Even if they DO have a playground, a parent has to actually leave the house and follow them out there and stay with them while they play.
Is it unheard of in CA for kids to go to the park or playground in a group of friends once they turn 9-10?
This assumes the condo is in a “walkable” area, of course.[/quote]
spdrun, I don’t think david’s kid(s) are in school yet. They have a long way to go until age 9 or 10.
Speaking from the experience as a FT worker-parent myself, I had many things to do on the weekends. There is no way I had the time to hang around parks and play lots for hours while none of my personal tasks or necessary labor around my home was getting done to get ready to start the next workweek. A parent of young kids would much prefer to have their own fenced backyard where they could work and also watch kids play safely at the same time.