If you live somewhere in the south and your kids can safely play out/there's a sense of community, where do you live?

[losenotloose]

We're living in south London with 10 and 12 year old dc. Although they both have friends there isn't much of a playing out culture. I feel terribly guilty that this summer has almost entirely been spent with me and dh. Inevitably they get bored and spend too much time on technology. They should be in the park with their friends!

We're thinking of moving partly due to this but also general feeling of dissatisfaction with the area. I have a sister in Hertfordshire and two sisters in Worthing so those areas are possibilities.

So, where do you live and does it have a nice, child friendly atmosphere?

Also, is this a terrible age to move them?

Bump!

Portishead.

We used to live in a North Herts village that was definitely like this. It was lovely.

Seaside village in south east Cornwall.

I think this is down to neighbourhood and streets. I’m in a town that a lot of Londoners commute from and most properties don’t have this feel. But there are streets and pockets that do. I know a couple of families who live on an estate built in last few decades and there’s no through traffic, it backs onto woodland, lots of cul de sacs and her kids all play out with neighbours’ kids, reinacting her own idyllic 70s childhood. Downside is their garden barely fits a trampoline, house is tiny, no character. So I’m jealous but not enough to ever want to swap my house for theirs.

I live in a village in Hampshire. My dd 12 can go to the local park, small town is very safe for young teens to go alone even. Local kids play out in road. There are nice community events and a good amount of people know each other so it feels nice, even when you are a bit further afield shopping you'll see someone you know. You do have to get to know people by joining in though.
About the age thing, it will be harder on them the older they are so .....

Really quiet village in the south west. Massive garden, kids do play out ( not mine) not much traffic.

It’s very dull, careful what you wish for!

village just outside of a commuter town in West Sussex

I have friends in London who have DCs - similar age to yours - and they go up to the park, off to the local pool etc together maybe you could encourage yours to start asking their friends for a meet up? London has loads to offer - we moved out and DC1 is always “whyyyyy did we move” when he goes back to see friends.

In South London I know hither green has a playing in the parks culture, don't know how prevalent it is but friends kids at that age are out for the day, in parks, paddling in the quaggy.

We live in a hamlet in West Sussex (about 30 mins from Worthing). We live on a private road with speed bumps, only 11 houses and doesn't lead anywhere. All the kids play outside, ride their bikes up and down the road etc

Maybe it's just us. I don't have many friends myself but dc do. Ds1 is 12 and desperate to get out and socialise. Sadly it seems as if his friends are all inside on their consoles. I encouraged him to contact a local friend recently to go and ride bikes and his response was I don't really go out! Sad.

New-ish build estate on the edge of a village in Kent. Own DC are too young to play out currently, but it has an amazing playing out culture... It's full of families and over the summer you see kids everywhere riding their bikes, playing in the park or games on the nearby playing fields. The only traffic is people going to their houses so very quiet and safe. Surrounded by woods too I initially never wanted to move to an estate like this, but they are very family-friendly. So would suggest that a new build type community might fit the bill.

I live near to the seaside in Dorset, kids go to the beach and nearby towns daily, fantastic community feel and huge number of kids from a number of different schools who all mix and enjoy themselves, mass sleepovers daily.

Exeter in Devon, we moved here from London when DC1 was born. My 3 (aged between 8 and 12) play out all the time with other kids. It's very safe and there's a lot going on for my eldest now he's approaching his teens.
I'd really recommend it, thought I'd miss London loads but I honestly don't.

Surrey. A lot of x box goes on. But lots of meeting up, riding bikes and playing football as well.

I think if ds's get in with a group of boys when they start secondary that meet up to play football all day, then that's how it starts.

Er, south London!

I don't mind x box if it's combined with other things! Maybe we've just been unlucky.

Do you think it's too late for a move like this? Ds1 is actually keen on the idea but we might be kidding ourselves.

It’s never too late. Life is to short to always wonder or to play it safe.