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We've been in the burbs for about 7 mths now, so its still early. Most people we met who made similar moves said it took 1-2 years to fully adjust. So we'll see. Only issue for our family is that my family is still in brooklyn/queens so my support system with the kids is there. That's hard. If you move back to a burb with your family and friends, that might be an easier transition.
Only thing I learned is that Kids are resilient and will adjust quickly to almost anything. So when you make this decision, think about how you and your husband will cope. It will be much harder on the two of you.
Girl, don't listen to half the responses saying horrible things about raising children in NYC in particular Manhattan. For generations scores upon scores of parents raised kids in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and how they turned out was/is more a reflection of the home than the environment.
White flight out of NYC has ended for the most part and parents are seeking to remain in NYC in particular Manhattan and Brooklyn if possible. This is one reason why there is such a push for "family sized" housing including everything from townhouses/brownstones to apartments.
Schools both public and private in Manhattan are bursting and demand is not predicted to decrease for years. As such if you are planning to move to either Manhattan or Brooklyn with school aged children you will need to look at local school options for K-8 (high school aged teens can handle a commute and most often do with ease) both public and private.
Raising children in an urban environment yes, does mean unless you own a townhouse there won't be a backyard for them to play in, but the City has *soooo* much to offer children and more comes on line every day. A local classical music space recently offered a Saturday afternoon live performance by a well know artist group for young children and was *SOLD OUT* in a matter of minutes. The Museum of Natural History offers a hugely popular "sleepover" for children.
Of course raising children in NYC in particular Manhattan means they won't be as "sheltered" say as growing up in the suburbs. They are going to see things on the streets, subways, even at school and so forth that otherwise may not living elsewhere. Diversity varies by location in NYC, but even in mainly white high income areas you can find mixed marriage households, same-sex marriage households, very liberal/progressive households, and so forth.
Then you have simply going out and about and or living in NYC simply means you are going to see and or hear things you might not elsewhere. No, persons aren't being mugged and robbed in great numbers or otherwise the "bad old days" of NYC, but things still do happen. Have always found kids who grew up in Manhattan to be more "street smart". But then they would need to be in order to navigate around safely.
Excellent response. I can't fathom people saying that one shouldn't have a family in nyc. Before the suburbs, there were families of all socioeconomic status in the city. Kids often played outside of the house when they didn't have yards. Even today, there are many families.
My husband and I are thinkng about moving to Manhattan or Brooklyn. We have 3 young children. Can anyone offer any advice about what it's like with kids in the city? What are the pros and cons? Thanks in advance.
Living in the city is the best move you can make for you children. The opportunity for them is endless and there is so much available in the city that you would never see in the suburbs (museums, zoos, theater, etc.)
The public high schools in NYC aren't great. They aren't as bad as some other major cities but they aren't great. Where my parents previously lived, the high school is very lowly ranked compared to the ones I went to in the suburbs.
The only high schools in the city that rival LI schools (and arguably are better) are in my opinion: Bronx Science, Townsend Harris, and in my opinion the best high school in NYC, Stuyvesant (boasted a 2000+ SAT score average of all students last time I checked). That high of an SAT average is absolutely unheard of even in the best LI high schools.
I would definitely recommend raising your kids with caution in the city if you do decide to. Try to live in an area with a decent public school but encourage your kids to take the tests to possibly get into the highly ranked schools in the cities like the ones I've listed above.
I don't want start a war, but this is the reason the city is becoming so completely unbearable. Being pushed out of the city by BABIES! Sounds weird, but it's true. I don't know where i'm going to be forced to move next, but i'd rather living in a building infested with bedbugs than babies. Entire neighborhoods are being redlined by these people and now they all want to stay. Nightmare
Your kids will turn out to be culturally interesting but they will also be subjected to many of life's ills at too young of an age....drug addiction open displays of sexuality helplessness racism increased stress.
These days going through that in NYC 2015 just isn't worth it for all the damage it does. Don't fool yourselves into thinking you can have a handle on it.
Why not live outside the city and commute ? Long Island would be a happy medium IMO but your kids would hate it !
You going to take the train with 3 kids. You said getting them in and out the car is hard. Wait until you go up and down the train. Or one has to pee but your stuck in the station and the trains are acting up. Or some crazy bum gets on the train. OR someone pushed you or gets a attitude with your stroller. No way!! I rarely if ever take my son on the train and always feel so bad when I see moms on the train especially during high times.
It not like you have 1 or even 2 kids but 3 thats a lot to squeeze in a apartment. I think the suburbs might be better. But if you live in the city Park Slope or maybe fort green. Try for a town home maybe one with a little yard space.
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