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petedogg t1_j8txmd1 wrote

I have a 10 and 12 year old. I’m annoyed the fields at local parks are often locked up but I guess it could be worse. The best part of raising kids in the city is their ability to experience true independence at an earlier age. They can walk and take SEPTA to go places on their own without a parent having to be their chauffeur. My kids take a bus and subway to school.

And speaking of schools, they’re really not completely terrible. Like anywhere, if you live in a poor neighborhood, it’s likely the kids aren’t going to get a great education. But if you live in Center City or adjacent neighborhoods like Passyunk Sq, Fairmount, NoLibs, Fishtown… the public schools are just fine. The parents who tend to complain the most (largely white, upper middle class) are the ones who have the least to worry about. My kids are getting a great experience in the public school and I have no concern about them being held back from future opportunities because of it.

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marianne215 t1_j8xcmrm wrote

When did your kids start taking septa without an adult? And was it always the 2 of them together? I'm in South and my almost-10 year old got accepted to a magnet school that will require septa, and I'm on the fence with her going alone.

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petedogg t1_j8xvghg wrote

We started taking SEPTA to school because my oldest son started going to a magnet middle school. Our commute is Passyunk Sq to Girard Estates. For the first half of the year, either my wife or I went with him (on SEPTA) to school in the morning and picked him up in the afternoon. In the 2nd half of the year, we got him a phone and started letting him go on his own a few days a week.

My younger son got into the same school this year and now they go together. They have lots of classmates who take SEPTA on their own, so there's usually a sizable number of kids who go together, especially after school. Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions!

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marianne215 t1_j8xzryc wrote

Thank you! My coparent and I are thinking the same approach. Also thanks for the DM offer, I might take you up on that. Have a great weekend!

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