. Perhaps the best neighborhoods are in established areas, but not always. Sometimes established areas have older folks (who can afford to live there - i.e., 45yrs+) and have very few toddlers and elementary school ages kids (unless grandma and grandpa are watching them for the weekend). Other neighborhoods go through that phase where the older folks move out and a younger family can afford their first/starter home (we experienced that in Seattle). In your current home, the only thing you can really do is get your son involved in some "outside" activities (that we all complain kids are doing), like scouts, drama, sports, etc. just so he can meet some other kids. Scouts is good because it's usually grouped by elementary school, so at least it would be with other classmates, same for some of the sporting leagues.

[momwithadot]

Originally Posted by compSciGuy

Only time I see lots of kids outside are when it snows and Halloween. Even going to the park it's usually empty. Any 'indoor' potential hangouts nearby, like a rec. center, etc.?

Yeah, the rec center seems like a good option and the library, etc are not far either. But its the same thing, getting the kids ready, pack a snack, ferry them back n forth, the whole drill. I'm sort of trying to make my fantasy of kids-playing-on-the-streets-while-mom's-chat-along-the-curb kind of lifestyle.

I'm pretty sure I want to chase my fantasy even if that means making crazy decisions like selling my dream home (it has everything I ever wanted and more......) in less than 6 months of buying it (not sure if the market would care about that) Posting on this forum is a kind of a reality check, I guess.

[texasmccurrys]

Look at neighboring Prosper. Lots of kids in my neighborhood, Willow Ridge. Great schools and great people. We moved here three years ago from NC and found plenty of friendly people.

[momwithadot]

Thank you Carroll, you've summed up the situation quite accurately. Yeah, we did (still do some) the Soccer, Drama, swimming, Gymnastics drill. I'll try scouts.

[texasmccurrys]

Also, you have Stonebriar church right there in Frisco depending on your religion. The youth in the church is a great place for your kids to meet people.

[crankywithakeyboard]

We've met people mostly through boy scouts that meets at my son's school and through volunteering with the school's PTA. A church in your neighborhood might be good also, if that floats your boat. It sometimes seems like it takes a long time to feel like you belong.

Originally Posted by momwithadot

I'm really stressed about this, so only sincere comments please.
************************************
We moved from Houston, TX to the DFW area partly coz of work & partly coz we liked the suburbs here better. Stayed in an apt. at the intersection of Plano, Frisco, Allen & McKinney, to decide where we wanted to live. After extensive research, we found the house of our dreams and yes, within budget too. Great Schools, excellent location in terms of work proximity, kids activities, etc. But guess what - there isn't a single kid out there on the streets - no kidding! We moved during the holidays, so we thought it's cold outside - that's why. Fast forward to Spring and no signs of little kids around. Add to it the fact that not one person in the neighborhood was curious enough to look us up, let alone extend a welcome, <sigh!> I was out walking one evening when I saw a lady pulling out weeds along with her middle schoolish son. As I approached the curb, they walked back into the house and smiled at me as she shut the door! My kids are going crazy without friends to play with and I am seriously considering selling this monster of a Dream House and move into a neighborhood that is flooded with kids (figuratively, of course!) Advice Please......