Importance of Yard

[svelte]

[quote=AN]
[When I say yard, I don’t strictly mean real grass. You can go artificial grass or even concrete. Just a fenced in place for the kids to play where you can keep an eye on them while you’re inside makes a huge deal. My toddler wants to go out in the yard everyday. I live 2-3 blocks away from the park, yet I’m using my yard much much more than I use the park. Carrying all the toys he wants to play with to park would be a huge pain. I can’t picture doing that everyday.[/quote]

Would have to agree. I remember many a Saturday mowing the grass and thinking my kids used this yard ZERO this week, so I’m mowing unused space.

However, when they did need a place to release a lil pent up energy, I was sure glad it was there.

And though I didn’t want one, I was unanimously outvoted on whether to get a dog, 3 to my lonely 1. If you get a dog, well there is a real need for a back yard…and a dog will use it each and every day! 🙂

So I agree with AN’s perspective. A smallish yard (20-30 ft deep is fine) with a large park within one or two blocks in case they want to do baseball or football or something requiring oodles of space with all windows out of range.

Yes, people can get by with kids in NYC and SF with no back yard, but I don’t think that’s optimal for kids. Just my perspective.

[njtosd]

[quote=Fearful][quote=njtosd]Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. … If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them[/quote]

What you will regret is buying in such a crummy area that you cannot trust your kids alone in the neighborhood park.[/quote]

FWIW – I don’t know your definition of crummy, but I have spent enormous amounts of time at almost all the parks in CV and UC (playgroup meetings 2x/week) and almost never saw any children there under the age of 11 or 12 without parents. Whether it’s justified or not, people don’t send their kids alone to the park.

[njtosd]

[quote=Fearful][quote=njtosd]Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. … If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them[/quote]

What you will regret is buying in such a crummy area that you cannot trust your kids alone in the neighborhood park.[/quote]

FWIW – I don’t know your definition of crummy, but I have spent enormous amounts of time at almost all the parks in CV and UC (playgroup meetings 2x/week) and almost never saw any children there under the age of 11 or 12 without parents. Whether it’s justified or not, people don’t send their kids alone to the park.

[njtosd]

[quote=Fearful][quote=njtosd]Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. … If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them[/quote]

What you will regret is buying in such a crummy area that you cannot trust your kids alone in the neighborhood park.[/quote]

FWIW – I don’t know your definition of crummy, but I have spent enormous amounts of time at almost all the parks in CV and UC (playgroup meetings 2x/week) and almost never saw any children there under the age of 11 or 12 without parents. Whether it’s justified or not, people don’t send their kids alone to the park.

[njtosd]

[quote=Fearful][quote=njtosd]Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. … If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them[/quote]

What you will regret is buying in such a crummy area that you cannot trust your kids alone in the neighborhood park.[/quote]

FWIW – I don’t know your definition of crummy, but I have spent enormous amounts of time at almost all the parks in CV and UC (playgroup meetings 2x/week) and almost never saw any children there under the age of 11 or 12 without parents. Whether it’s justified or not, people don’t send their kids alone to the park.

[njtosd]

[quote=Fearful][quote=njtosd]Our kids are now 7,9 and 11, but we are dependent on a yard where the kids can be outside without total supervision. … If your only choice is a park, one parent will always have to go to the park with them[/quote]

What you will regret is buying in such a crummy area that you cannot trust your kids alone in the neighborhood park.[/quote]

FWIW – I don’t know your definition of crummy, but I have spent enormous amounts of time at almost all the parks in CV and UC (playgroup meetings 2x/week) and almost never saw any children there under the age of 11 or 12 without parents. Whether it’s justified or not, people don’t send their kids alone to the park.

[rent4now]

Really appreciate all the feedback, Gotta love you piggs!

We made up our minds to pass up on this beautiful home. 🙁

It seems to be either great views with no yard or big yard with no views. Now if you can find both you will be paying dearly for it.

[rent4now]

Really appreciate all the feedback, Gotta love you piggs!

We made up our minds to pass up on this beautiful home. 🙁

It seems to be either great views with no yard or big yard with no views. Now if you can find both you will be paying dearly for it.

[rent4now]

Really appreciate all the feedback, Gotta love you piggs!

We made up our minds to pass up on this beautiful home. 🙁

It seems to be either great views with no yard or big yard with no views. Now if you can find both you will be paying dearly for it.

[rent4now]

Really appreciate all the feedback, Gotta love you piggs!

We made up our minds to pass up on this beautiful home. 🙁

It seems to be either great views with no yard or big yard with no views. Now if you can find both you will be paying dearly for it.

[rent4now]

Really appreciate all the feedback, Gotta love you piggs!

We made up our minds to pass up on this beautiful home. 🙁

It seems to be either great views with no yard or big yard with no views. Now if you can find both you will be paying dearly for it.

[joec]

I think times are definitely different now. I used to walk to school alone at age 6 1st grade…about 3/4 mile or so down the hill/street.

Nowadays, parents walk their 4th grader 2 blocks to school. (maybe to talk to their kid too)…

Agree with the other folks, just having an enclosed space is great to do work at home maybe with Wifi on the computer outside or inside. Can’t do that at most parks I don’t think unless you have anywhere internet.

[joec]

I think times are definitely different now. I used to walk to school alone at age 6 1st grade…about 3/4 mile or so down the hill/street.

Nowadays, parents walk their 4th grader 2 blocks to school. (maybe to talk to their kid too)…

Agree with the other folks, just having an enclosed space is great to do work at home maybe with Wifi on the computer outside or inside. Can’t do that at most parks I don’t think unless you have anywhere internet.

[joec]

I think times are definitely different now. I used to walk to school alone at age 6 1st grade…about 3/4 mile or so down the hill/street.

Nowadays, parents walk their 4th grader 2 blocks to school. (maybe to talk to their kid too)…

Agree with the other folks, just having an enclosed space is great to do work at home maybe with Wifi on the computer outside or inside. Can’t do that at most parks I don’t think unless you have anywhere internet.

[joec]

I think times are definitely different now. I used to walk to school alone at age 6 1st grade…about 3/4 mile or so down the hill/street.

Nowadays, parents walk their 4th grader 2 blocks to school. (maybe to talk to their kid too)…

Agree with the other folks, just having an enclosed space is great to do work at home maybe with Wifi on the computer outside or inside. Can’t do that at most parks I don’t think unless you have anywhere internet.

[Author]

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