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We are relocating from Baltimore. Though we enjoy urban living and all of the pros that come with big(ish) city life, one of the big drawbacks is that our kids really can't go anywhere without us - though we live park front to a 55 acre park.
Do kids in Cary and the surrounding neighborhoods roam free?
Meaning, are kids riding bikes to each others houses (within reason)? Are they going on their own to a neighbors house? Are they outside playing ball "in the neighborhood"?
I have 6 and 9 year old boys. And they are either being transported by me to an organized sport or activity, driven by me to a playdate where I likely wait b/c it's not convenient to fight traffic to get home, supervise them in the park riding bikes, or stay home. It's getting old (for me) and for them I think.
Minimally having a yard in an area not so crime-ridden would be a huge step up in and of itself, but I'm wondering about kids being kids outside. What are your experiences?
We are relocating from Baltimore. Though we enjoy urban living and all of the pros that come with big(ish) city life, one of the big drawbacks is that our kids really can't go anywhere without us - though we live park front to a 55 acre park.
Do kids in Cary and the surrounding neighborhoods roam free?
Meaning, are kids riding bikes to each others houses (within reason)? Are they going on their own to a neighbors house? Are they outside playing ball "in the neighborhood"?
I have 6 and 9 year old boys. And they are either being transported by me to an organized sport or activity, driven by me to a playdate where I likely wait b/c it's not convenient to fight traffic to get home, supervise them in the park riding bikes, or stay home. It's getting old (for me) and for them I think.
Minimally having a yard in an area not so crime-ridden would be a huge step up in and of itself, but I'm wondering about kids being kids outside. What are your experiences?
thanks!
beata
So much of the Triangle, Cary and otherwise, is so very safe, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Having said that, and while a lot of kids do roam somewhat freely, I really wouldn't want a 6 year old too far out of my sight.
Stuff happens SO fast.
Depends a lot on the neighborhood and where you live within the neighborhood. There are no - zero - girls my daughter's age on my side of my subdivision, so she doesn't walk anywhere by herself. I'm not particularly worried about her ability to get from point A to point B, but she walked home from the pool by herself tonight and I surreptitiously watched her from my lawn as she came around the curve - she was in la-la land, walking at a snail's pace, and we need to have a chat about that. Just today I heard from someone that a guy came up to her daughter who was walking back to her parents' car in a grocery store parking lot and said "want to come to my truck and see my puppy?" hard to believe that line is still being used (this didn't happen around here by the way).
If there were kids closer by I'd let her walk or ride her bike.
I think this will all depend on your comfort level with wherever you end up and the "flavor" of your neighborhood. I know others will say definitively yes or no - but I don't agree that a blanket statement can be made even within a subdivision.
At any rate, I don't think you'll find many 6 year olds wandering free. And most of your kids' friends will probably live nearby and the traffic probably isn't as fierce.
Our neighborhood does have kids roaming free... but it's a smallish area with only a couple ways in and out and there are almost always other kids and other parents out. Our houses are pretty close together and we have grown to know our neighbors very well. We tend to kind of make eye contact and give the "I'm kinda around" nod before leaving the 5 year olds to their own devices. They play in a few different back yards but know not to go in the front yard (mostly because of the concern with cars and basketballs rolling into the road, etc) without an adult around. The older siblings seem to have more freedom, from what I can tell. I do see them riding bikes/walking to houses. Having said that, none of them go outside of the neighborhood alone (busy road nearby) and almost all of them have an escort to the bus stop daily.
Thanks - I wasn't specifically asking if I should allow my 6 year old to roam free. :-) More so do children, in general, have some free reign. Of course it depends per neighborhood and proximity to busy streets etc. I was looking for more culture - is it ok - generally speaking?
If there are kids in the neighborhood do they play across each other's yards? Do they walk down the street and knock on timmy's door to see if he can come out and play, that sort of thing? Do kids play without pre-ordained playdates scheduled with the moms weeks in advance?
culturally, Southern natives have no issue with kids roaming free during daylight; it's how we grew up. I'm sure times and demographics have changed to where this attitude can't be guaranteed in every neighborhood. But culturally, no your boys will be just fine unaccompanied within 200 yards of your house.
Thanks - I wasn't specifically asking if I should allow my 6 year old to roam free. :-) More so do children, in general, have some free reign. Of course it depends per neighborhood and proximity to busy streets etc. I was looking for more culture - is it ok - generally speaking?
If there are kids in the neighborhood do they play across each other's yards? Do they walk down the street and knock on timmy's door to see if he can come out and play, that sort of thing? Do kids play without pre-ordained playdates scheduled with the moms weeks in advance?
thanks!
My impression is that this is very common (for kids to play with neighborhood friends the way you describe -- no play dates required, knocking on doors, running through yards) in neighborhoods that have a lot of little kids. We've been here about a year and have a limited view though, I guess. My friends in other neighborhoods seem to have the same experience.
Cary is a sprawling suburb that has hundreds of subdivisions in it. Each of those subdivisions will be just a little different than the other, so it's virtually impossible to answer your question on behalf of "Cary".
Having said that, I live in NW Cary and have two girls -- 9 and 12. My experience is that it all depends on who your neighbors are and how they feel about it.
If you are happy letting your kids roam free, and your neighbors are not, they will get annoyed that your kid is always ringing their doorbell to see if little Johnny can come out to play ("What? They didn't call to schedule a playdate first?? Hide before they see that we're home!").
If your neighbors are the type who keep their front door open (with the screen/storm door closed) and the garage door open, so their kids can come and go, then they won't think a thing about your kid running in with theirs, grabbing a juice box, running back out, heading over to your back yard, running back to the other neighbor's, etc. It generally takes two families in close proximity who agree to let their kids run around (like kids should do...IMO), before the rest of the block gives in.
It does take some coordination between the parents though. For instance, when the little girls down the street come over to our house, if they are coming inside, I'll text their parents just to let them know (since they would no longer be able to see or hear them when they look outside). I also tell my kids that they're not allowed to go inside anyone's house without telling me first (except one family who I know well), and they know which streets they're not allowed to go past. My oldest is a rule follower, so she pretty much keeps the rest of them in line.
Cary is a sprawling suburb that has hundreds of subdivisions in it. Each of those subdivisions will be just a little different than the other, so it's virtually impossible to answer your question on behalf of "Cary".
Having said that, I live in NW Cary and have two girls -- 9 and 12. My experience is that it all depends on who your neighbors are and how they feel about it.
If you are happy letting your kids roam free, and your neighbors are not, they will get annoyed that your kid is always ringing their doorbell to see if little Johnny can come out to play ("What? They didn't call to schedule a playdate first?? Hide before they see that we're home!").
If your neighbors are the type who keep their front door open (with the screen/storm door closed) and the garage door open, so their kids can come and go, then they won't think a thing about your kid running in with theirs, grabbing a juice box, running back out, heading over to your back yard, running back to the other neighbor's, etc. It generally takes two families in close proximity who agree to let their kids run around (like kids should do...IMO), before the rest of the block gives in.
It does take some coordination between the parents though. For instance, when the little girls down the street come over to our house, if they are coming inside, I'll text their parents just to let them know (since they would no longer be able to see or hear them when they look outside). I also tell my kids that they're not allowed to go inside anyone's house without telling me first (except one family who I know well), and they know which streets they're not allowed to go past. My oldest is a rule follower, so she pretty much keeps the rest of them in line.
Yep. We have the same rule about going inside someone else's house... it's so much simpler! Fortunately all the parents seem to agree, which keeps it from being awkward!
this all sounds perfect thank you - and yes, it only works if there are a) other children around and b) parents are agreeable and amenable. but happy to hear this is not "unheard of."
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