3 Amazing Benefits Of Raising A Family In The Countryside
More families are heading for the countryside this year. In the initial days of the pandemic, more Americans swapped their city apartments and homes for the lush, rolling countryside as they sought more space and outdoor space. Now, it turns out that the impulse has turned into a sustained trend for families across America. More families are moving to be close to rural locations, driven by the flexibility of remote working, the need for more space, or financial reasons. However, moving to the countryside does more than reducing the financial burden of housing on your wallet. In many cases, it could be a positive move for a child. Raising a family in the countryside can provide you and your family with financial security, more bonding opportunities, and even help your child overcome common childhood problems.
Let Your Family Enjoy The Perks Of Being Outdoor
By now it is no secret that being outdoors is good for your health. The same goes for your children. Moving to the countryside gives your children access to larger outdoor spaces. Outdoor play boosts children’s development by improving their motor skills, fostering their creativity, and improving their body mass index/physical health. For children with disabilities or mental health conditions, having access to the outdoors can be a great outlet. Studies have shown that exposure to sunlight improves your mood. Research has also shown that spending time outdoors can help ADHD symptoms including reducing stress and anxiety levels.
Give Your Family Better Financial Security
Living in a rural area is better for your finances as a family. Homes in the countryside can be significantly cheaper. Smaller towns like Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Meridan, Mississippi are some of the cheapest small towns to live in. The cost of living in these towns is well below the national average. This cost of living average takes into account costs like housing, utility bills, and grocery bills. For instance, in Meridian, Mississippi housing costs are one-third lower than the national average. Homeowners can also benefit from lower property taxes in states such as Texas. According to TexasLand, rural landowners can enjoy wildlife exemptions which allow them to pay taxes based on their land’s productive capacity instead of the market value. This is applicable as long as the land has an agricultural exemption or has been appraised as timberland.
The savings you can enjoy from the move can help to relieve the costs of raising children. Alternatively, you can use the surplus to invest for your child’s college education, or medical needs- providing them financial security now and into the future.
There Is More Room For Your Family To Grow
One noticeable trend in the last year is that more families are choosing to move in with grandparents and extended family members. As households grow larger, the need for more space has become more prevalent. For instance, homes in Oregon average 2,443 square feet while homes in New York average 1,124 square feet- less than half of Oregon’s. It is not just the home size that is bigger either. Homes in the countryside come with larger lot sizes, which means you would have a larger backyard and more outdoor space for your children to explore and play in.
As a bonus, moving to the countryside can also help your children grow up to be more aware and conscious of the environment. In a time where sustainability and eco-friendliness have become crucial to the planet’s survival, raising an environmentally conscious and appreciative child is needed. While city life can provide its own unique perks for raising a family, living in the countryside can provide a sense of adventure, financial stability, and more room for what the future holds for your family.