Making the most out of city living with your kids

You’ve probably heard it too many times – big cities are simply not the best places to raise kids. Children need plenty of open spaces, a good school nearby, and a tranquil, friendly environment where’s it’s easier to make friends with the neighbors.

If you’re living in Beverly Hills or Downtown LA, should you uproot your family and move to the suburbs? Many child experts disagree – they say living in the city offers plenty of benefits to kids, as well. For example, it teaches children to be independent earlier in life. Growing up in a diverse environment also encourages them to be more accepting and tolerant of other cultures, and enhances their ability to get along well with different people.

With some effort and planning, you can provide a good balance between a traditional “kid-friendly” environment and the impersonal nature of big cities. Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Get your kids into the arts and culture

   One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is the abundance of arts and culture – and some of the city’s top museums and art galleries offer programs that appeal to kids. Take your little ones to these free attractions and activities:

   • The Hammer Museum, UCLA’s art museum, offers free pop-up art lessons and free movie screenings for kids, as well as guided tours of the museum for older children.
   • The Broad, LA’s iconic contemporary art museum, has features that kids will delight on, such as giant teacups, balloon animals, and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity mirrored rooms. The museum also hosts scavenger hunts and art activities for children.
   • The Getty Center features a Family Room where kids can enjoy a host of hands-on activities. It also stages free family-friendly events all year round.
   • LACMA features a painting studio where children can create watercolor art and enjoy story time.
2. Teach nature and animal appreciation

   LA offers attractions that will give your kids invaluable lessons in caring for the planet and the creatures that live in it. There are tide pools in LA’s beaches where ocean animals like sea urchins, crabs, and anemones can be observed through ankle-deep water. This gives children the chance to interact with these creatures closely.

   The Carbillo Marine Aquarium and other aquariums will delight kids with their marine life collection, while La Brea Tar Pits will give them a good lesson in prehistoric life in the city.

3. Encourage a love of reading

   Los Angeles Central Library has a large collection of books for children, as well as an activity center where kids can enjoy story times, puppet shows, musical performances, and more. Children’s Book World, the city’s well-loved bookstore for kids, stages readings and performances for kids by top children’s book authors and kiddie musicians.

4. Let kids participate in greening their community

   If you live in a condo with no patio or terrace, teaching kids about the importance of plants poses a bit of a challenge. But in Los Angeles, there are several nonprofits that work toward greening the metro through tree planting events and other programs. One such organization is City Plants, which invites volunteers of all ages to major plantings on occasions like Arbor Day and Earth Day. If you have a yard, you can also get a free tree from them to plant with your kids.

Learn about living in vibrant Los Angeles. I can help you find the property that’s perfect for you and your family. Get in touch with me, Sasha Rahban, at 310.963.9680 or send me a message.