Why Your Kids Need a Great Neighborhood

Your kid may have a please and thank you on his lips and lots of love to give, but he still needs a good neighborhood.

Decades ago, most kids spent their afternoons and evenings outdoors, playing with their friends and neighbors. This was an excellent exercise for them, as it helped them become physically active and at the same time, they got more involved with neighborhood activities. But do your kids still do that today?

In today's world, it is more common to see kids spending their time indoors, glued to their television sets, video games and computer screens. What's worse is that as parents, many of us do not even make an effort to ensure that our kids “go outside and play”; probably because we believe that our kids are safer at home. However, keeping your child at home is not the ideal way to make sure that he is safe and protected. If you would like your kid to have a well-balanced and active life, all you need to do is choose a great neighborhood. Your child can learn as much from your neighborhood, as he can pick up from home and school. The area you live in can have an impact on your child's

Academic achievements
Civic awareness
Manners and conduct
Physical activity levels
Safety and security
Sense of responsibility
Social skills

As a parent, when you are looking for a new neighborhood to move into, the interests of your little ones will definitely be a priority. At the same time, the area you choose to live in will have a huge impact on your overall lifestyle. Given below are a few tips to keep in mind when looking for a great neighborhood for your kids

Safety: This is the most aspect of a good neighborhood, making it suitable for children. The best way to check if the area is safe or not is by checking the crime statistics with the police department. Get a good idea about the number of crimes committed and their types with the last few years. If the area you are considering is not very safe for kids, keep looking!
Other children: Moving into a new home is not easy, especially for children who leave their old friends and school mates behind. However, if your kids manage to make new friends close to home as soon as they move in, the transition will probably be smoother. This may also encourage your child to play sports and other outdoors activities with the neighboring kids.
Schools: The last thing you want is your child spending hours each day, traveling back and forth to school. Make sure that the neighborhood you choose to move into has a couple of good schools close by. It will be great if some of the other kids in your neighborhood go to the same school. Your child will have a few friendly faces when he starts school and will probably look forward to it, instead of dreading his new school. You can get all the information you need from The Department of Education in your town.
Infrastructure: You should have easy accessibility to malls, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, parks, gardens, health clubs, ballet studios, swimming pools, day cares and a church from your home. This will help make sure that your child has plenty to do during the weekends and holidays.

Providing a safe, secure and healthy home environment is the duty of every responsible parent. This is not limited to your house, but should include your neighborhood too.

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