What Does "Family Friendly" Mean anyway? (Raleigh, Durham: cul-de-sac, fit in)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but what exactly do people mean when they ask if certain neighborhoods are "Family Friendly"? How is family friendliness measured?
If you want to learn about how safe an area is you can check crime statistics to judge that, if you want to know if the schools in a particular area are good you can check published test scores and tour the schools, but by what ruler is family friendliness measured?
I think that in almost any neighborhood in the Triangle whether it be a new subdivision or an older historic neighborhood you will have a mix of married couples with kids, married couples without kids, singles with no children, and single or divorced parents and so on. I have yet to drive through a neighborhood that is solely inhabited by single childless people who abhor families.
I know there are certain areas of every metro area that suffer from stigmas or are not considered as safe as others because of crime, but aside from those areas, what would be considered a good example of an area in the Triangle not welcoming to families? I can't think of one.
I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but what exactly do people mean when they ask if certain neighborhoods are "Family Friendly"? How is family friendliness measured?
If you want to learn about how safe an area is you can check crime statistics to judge that, if you want to know if the schools in a particular area are good you can check published test scores and tour the schools, but by what ruler is family friendliness measured?
I think that in almost any neighborhood in the Triangle whether it be a new subdivision or an older historic neighborhood you will have a mix of married couples with kids, married couples without kids, singles with no children, and single or divorced parents and so on. I have yet to drive through a neighborhood that is solely inhabited by single childless people who abhor families.
I know there are certain areas of every metro area that suffer from stigmas or are not considered as safe as others because of crime, but aside from those areas, what would be considered a good example of an area in the Triangle not welcoming to families? I can't think of one.
I love this post...because I don't get it either....and I am a parent. I guess maybe some parents pick their home based on how many other kids are around?
good point, while researching for a home, I wanted to make sure I would fit in as a single professional without kids...I think couples with children would be a great fit for a neighborhood...The only thing that comes to mind is that if a neighborhood is friendly, meaning people talk to one another, watch out for one another, and not just a hello or goodbye when you see one another...I hope my neighborhood is friendly, but I can't think of a way to measure that while previewing homes...or if it's a brand new neighborhood, which is my case, how would one measure the friendliness of the neighborhood?
some neighborhoods in my state (IL) are for "adults only", meaning they are more for seniors or empty nesters. Some oare on golf courses and almost all of them have ranch style homes or 1st floor master bedrooms. THey are not very "family friendly" in that there are mostly people that live there with out kids running around. In fact I think they exclude kids. When i asked once about a neighborhood being FF i meant was this one of those emptynester type golf communities.
It does sound weird, cuz those people have families too...LOL. I guess i think i meant Kid friendly..(eg has parks, has playmates, etc)
When I think of a neighborhood thats considered "family friendly", I think that the homes have more bedrooms for the kids, backyards are a bit larger for the kids and most of the neighbors have kids. Therefore, that one guy who is always manicuring his yard can't complain if your kid walks on his grass!
Also...having a pool and tot lots in the neighborhood make it "kid friendly".
Actually, "family-friendly" is also dangerous territory for a realtor. Fair housing laws prohibit us from discussing it, just as it's illegal to discuss the racial demographics of a neighborhood. Familial status is a protected class (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin).
As Vicki said, if you ask for a neighborhood with a park, a pool, and large backyards... that I can do! If you ask me how many kids live on the street, even if I knew, I couldn't tell you.
I think people who say they want a family friendly neigborhood just don't want to be surrounded by the stereotypical, antisocial neighbors screaming "Hey, young feller, get off my lawn! You're trampling my petunias!" They want their kids to be able to play in the street and not have neighbors who will run them down with their cars rather than slow down. And yes, they want their kids to have other kids to play with. At least, that's what we wanted for our young family.
In that respect, though, you'll have to do your own research and decide if you feel that a neighborhood is right for you.
Actually, "family-friendly" is also dangerous territory for a realtor. Fair housing laws prohibit us from discussing it, just as it's illegal to discuss the racial demographics of a neighborhood. Familial status is a protected class (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin).
As Vicki said, if you ask for a neighborhood with a park, a pool, and large backyards... that I can do! If you ask me how many kids live on the street, even if I knew, I couldn't tell you.
I think people who say they want a family friendly neigborhood just don't want to be surrounded by the stereotypical, antisocial neighbors screaming "Hey, young feller, get off my lawn! You're trampling my petunias!" They want their kids to be able to play in the street and not have neighbors who will run them down with their cars rather than slow down. And yes, they want their kids to have other kids to play with. At least, that's what we wanted for our young family.
In that respect, though, you'll have to do your own research and decide if you feel that a neighborhood is right for you.
Actually, "family-friendly" is also dangerous territory for a realtor. Fair housing laws prohibit us from discussing it, just as it's illegal to discuss the racial demographics of a neighborhood. Familial status is a protected class (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin).
As Vicki said, if you ask for a neighborhood with a park, a pool, and large backyards... that I can do! If you ask me how many kids live on the street, even if I knew, I couldn't tell you.
I think people who say they want a family friendly neighborhood just don't want to be surrounded by the stereotypical, antisocial neighbors screaming "Hey, young feller, get off my lawn! You're trampling my petunias!" They want their kids to be able to play in the street and not have neighbors who will run them down with their cars rather than slow down. And yes, they want their kids to have other kids to play with. At least, that's what we wanted for our young family.
In that respect, though, you'll have to do your own research and decide if you feel that a neighborhood is right for you.
The playing in the street thing I DO NOT get. Why would anyone let their children do this? My street ends in a cul de sac....they actually block off the cul de sac with orange cones!! I would be so po'd if I had to deal with that just to get into my own driveway. I also don't get the basketball hoops on the street either. Children do not belong in the street....period, end of sentence.
If playing in the street is what makes a neighborhood family friendly....I wish I live in one that wasn't.
When I think of a neighborhood thats considered "family friendly", I think that the homes have more bedrooms for the kids, backyards are a bit larger for the kids and most of the neighbors have kids. Therefore, that one guy who is always manicuring his yard can't complain if your kid walks on his grass!
Also...having a pool and tot lots in the neighborhood make it "kid friendly".
But then...thats my interpretation!
Vicki
Vicki, I like and would have to agree with your interpretation. Kid friendly might be a more accurate descriptive term. But I guess I usually felt I understood what people meant when they used the term "family friendly".
We also have those "55 and older only" communities in NJ that, in my opinion, are not family friendly when applying Vicki's definition.
I believe that many Northerners have a perception that most Southerners are much more friendly than the typical person residing in the Northeast. One example I can think of that I have personally noted is the common courtesy of saying "hello" to someone as you pass them in a public place.
I believe that acknowledging another human being's existence does not take much effort and most Southerners I have interacted with consistently engage in this social practice. I believe that is one reason why people who live in NC for instance, are percieved as "friendlier" than Northerners.
Next week I will be "scouting" neighborhoods in the Raleigh/Durham area. I expect to encounter many "friendly" people. But in terms of moving there and having neighbors, I would hope that my neighbors and I could have more than just a "hi/bye" relationship. I think that this type of relationship is what polite Northerners are looking for when they say they are looking for a "family friendly" neighborhood. And I believe the expectation is that we(Northerners) are more likely to find such a neighborhood in Southern state.
The playing in the street thing I DO NOT get. Why would anyone let their children do this? My street ends in a cul de sac....they actually block off the cul de sac with orange cones!! I would be so po'd if I had to deal with that just to get into my own driveway. I also don't get the basketball hoops on the street either. Children do not belong in the street....period, end of sentence.
If playing in the street is what makes a neighborhood family friendly....I wish I live in one that wasn't.
Amen! I don't understand that either...considering everyone has a backyard...as a kid, we played in the backyard! I think it's very dangerous. I told my realtor NO CUL-DE-SACS! for that reason, that invites kids to congregate! no thanks!
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I told my realtor NO CUL-DE-SACS! for that reason, that invites kids to congregate! no thanks!
