Yes! One more HR question for you... (Denver, Kim: houses, neighborhoods)

[mczabe]

if you can stand it.

I'm currently staying in HR in temp housing, and after reading tons here about the place, I've been a bit surprised. I've driven through many neighborhoods, have seen over 20 homes in different neighborhoods, and I've only seen like 10 kids total.

Shouldn't there be a million kids running around? Shouldn't there be open garage doors, with bikes and sprinklers scattered on driveways? Parents chatting on front lawns keeping an eye on the kiddos. For an amazing family friendly town, I can't get over the seeming lack of children. The lack of anyone in the residential areas, for that matter.

What am I missing? Do kids not play in their neighborhoods here? Has everyone moved away? Is it just the end of summer slump? What's up?

[Katarina Witt]

School may have started. Some of Douglas County is on yr round schools.

[mczabe]

I thought about that. But this seems to be at all times of day...and on Saturday and Sunday too!

[kimmer]

Also, it's been a bazillion degrees out. Too toasty for some tots!

[Kibbiekat]

It varies a lot. On my street, the kids are rarely outside. 4 houses down and around the corner, the streets are full of elementary school aged kids. They are mostly out in the evening when it is cooler.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by mczabe

if you can stand it.

I'm currently staying in HR in temp housing, and after reading tons here about the place, I've been a bit surprised. I've driven through many neighborhoods, have seen over 20 homes in different neighborhoods, and I've only seen like 10 kids total.

Shouldn't there be a million kids running around? Shouldn't there be open garage doors, with bikes and sprinklers scattered on driveways? Parents chatting on front lawns keeping an eye on the kiddos. For an amazing family friendly town, I can't get over the seeming lack of children. The lack of anyone in the residential areas, for that matter.

What am I missing? Do kids not play in their neighborhoods here? Has everyone moved away? Is it just the end of summer slump? What's up?

I have observed this many times in driving from the less affluent neighborhoods to neighborhoods of more wealth--the lack of children playing outside. I believe is a result of the entertainment that children have indoors--computer, TV, computer games and recreation rooms. While poorer neighborhoods have some of these toys; It is certainly less.

I believe many poorer residents do not have air-conditioning, so children go out more to get air. Air conditioned children are pampered and consider "outside" as hotter then it is because they are comparing it to air-conditioned living.

There are larger homes in richer areas. Children will have more separate areas to recreate alone with friends away from their parents and siblings, in recreation rooms and separate bedrooms. Smaller homes do not all have these amenities so that children, especially as they get into teen years have to go "outside" to be with their kind, away from their observation of their family.

I have written on this forum about this issue as I travel across the metro area to visit relatives---I do not like to take the highways; I like to see the different changing neighborhoods on side roads.

It is certainly noted as a contributing cause of obesity. I think it is somewhat sad that with the great parks and neighborhoods of Denver, we have become residents of our own private indoors.

As we avoid the "outside"; we then make our "inside" our guarded abode, not only in living and recreating, but in our thinking about the different people who dwell on the "outside" of our comfortable ideas and thoughts. Is this a behavior we want in our progeny???

Livecontent

[mimomof2]

Not to hijack your thread but we are finding that here in Centennial too! My daughter's school is year round and she is on her 3 weeks off right now. No kids in sight. Some are still in school or just started but still. As for neighbors talking to each other, I just seen my next door neighbor for the first time and we have been here since July 9th. We are so bored through out the day that the kids and I are taking a trip back to MI this weekend. Hope things improve for you.

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

It varies a lot. On my street, the kids are rarely outside. 4 houses down and around the corner, the streets are full of elementary school aged kids. They are mostly out in the evening when it is cooler.

Hey, can you pm me with the street name where all the kids are out???? That's what I'm looking for.

Livecontent - thanks for your input. My strongly middle class neighborhood in NJ, with plenty of a/c and house space, had kids playing out in each others' yards all the time. We just really want our kids to have that sense of freedom and community as they explore the world. Not to mention the physical benefits.

Kimmer - It has been hot, but since it's all I've known of CO so far, I guess it's hard for me to see it as unusual. I just think of CO as very hot...and dry, boy howdy!

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by mimomof2

Not to hijack your thread but we are finding that here in Centennial too! My daughter's school is year round and she is on her 3 weeks off right now. No kids in sight. Some are still in school or just started but still. As for neighbors talking to each other, I just seen my next door neighbor for the first time and we have been here since July 9th. We are so bored through out the day that the kids and I are taking a trip back to MI this weekend. Hope things improve for you.

Oh no! Maybe we should buy in your neighborhood so we can start a play outside and bond with your neighbors trend!!!!!!

[Froud]

oh yes it is just soooo hot(says recent transplant from tucson)