Challenging Conventional Wisdom
"Think of the children!" It’s a phrase that has echoed through debates about urban development, often wielded to justify the sprawling growth of suburbs and the prioritization of car-centric living. Conventional wisdom suggests that if you want to raise children "right," you move to the exurbs. Big yards, quiet streets, good schools—it's painted as the idyllic childhood environment. But is this conventional wisdom really...wise? Do exurbs truly offer the best environment for kids to grow and thrive? I've started to question this assumption. When you unpack the supposed benefits of exurbia and contrast them with city life, an entirely different picture emerges. In fact, cities, even mid-sized ones in America, provide a richer, more stimulating, and ultimately more beneficial environment for raising children than their distant exurban counterparts. Let’s explore why by looking at four key areas: nature, museums and education, culture, and transportation. Prepare to have your suburban assumptions challenged.
