Best place to raise teenagers??

[jessiemeech]

Hello all, I’m looking for some advice from anyone who lives in Balfron/Killearn or surrounding areas. We are looking to relocate to a more rural, village lifestyle. We love Killearn & Balfron and are now looking at homes for sale here.

We have a teenager and I’m just wondering what young adults do at weekends/holidays? I know it’s close to Milngavie, is this where they hang out or do they tend to stay in local villages. In terms of shopping/cinema do they tend to travel to Stirling or Glasgow?

We are really keen to be part of a community where my children can feel connected and get involved in local activities. The rural aspect is a real positive for us but maybe I’m being naive and the young people all travel to local towns/cities?

I just want to make sure I’m making the right choice for my children. Any advice would be much appreciated ☺️

Maybe repost in Scotsnet

Moving somewhere rural seems very odd. You are going to spend your life driving them into nearby towns. Teenagers do not enjoy rural life in general.

Thank you user1487194234
I will try reposting there ☺️

I can see why it might seem odd, but raising teenagers in big cities can also bring its challenges. Living in a small village with a sense of community could potentially be a much healthier place to raise teenagers. It would be great to hear from anyone with direct experience of raising teenagers in rural settings?

I was raised rurally and swore I would never subject my own children to that! Sorry OP, but it's really rubbish not living anywhere near your friends, and always having to rely on adults for lifts to and from places. There was a fair amount of drinking and smoking as there was precious little else to do. The community feel might be nice for you, but not for your kids - especially if they haven't grown up there up until now. Everyone I knew moved away as soon as they could, most chose universities in cities as an antidote to rural life!

as a teenager in a rural setting I would say do not underestimate the drinking culture of young farmers! It’s not all innocent village life

Is there not a huge drinking culture in cities too?

Balfron/Killearn are only 30 minutes from both Glasgow/Stirling and 15 minutes from Milngavie. Some villages are much more rural than this. I guess it depends on the individual villages.
Does anyone have direct experience of these areas?

OP I grew up in Bearsden (suburb next to Milngavie) and I think both those suburbs have a lot going for them for families with children and teenagers - there's stuff going on, green spaces like Mugdock, Kilmardinny Loch etc. but there's also good transport links to Glasgow's West End and City Centre (buses and trains).

As a younger teenager I mostly hung out in Bearsden - at friends' houses, Allander sports centre, youth club, local park, out on our bikes etc. In my mid teens I still did a lot in the area but we'd also get the bus into Glasgow for window shopping/cinema sometimes. I lived at home while a student at Glasgow Uni so from 18 I spent a lot of time socialising in the West End and city centre and found Bearsden itself pretty boring. School friends of mine who lived in Torrance (maybe not quite as rural as Killearn/Balfron but along the same lines) were very bored and hated being dependent on the infrequent bus.

I would agree that there was probably more of a street drinking culture amongst the pupils my secondary school who came from the rural village than those of us in the suburbs - there was little for them to do there and it was difficult for them to access other areas due to infrequent bus that took for ever.

I think teenagers would want to hang out in city centre rather than Milngavie? But what do I know I'm ancient now 🤣

Balfron and Killearn are the middle of nowhere. Who knows what teenagers do in these areas? I've heard Balfron High is a good school but there are plenty of great schools in cities. Tbh I cant think of a single good reason to take a teenager to live there

Have you considered suburbs? Doesn't have to be right smack in a city or completely rural. I agree that rural isn't good for teenagers or your petrol costs.

Thanks everyone for sharing your views. It would seem most people have quite a negative view of village life, particularly for teenagers.
I can understand why tbh
Sometimes raising children (teenagers) in cities can bring its own problems too.

I’ll keep looking ☺️

I live in a rural small town. It’s lovely but there is definitely a petty antisocial behaviour problem because of bored secondary aged children with nothing to do.
when I lived in a big city it was less prevalent as there were far more things to do, even if it was just the cinema or macdonalds!

My friend lives rurally. They have two sons aged 14 and 16. The youngest get one loves living rurally - he has pet chickens, cycles everywhere, and loves climbing trees. The older one hates it, spends all his time being driven to local town or city to see friends. They’re both at the same (small town) grammar school so friends are very spread out too.

I grew up in a rural village. I wouldn’t subject my children to the same. I was incredibly bored, and there was so much excessive drinking, drug taking and underage sex going on amongst the teens in the village because there was nothing else to do. My friends who lived in the suburbs and the town seemed to spend their time much more productively and seemed much happier too.

I had a positive experience growing up rurally and my teens love it too. (15 and 17) They go to a local high school so all friends live with few miles and they can bike or I drive them. They like playing sport - belong to local sports clubs and they of course get bus into town or I drive them. They both have part time jobs in the village. The sacrifice of me doing lifts for us is well worth the peaceful environment plus the feeling of community that they know loads of people young and old living around us and feel rooted in a community - I know their friends and their parents who have become our friends too. Go with your instinct.

Depends on the child. Grew up in a village myself and wouldn’t inflict that on a teen. My teens have a brilliant time in our small city I bore them saying how lucky they are compared to the dullsville time I had.

Thanks everyone, it’s good to hear everyone’s views and experiences (although a little disheartening that they all seem so negative). We are still undecided. Elderflower2016 - it’s nice to hear a positive experience of growing up rurally 😊
I suppose every rural village is different and everyone has their own reasons for moving out of the city.

Hi there! I grew up very rural and my own kids are being raised in a small town (not as rural as where I grew up though)
I would for sure recommend it over city life! However small villages can bring other challenges (especially for teens) such as not much to do, gossip spreads like wildfire (not just in schools, but in the community, which is hard for adults too!) and sometimes if you don't have much support it feels very isolating!
I would make sure you look at the positives and negatives and don't make up your mind based on what others say.
I'm happy in my small town thanks to a fantastic mums club I attend!