urban vs. rural - which do you prefer for homeschooling?

flowmom · 07-09-2007, 02:41 AM

We are torturing ourselves about whether we should move to a rural area to satisfy our children's need for space, freedom, and nature. They also love playing with other kids so of course it's a tradeoff. We grownups would love more space and quiet too, but we'd miss our wonderful community and the convenience of urban life where we can walk to do lots of our errands/activities.

VanessaS · 07-09-2007, 05:04 AM

I think it would depend on the kids' ages. When I was a teenager I loved living in the city because there was so much to do and I could take the bus or my bike everywhere (teenagers love feeling independent).
However, my own kids are babies now so I prefer living in the country where we can take relaxing walks and chill in our garden.

whimsy · 07-09-2007, 07:20 AM

We live in a rural area. Depending on how willing you are to drive, most larger towns will have an active homeschool community. For me, it's about a 30 minute drive.

MotherofEden · 07-09-2007, 07:24 AM

Hmm.. That's a tough question, having esperienced both. We moved from a 77 acre farm outside of Ithaca, NY to the Edge of Washington, DC (Cabin john, which is surrounded by forested parkland, the C & O canal, and the Potomac river)

I have to say in both instances, I've had pangs of "the grass is greener" syndrome. Now, dd being 10, it is nice to have access to the museums and resources of the city without having to travel far. there are classes and social opportunities galore (she is SUPER social. we co-housed with her best friend and mine on the farm, which met that need to a degree. the mom and I tag team homeschooled all kids together) Dd and I also lived in Hawaii in a very rural place on the edge of the jungle. Amazing, but after a year we felt isolated and came back to the mainland.
The freedom she enjoyed rurally- going outside for hours without having to be watched was so valuable. that we miss most. I have to really try to create time and space for her to spend unstructured time in nature now, and usually I am close by.
Pace is another thing we have struggled with. We were on a different schedule in the country, much more tuned into nature and our selves. It's easy here to get overscheduled and caught in the pace around us, which is pretty frenetic. Community is a big thing for us to consider, and that has been very differenst in both places.
If given the choice, right now to live rurally or where we are, I would have a hard time deciding. The pros and cons are about equal for me on both sides. I am so grateful that she's been able to experience both (and will continue to do so- we visit the friends in 'NEw York often)
I'd say make a list of pros and cons for both options, realizing that neither is perfect and try to decide exactly what kinds of things are most important to you and your family.

Citymomx3 · 07-09-2007, 08:57 AM

I think a healthy dose of both makes for great homeschooling. I live in NYC, so I'm about as urban as you can get. I love it - there's always somewhere to go and someone nearby to go with - and neither needs much planning ahead of time. Parks, libraries, museums, botanical gardens, theater, restaurants, shopping, homeschool friends, and group activities (sports/arts/clubs/classes) are all in close proximity to our home (from a few blocks to 5 miles at most).

On the other hand, I had a summer house in the country - way way out on Long Island that was very rural. We spent 2 months out there every year (sometimes more). The whole area was farms, woods, vineyards, and beaches. I loved it there. I was allowed to explore on my own from a very young age. I will admit that after the summer residents left - it was the most boring place ever and there was absolutely nothing to do there in the fall, winter, and spring. Most of my friends who lived there year-round got into lots of bad trouble. I have always attributed that to having nothing better to do. If I still spent the whole summer out there, I wouldn't be comfortable letting the kids out unsupervised like I was. This world is not what it used to be. We do still hit the country pretty often, though (mom lives there), and the kids enjoy it for a few days. We love the beach, pumpkin picking, apple picking, farms, and skiing (in small doses, lol).

So I think that when the kids are little, a rural area can be fun. But I'd prefer my older kids to have more of the world at their doorstep. I find my city to have a perfect blend of culture, diversity, and fun - and we're still within 30 minutes of the beach and the country.

This is just my personal opinion.

moominmamma · 07-09-2007, 11:42 AM

We live outside a rural community of about 1000, a long way from a real city. We love it. My kids have amazing amounts of freedom, the natural world at their doorstep and have had such great opportunities to become fully integrated with our small community.

However I have this really talented 13yo. She's outgrown local teachers and resources. We travel 3 hours round trip for piano lessons and violin lessons are simply a no-go for her right now -- it would be 7 hours round trip. She's academically advanced as well, and the educational opportunities for teens, whether homeschoolers or not, don't seem to offer her any challenge. There are no teens in the area who share her interests and talents. She has friends, but there are few commonalities in terms of interests and abilities.

We do manage to travel and take advantage of many of the things cities offer during our occasional trips to 'civilization.' That helps a lot, but it doesn't help with music lessons. Until about a year ago the advantages of rural outweighed urban for her. Now it's about even. She has so much of a sense of connection to community and to the natural world, but she is missing opportunities now. For my younger kids the pro-con equation is still tilted strongly to the pro-rural side, and I don't think my middle two will outgrow local opportunities as young, since they're not quite as accelerated in their music learning.

Miranda

flowmom · 07-09-2007, 12:24 PM

moominmama, your blog (love it!) is part of the reason for my longing for rural life

. Though we're looking at Mission, so really more semi-rural than rural. Close to the big V, but definitely an annoying traffic-filled 1-1.5 hours from many locations. Dh has a union job in Delta and he will probably want to hold onto that because he may be facing serious health concerns 5-15 years down the road and that job offers him some financial security. Thing is, we feel that a house with 5 acres within commuting distance of his job will probably be out of our reach in a few years due to the real estate situation (our smallish condo won't increase in value as much as an acreage would). Living there would not exactly be stress-free because properties are expensive and dh's commute would increase somewhat.

We currently live in cohousing, which is wonderful but we don't even have a back yard. I long for my kids to have time in nature exploring at their own pace and with their own rhythms. We get plenty of time at lovely urban beaches and forest spots. And we get out camping and exploring too. But those are outings and trips where I am standing around supervising their activities. At home the kids get in trouble for digging in communal plantings, picking leaves from landscaped shrubs, etc

.

I love the idea of having a summer home, but it really is too expensive for us in this area.

I'm pretty much a city girl, but with 2 kids under 4 I really don't experience the benefits of adult city life at all. And I do love nature (I do field work for my career and I love recreational hiking/camping).

I am currently finding it hard to get my social needs met even in cohousing. People are soooo busy. I consider myself an introvert so making friends and building social networks isn't super easy for me (an advantage of cohousing).

I can really see the advantages of city life for adolescents. City life offers many opportunities for teens to experience growing independence from their parents, and there are many positive outlets for that process (other than partying).

But I'm having trouble visualizing what my life would look like with two elementary-aged children at home in a semi-rural area. I guess lots of driving would be involved in any of us having a social life.

momto l&a · 07-09-2007, 12:56 PM

I was homeschooled rural. Loved it.

We are homeschooling rural and also love it.

We arent far from a big city should we need it.

RedWine · 07-09-2007, 01:33 PM

I am reading this thread with great interest. We are urban now, but in alsmot 2 years we will probably move. I am torn between staying in an urban area and moving further out.

The pros of rural as I envision it: nature, peace and quiet, long hours outside without mama having to be right there.

The pros of urban: we have at least four different languages spoken on our street...my kids always play with all types of kids from all parts of the world who speak many different languages...museums, great class opportunities, etc...able to walk to mass transit so little need of car...great farms, ponds and the ocean within 30 minute driving distance...

I guess I prefer to live in an urban setting, but with a HUGE backyard...which, unless we come up with 2 or 3 million dollars in the immediate future, just isn't going to happen.

beanandpumpkin · 07-09-2007, 04:50 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by "urban"... we live in the suburbs. We can drive to farms to pick our own organic produce in about 20 minutes. We can also drive to a small city in 45 minutes, or a big city in 90 minutes. Our house is in the middle of town, so we have the hospitals, a grocery store, a library, the cultural center, a pizza restaurant, and a playground all within walking distance. There are several kids in the neighborhood and we are a short (5 to 10 minute) drive to many parks and several rec centers.

I'd have to say that this is close to my ideal... it would be nice to have more land (the houses are very close together and we have only about 1/4 acre), and I don't like hearing ambulance sirens, but all of the pros of suburban living cancel that out, I think.

Arduinna · 07-09-2007, 04:52 PM

I've done both, urban for sure.

UnschoolnMa · 07-09-2007, 05:51 PM

I'd have to say urban or suburban. Love being out in the country and nature, but it's far easier for us to live close to stuff and visit rural places, parks, creeks, and etc.

nicole lisa · 07-10-2007, 08:35 AM

We're urbanites to the core in this house

.

I lived rurally (small town) until I was 12 and then moved to the city and for so many reasons I couldn't do rural again. DS, BF and I have so much available to us in the city and we're able to live car-free (increasingly important to us) and attend things like Opera Under the Stars and the Bluesfest (we're on day 6 of a 10 day festival right now) and we're within walking distance of 5 museums and more galleries than I can count, including the National Gallery.

We're hoping to move within the next year to an even bigger city.

nancy926 · 07-10-2007, 10:39 AM

We moved from urban to rural when we had kids. We're on 2 acres in VT, but in a neighborhood with lots of other kids. I would rather have the everyday freedoms of letting the kids play outside by themselves, etc. and then get in the car occasionally to go to museums, etc.

Even though we are rural, there are music festivals, a book festival, lots of outdoor concerts, arts festivals, playgroups, farmers markets and the like. some are 10 min away; others are 30. But they are all accessible. We are hardly in the middle of nowhere.

I think it really depends on the individual. I grew up in a rural area as a kid, but there was NOTHING nearby and we rarely went anywhere (Niagara Falls was 2 hrs away - we went there 1 time in the 18 years I lived there!). As a result, I felt isolated. We take the kids all sorts of places, though. When they are older, like early teens, it might be nicer to live closer to "stuff to do". But that's a long way off so I'm not going to worry about it now!

elizawill · 07-10-2007, 11:22 AM

i think both settings have thir advantages and disadvantages. for me, it's just a matter of preference. i live in a very small town where the homes are built in the 1900's, the shops are cute storefront windows, and the yards are still an acre each. our town population is less than 3,000 & i wouldn't trade it for anything. but, we pay the price of having to drive 30 minutes to the next town that has a blockbuster, target, walmart, etc. and i have to drive an hour or more to get to charlotte (which is the nearest city). all in all, it's well worth it for us!!

flowmom · 07-10-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole lisa

DS, BF and I have so much available to us in the city and we're able to live car-free (increasingly important to us) and attend things like Opera Under the Stars and the Bluesfest (we're on day 6 of a 10 day festival right now) and we're within walking distance of 5 museums and more galleries than I can count, including the National Gallery.

Are you in Ottawa? I grew up there

. It's a great city.

Thing is, with 2 kids under 4, I don't really get to enjoy a lot of the things that you are talking about. So I think, what's the point? Also, we live in a bigger city so there often is quite a bit of driving just to meet up with local AP families and homeschoolers. It would be quite typical for us to drive 30 minutes to almost any homeschooling/AP gathering. Moving rural would add time to that, but once you're already in the car...

the_lissa · 07-10-2007, 01:24 PM

I love living in an urban centre for the same reason as nicoel lisa. I do all those things, even with 2 kids under 4.

I love not having to drive anywhere. I love walking. I love all the stuff to do.

PLus, there are tonnes of trails, parks, conservation areas, etc that we can walk to. My city has a lot of greenspace for a city.

kayla14 · 07-10-2007, 02:02 PM

I definately prefer urban! We did rural, and found very little support in our area. I like that in the city there are lots of homeschoolers, and lots of opportunities for my kids to do daytime activities

annethcz · 07-10-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksenia

But I'm having trouble visualizing what my life would look like with two elementary-aged children at home in a semi-rural area. I guess lots of driving would be involved in any of us having a social life.

Yes, this.

We live in a rural area, I guess. We recently moved and now live several miles outside a town of 5,000 people. The kids have been involved in community ed sports this summer, which is only a 10 minute drive. We also have friends (fellow HSers) that we meet up with at parks, etc. about once a week. During the regular school year, we're a part of a weekly HS co-op which is about 30 miles away. I've got to tell you, I'm not looking forward to that drive every week when the fall arrives.

We are still adjusting to our new home, and it's hard for me to know how it will all work out. I LOVE that my kids have room to roam, woods to explore and build forts in, wildlife to watch, etc. I love that my kids are learning how to garden along with mom and are learning how to take care of animals. But, my kids are also really missing their neighborhood friends. I'm learning that scheduling playdates isn't as good of a substitute as I had hoped for having a big group of neighbornhood friends who are around all the time, especially in the summer.

Obviously, I think the advantages of rural living outweigh the loss of constant entertainment afforded by living in a city, otherwise I wouldn't have moved.

falcon · 07-10-2007, 02:59 PM

Can I choose suburban so I can get the best of both worlds?

I think we lucked out finding our house, it is at the end of a quiet dead end street with a good sized yard and no more than 3 miles from coastal beaches. We have plenty of natural areas to take a hike, and are also an easy commute into a major city (10 minutes driving, 30+ minutes on public transportation) so we can do day trips to the museums or whatever whenever we'd like.