Why We Won't Raise Our Kids in Suburbia (and moved to the Netherlands instead)

I was always told, growing up, that the suburbs (of Canada) are a good place to raise children. But I've come to appreciate the importance of independence for the a child's development, something that's nearly impossible in today's car-dependent suburbs. It was pretty clear that suburbia was not right for our kids, so we moved to the Netherlands instead.

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References and Sources:

How to Raise the Happiest Kids in the World
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-raise-the-happiest-kids-in-the-world_b_59e7a901e4b0432b8c11ec28

はじめてのおつかい (Hajimete no Otsukai)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%E3%81%AF%E3%81%98%E3%82%81%E3%81%A6%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A4%E3%81%8B%E3%81%84

Child abductions by strangers rare in Canada
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/child-abductions-by-strangers-rare-in-canada-1.1335061

Canada among only seven countries to see rise in pedestrian deaths, OECD study reveals
https://financialpost.com/transportation/canada-among-only-seven-countries-to-see-rise-in-pedestrian-deaths-oecd-study-finds

Montreal pedestrian deaths at highest level in 6 years
https://globalnews.ca/news/5382380/montreal-pedestrians-deaths-2018-high/

Pedestrian fatalities disturbingly high for 2019: Manitoba Public Insurance
https://www.mpi.mb.ca/Pages/nr2019sept24.aspx

Toronto appears to have hit a one-year high in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/12/07/toronto-appears-to-have-hit-a-one-year-high-in-pedestrian-and-cyclist-fatalities-over-40-per-cent-of-those-deaths-happened-in-scarborough.html

Drivers are killing more pedestrians in Canada every year
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-for-february-3-2019-1.4997146/drivers-are-killing-more-pedestrians-in-canada-every-year-here-s-why-michael-s-essay-1.4998615

Pedestrian deaths hit 28-year high, and big vehicles and smartphones are to blame
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/pedestrian-deaths-hit-a-28-year-high-and-big-vehicles-and-smartphones-are-to-blame.html

Schoolmobiliteit KpVV Dashboard duurzame en slimme mobiliteit
https://kpvvdashboard-15.blogspot.com/2012/12/meer-over-modal-split.html

How many Dutch children still go to school by bike? The rise of driving.
http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2013/09/how-many-dutch-children-still-go-to.html

Why did our children stop walking to school?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-why-did-our-children-stop-walking-to-school/

Supportive Parents Encourage Child’s Interests In Anything Within 15-Minute Drive
https://local.theonion.com/supportive-parents-encourage-child-s-interests-in-anyth-1819578535

Children driven around too much, Canadian report suggests
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/children-driven-around-too-much-canadian-report-suggests-1.1328982

Very Superstitious: How Fact-Free Parenting Policies Rob Our Kids of Independence
http://5kids1condo.com/very-superstitious-how-fact-free-parenting-policies-rob-our-kids-of-independence/

Car-Free and Carefree in Vancity
http://5kids1condo.com/car-free-and-carefree-in-vancity/

Kids filing onto their second bus (25 mins) that goes directly to school
Adrian Crook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMBs_NcrV5Y

We Won! Common Sense Prevails in ‘Bus Dad’ Case.
http://5kids1condo.com/we-won-common-sense-prevails-in-bus-dad-case/

Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised Across Canada
https://cwrp.ca/sites/default/files/publications/en/144e.pdf

How did good parenting become a crime?
https://www.macleans.ca/society/how-did-good-parenting-become-a-crime/

The Rugged Road to Learning, 1921
Library and Archives Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9tX_zdAw4

Cycling to school; Culemborg (Netherlands)
BicycleDutch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrQ-d2PBUto

Me and my cousin did training and I cut my foot!
nachos bikes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaNAqxh7UZc

0:00 Intro
0:05 There are a lot of kids in the Netherlands
2:01 The empty sidewalks and crazy parents of suburbia
2:57 Eyes on the street
3:49 Road safety
4:41 Car dependency
5:36 Walking and cycling to school and activities
7:19 Changing culture norms and legal action
10:43 Patreon shout-out
10:57 Nachos bikes

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