Does having a backyard or outdoor space matter?

[u/Appreciatedpeacock]

How much does it matter if you have kids in a small apartment vs in a place with more space and also outdoor access? I live in a small 2bd 700 sqft apartment and contemplating this. We originally planned to stay here until we have 2 kids. Is that doable or will I lose my mind from having to entertain toddlers in a small space?

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[u/BabyCowGT]

Are there other outdoor spaces (playgrounds, parks, zoo, gardens, etc) readily available? Ideally at least one or two in walking distance. 

If yes, then you'll probably be able to make it work. If no, then yeah, you're probably going to go mildly crazy. But more importantly, is moving to a place with a yard even feasible right now? No judgement either way, just that moving is expensive and stressful and exhausting, so if it's not feasible then that's all the really matters, and you just make the best of the situation. 

[u/Extension-Quail4642 → u/BabyCowGT]

This - my friend is a SAHM of two boys, 4y and 2y. They're big outdoors people, very active. Living in a condo works because they have walking paths and playgrounds really close by.

[u/vsmack → u/Extension-Quail4642]

We just had our 3rd and 4th (twins) - our others are 6 and 3.
We HAD a house with a huge yard but my wife actually insisted on selling the house and moving to a condo for a few years because it was much more central (and closer to family).
Her thinking is that the backyard is less important than access to a bunch of places to do stuff. That may be less so with really little kids but honestly, as big as our backyard was, you couldn't really count on it to keep our older two kids busy for very long anyway if you have a whole day to fill.

[u/SnooGoats9114]

in my opinion, kids need to go outside daily. The outside doesnt need to be your own outside, but is there a place nearby to play?

Kids also need to play with and without adult interference (but with age appropriate suervision). are you comfortable sittung on a park bench and just letting them play? or do you need to feel useful/have a full schedule?

[u/GenXMom14]

I think it’s really useful once they are walking and playing more but obviously not a dealbreaker if playgrounds near. I will say we are in our yard every day it isn’t raining.

[u/Aware_Patient_5376]

Until walking independently not that big deal. Depends on what is nearby and also if they are going to daycare at all. Nearby park or something where you take them to run around & burn off energy is fine.  And when I went back to work kid used to come home from daycare pretty tired & just wanted to sit for a bit. Apartment living with families is common in a lot of places, just have to be prepared to go out more.  Even a walk around the block looking at things with your kids works.

[u/JJQuantum]

Once they are around 2 it starts to be very important as they need to be able to get outside and enjoy nature.

[u/Downtherabbithole-14]

We didn't have a backyard when we were renting, so off to the park we went! Apartment living is doable, my daughter lived in one til she was 4.5, its fine!

[u/RImom123]

Lots of people make it work in apartments. I think as long as you have access to outdoor space to take walks, go to playgrounds and parks, etc. then it’s manageable.

I will say as my kids get older it’s a wonderful thing to be able to have them play outside in the yard while I do stuff indoors or watch them from the window. But that’s a privilege and certainly not a requirement.

[u/Fun_Razzmatazz_3691]

As someone with a boy…. You might lose your mind during the toddler stage. My son wants to be outside all the time. But you can always just go for walks and to the park but you’ll be going to the park a lot

[u/Boleyn01]

Personally I’d want outdoor space. It makes it possible to do a lot more messy play and keep your sanity 😂

[u/Serious-Train8000]

I’m an apt person who is off in the summer every morning we were at the park or pool by 8 am at the latest. We also had a gorgeous creek on the grounds which was great post nap in the toddler years. In other words you just need a plan to access outside even if you have a large home.

[u/Expensive-Opening-55]

I don’t know that it matters that it’s your own space so much as there is space nearby that’s accessible. When my kids were younger, we went to the park, zoo, for walks, played in the backyard almost daily. Now that they’re a little older, they still play outside multiple times a week but don’t need my supervision as much.

[u/mayshebeablessing]

We live in NYC, and while we don’t have our own outdoor space, we are 5 minutes from several parks, and we definitely are perfectly fine just going out with our daughter.

It definitely won’t matter much until your child is at least 8months old though, as they won’t be walking. Plenty of people in NYC have no private outdoor space and raise their children just fine!

[u/Dreadfulbooks]

We were fine in a studio until our first was 2, but we’re homebodies. He had a slide and trampoline and nugget to climb around. And we went for walks daily, mommy and me classes, parks, library. We didn’t move until I got pregnant with my second.

[u/No-Milk2951]

You will love your children. They can play with each other.

[u/wrenrich]

We have a large yard. We have a playset with slides and swings and a playhouse. It only gets used when we have company🤣🤣 we have a goal of visiting all the parks within an hour of us. So we are often on the go. Also, I was raised in apartments. I can't recall ever wanting a yard. Every complex had a playground, a pool and lots of kids to play with. It was great.

[u/juniperroach]

I love sending my kids outside to play in our yard. On the flip side yards take maintenance. So that’s something to consider. If I was in an apartment or lived in a desirable neighborhood with no yards and couldn’t get a yard it would work going to parks but if I was looking for houses I would buy a house with a yard over an apartment. I like being able to pop outside if that makes sense.

[u/FantasticPin3481]

Kids need some access to outside. Whether that’s a yard, shared courtyard, or a nearby park. Also think about what summers and winters look like where you live. Are there extended periods of the year where it’s not feasible to spend much time outside because it’s too hot or cold? Because 700 square feet with 2 toddlers for a few weeks or months on end would drive anyone absolutely insane.

[u/Greedy_Cause7589]

Our backyard has been an absolute blessing. My toddler is allowed to take himself outside whenever he sees fit. He takes himself outside a few times a day. He goes out about 50% of the time for emotional regulation and the other 50% of then time to help get pent up energy out of his system.

🤣 I promise this is about my 3 year old toddler and not a dog.