Urbanisation has brought us many things—high-rise buildings, 24/7 food and laundry delivery, fast Internet speed, and all the food and activities that we can fill our days with. If you live in the city, there’s no way you’ll be bored. There’s something always going on around you. There’s a bar opening in the corner. A Broadway show is hosting its gala-night. A new trendy restaurant has popped out from nowhere.
But urbanisation also has its effects on the children’s development and behaviour. That’s why families are looking for house and land packages in Townsville and other places like it. They like the idea of living in an urban setting but having access to the pier, a water park, a wildlife park, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Unfortunately, not all cities are built with these in mind. Many cities are completely devoid of any meaningful connection with nature. There’s no access to water or a park or a forest. That has a great impact on the lives of small children, toddlers, and the youth.
A lack of Activities
You may be able to sip a martini in a jazz bar in the middle of the day. You can do yoga in the middle of the bustling city because your studio is soundproof. But what about your kids? What do they do in the city? At best, you’ll drop them off a daycare centre or an indoor playground with their babysitters. They’ll have a merry time jumping on the trampoline and figuring out puzzles, but they’ll never experience frolicking in the snow or throwing dried fallen leaves at each other.
If you live in a building, it gets much worse. You don’t have your own garden. You’re sharing a playground with the other kids. Your children don’t have the opportunity to enjoy activities outdoors because they are always cooped up inside your apartment. How could you let them out, of course? This is the city. There’s always a vehicle accident one corner from you or criminals lounging around waiting for the opportunity to strike.
The fear is completely understandable. You’ll want to lock your children in your apartment, too, if you think about the things going on around you. But you must also realise that you’re hindering their growth and development. You are not letting them discover their hobbies and interests.
Economic Opportunities
Urbanisation has brought a lot of convenience to so many people, but it also brought a higher cost of living and the inability of people to own homes. Too often, city-dwellers don’t have the qualifications to get a high-paying job in the city. As a result, they settle for less than what they need to put their kids through school, pay the rent and the health insurance, and put food on the table.
That’s why there’s a higher poverty incidence in urban cities than in rural areas. Although there are more job opportunities, the competition is tougher, too. People find themselves unqualified for jobs they’ve held back in rural areas.
Children suffer the consequences. They have to do without. Many barely have breakfast when they go to school. Some don’t have the money to buy school supplies. They can’t enrol in after-school activities because those lessons are expensive. By staying in the city, these families and their children are losing the opportunity to live better.
Although urbanisation has done a lot of great, it also has a huge impact on families. If you plan to live in the city, check first if you’re qualified for the jobs available there. Your children’s development and opportunities should be your top priority.
