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hammy- you're really overthinking this - nearly all suburbs are like bluetrain described, despite the fact you not seeing it via a quick drive by. check your budget, housing and commuting requirements and find a town.
tahiti - hammy isn't the OP.
hammy - see the "sticky" post on the front page of this forum for information that folks will need to give you meaningful advice.
There really is a lot of great towns in New Jersey, the towns that I personally know of are - Fanwood, Westfield, Summit, Cranford and Chatham. Like I said, I'm sure there are so many more but these I know of personally. And all the schools in this town are fantastic.
Lets be real. Today's children are not as active as past generations.
Yeah I know, we walked to school up hill both ways and with no shoes.
Kids today would rather play video games or be texting to someone than to actually be playing outside whether it's the summer or winter.
When was the last time you saw a family of 4 or more at a restaurant actually talking to each other? Even the parents are on their cell phones or iPads.
The family unit is gone. Hence the reason kids are obese and getting fatter and lazier.
Overbearing parenting is to blame. Don't pit this on today's youth.
So, Bluetrain, I am looking for what you describe as your neighborhood for my two, school-age kids. We are NJ town shopping and will move from PA before the fall. What towns would you recommend for this?
If you are looking for an area as mentioned, you should get in touch with me. My parents are looking to sell our house and they are moving to India because of retirement. I am looking for sell it myself before going through a real estate agent. Let me know if you are interested.
I love our house. My mother loves it even more and has a huge emotional attachment to it. We always played outdoors because of the property, the neighbors, and the area. Everyone is like family and there is a park two blocks down. A lot of fun.
Westwood has a nice community feel to it too. I felt it growing up!
If the kids are actually playing outside in that cold weather in Brooklyn, as you're saying, I'd say never leave that area of the city. The kids here never do that kind of stuff, whereas my understanding is it's still like that in parts of Brooklyn. People know each other on each block, they pay attention to their neighbors, the kids just go outside and play and do stuff around town on their own. Right? We don't have any of that in NJ from what I see. The common sense enjoyment of life of a bygone era (at least, it's bygone in NJ). It's something you can't put a price on. I'd just move up in size by going to a worse neighborhood in Brooklyn, and just have my kids (and me and the wife) take the subway back to your old neighborhood every day to do stuff.
And part of the blame of THAT is on our crazy laws and government. If you don't have your eyes on your kids for even two seconds, CPS is more than willing and capable to take your kid away from you and put him into foster homes where he will ACTUALLY get molested and raped.
LOL, DOWNFALL OF OUR SOCIETY!
I have lived lots of places and this is what I have noticed. The nicer the playgrounds, the more mothers will come. If the place is untidy, with no benches, it will be empty most of the time. If the playground is dry, with comfy benches, shade, port-a-potty, and garbage cans, they will come. It also needs to be interesting.
The more unique the playground, the more people will come! Wish the playground designs would include as a standard: the roller-slides, tall climbing ropes, climbing "rock" walls, bumpy slides, tires, sand boxes, and hiding nooks kids love. Unusual designs would be awesome too.
The standard parks/playgrounds all around us are TOO BORING for any kid over the age of 3. No wonder they are not drawn to be outside if all they see are the same old cookie cutter set-ups!
If the kids are actually playing outside in that cold weather in Brooklyn, as you're saying, I'd say never leave that area of the city. The kids here never do that kind of stuff, whereas my understanding is it's still like that in parts of Brooklyn. People know each other on each block, they pay attention to their neighbors, the kids just go outside and play and do stuff around town on their own. Right? We don't have any of that in NJ from what I see. The common sense enjoyment of life of a bygone era (at least, it's bygone in NJ). It's something you can't put a price on. I'd just move up in size by going to a worse neighborhood in Brooklyn, and just have my kids (and me and the wife) take the subway back to your old neighborhood every day to do stuff.
Really? Not in NJ at all? Come visit me, I'll introduce you to all my neighbors, all 57 houses.
Really? Not in NJ at all? Come visit me, I'll introduce you to all my neighbors, all 57 houses.
Tahiti, Please share where in Jersey you live. I am relocating with my 3 kiddos from the West. Thanks!
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he sounded like the OP! hammy - my apologies!
