June 10, 2009 2:49:32 AM PDT
Hi! I grew up in a medium sized town (PG) and while it was hellishly small for me when i was a teenager, it was great when I was a kid. We lived near the river so my friends and I could run free and play in the bushes & fields and go swimming, climb trees, make rope swings, go tubing, 4 x 4ing, snowmobiling in the winter.. all the awesome stuff my kid doesn't get to experience here in the city!
I raised my kid for the first few years in Victoria, and I have to say at the time it was the perfect combination of small city (with all the conveniences) and close, supportive community. Now that we are in the city, people are more spread out. Also, the mall and other 'city' influences win out over stuff like camping, fishing, etc.
For my friends in the city with small children, I can see how they still struggle with being isolated, even though there are so many supports around.
Ultimately, I think being in a small town is ideal for the first 5 - 12 years... closer-knit community, and not the same peer pressure on kids to grow up so fast. Also getting outdoors is much better than growing up in front of a computer or TV. But once kids hit their teens, they will start looking for fun outside of that little bubble. If a small town doesn't offer many options, I think that's where many start getting into 'trouble'.. whatever that may be. Got to keep them stimulated!
Good luck!